Interview with Lum sifu

The sage experiences without abstraction,
And accomplishes without action;
He accepts the ebb and flow of things,
Nurtures them, but does not own them,
And lives, but does not dwell.
~Lao Tze

“Welcome Aron, what we do realize (is) that Yuan-Chi Tai-Chi, as taught by Sifu wm Lum, is both a physical and spiritual journey with endless possibilities.”
Magda’s memory

Spiritual Benefits

The spiritual benefits vary for each person depending on what they as an individual need and are ready for but students have meditative experiences, find peace, experience grace, the mystical and magical, and spontaneous chi flow.

 zzz.....

“Eternity is now. Because Reality is only ever the present moment.” Brenda

“I’ve never known squirrels to be so loving with one another, it was almost like a dream!” Amy

“I experienced the feeling of many parts of the form expressing the dance of Shri Ganesha.” Andrew

“Then it came to me that in comparison how quiet our own form is-when it is done it seems to leave nothing behind. No trace except peace.” Danya

“It was as if my body moved by itself.” Stefanie

“I need to thank Janaki for reminding me today that Taiji Chuan practice can be performed as a devotion to the Absolute.” Lionel

“Time is another aspect that is changing for me as I am now noticing that the form feels a lot quicker.” Mick

glebe street fair 2012

Cool Breeze

“At times when practising I would get a sensation of shimmering vibrations on my hands, and lots of cool.” Andrew

“I had been getting quite hot, and suddenly my face and neck were very cool.” Gregor

“John unconsciously emitted a strong cool breeze…” Master Michael

“Oh, on a really high note – Dinh had a wonderful experience at Tai Chi on Saturday (a drop of Kundalini energy on her back)…” Gregor

“I could feel a very strong Cool Breeze through both hands” Mick

121118 GSF Tai Chi

Meditation

“..all that remained of *me* was my awareness…” Danya

“..there was a powerful urge to just sit down and meditate..and just blissfully watched my body-mind do its thing.” Lionel

“Within the first couple of lessons I noticed my attention was more focused for meditation after practising Tai Chi.” Andrew

“have been having quite deep experiences of meditation in particular with Push Hands,” Andrew

“Again this was repeated only this time it appeared my movements were easier and in fact drifting along independently of me…” Mick

Cabella

Grace

“The only way I would be able to describe it would be as being touched by Grace.” Carlos

“One of the most profound experiences was that of experiencing becoming aware of moving the feet very lightly and gently on the living, loving, supporting Mother Earth.” Ray

“The grace and elegance of the form, and the underpinning strength and balance, flow through into the rest of my life…” Danya

is he gonna stop anytime soon..

Beauty

“Tai Chi Chuan is like a sassy woman. Once you have discovered her and she has touched you with her spirit, you have a lot of trouble breaking it off.” Cameron

“The stillness in movement felt like floating on legs -” Danya

“This morning I felt very strongly again the beauty of movement. I love it!” Gregor

L.GBT_Luglio23-02Agosto'13 Cabella Hangar

Music

“My immediate response was that it was like variations on a theme of music..” Magda

“By traversing such areas I found a landing, a support from the flow of Chi, a song that supported every movement.” Eva

“I started feeling Tai Chi like a piece of music.” Eva

bar punch

Dance

“I felt I was watching a dance between you and a much beloved being” Linda

“The sense of Chi directing my form that I mentioned to you in person several weeks ago is persisting.” Danya

“Then there was a realisation that we were telling a story with the form…” Jane

“The fascinating observation was that it could almost be described as dance …” Gregor

after meditation

Mystical

“The arrival and departure of this force was spontaneous – I didn’t make it happen, I didn’t try to hang on to it, I didn’t make it go away.” Magda

“And how does it feel? To Surrender?” Amy

“Interesting tangent from applied maths/mathematical physics – ” Danya

“An interesting thought to be coming home to my Irishness through Tai Chi!” Sally

Ioanne watch fist

Magical

“I found it very hard to distinguish the two in terms of their flow…I had to actually clear my head to see that it was two people, not just one person in two places.” Danya

“Gregor was in front of me and he appeared to be somehow ‘in’ the air” Jane

“Returning neutral hands to him and he is repulsed almost before I touch him.” Danya

“I didn’t actually feel myself at all, which was quite disconcerting. At the time there were two emotions: joy at the newfound lightness…” Gregor

repulse monkey chicken hawk

Lightness

“And I felt like that I could be a balloon – that if I lifted my feet off the floor that I’d float.” Sharon

“..my arms floated up in front of me and my whole body was carried through the form…” Danya

“Speaking of light, ..I notice my lower arms beginning to feel fluffy and lighter around the outside layers. An unusual, but very pleasant feeling.” Gregor

“I feel a lightness in my movements which I could never imagine to gain after such a short time.” Sieghilde

“I’ve felt fantastically light and full of energy since.” Gerry

“…my hands and arms felt much lighter as I glided through the movements” Mick

Ben Jon Sally Gregor

Wholeness

“I love the way birds gather when we are practising Tai Chi Chuan with you, they seem to be drawn to the energy.” Brenda

“Today I felt more the relation as one of connection and even longing to return home.” Sally

“You realise that you are doing something really worthwhile..” Susanne

“..this movement cleared the path of feeling between my lower abdomen and my chest, like they could more effectively communicate afterwards.” Lionel

dance

Chi

“I could feel it rushing through and around my body – like being part of a building whirlwind…” Sharon

“When participating with the class I sometimes feel the spontaneous flow of Chi..lifting my body and connecting it to the greater Chi flow.” Brenda

“..there was a very strong sensation of there being a sort of “puff” of Chi that…was enough to truly move me.” Danya

“I felt my hands awaken with a connection of energy from my heart coming through my palms, and to (and from?) the universe.” Amy

“I felt an energy source in the middle of the soles of my feet connecting me deep down into the earth-” Sally

Psychological Benefits

The psychological benefits of Tai Chi Chuan include reduced stress, decreased anxiety, decreased feelings of depression, improved sleep, increased self-worth and self-esteem, decreased fatigue, improved attention, a general feeling of well-being, and a decrease in feelings of anger and hostility.
is he gonna stop anytime soon..

Peace

“Quite early on in my learning I found that at the end of practice I would be greeted by a kind of ‘explosion of peace’, this still occurs.” Jon

“Last week, a feeling of deep peace and contentment came over me” Gregor

“Despite our pride being shattered and after much laughter I did experience some delightfully peaceful moments in which I think the “Chi” was experienced.” Mick

“My mind is definitely switched off” Sieghilde

“My overall experience was calmness” Roselle

“…I feel lighter and more peaceful at class end.” Neelica

“… that the peace and bliss of Tai Chi Chuan can become a part of everything.” Sara

“Later an even stronger impulse to even more fully relax.” Tyrone

n'daman appears with his red cape!

Stress Relief

“…proved a wonderful stress relief and an escape from the world of deadlines and commitments” Gerry

“I felt very refreshed and calm, and very aware of the lightness and beauty of the autumn trees around us in the park” Brenda

“… it has also assisted me in dealing with stress..” Magda

“… class always leaves me in a better place and my mind can clear and be free of burdens, worries and distractions.” Neelica

“These classes leave me feeling peaceful and removed from the stress…” Sara

“I have even lost the physical manifestations of stress – clenched fists, gritted teeth, and constant sighing – which I have been doing for as long as I can remember.” Sara

brenda

Joy

“Gliding through the moves with the others filled me with such joy.” Gregor

 

Awareness

“Tai Chi Chuan has improved my ability to concentrate and to focus” Magda

“…the gentleness of the process, the awareness.” Sara

“…a way of improving my …  awareness of the world” Tash

3mousekeeteers

General wellbeing

“The more I come the better I feel!” Neelica

“I am far more emotionally balanced now than I have ever been.” Sara

Physical Benefits

The physical benefits of Tai Chi Chuan include lower blood pressure, reduction in pain, increased balance, better bone mineral density, greater strength, improved immune system function, increased aerobic capacity, improved flexibility, a greater range of motion for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

 raise hands brush knee

Improved Physical Condition

“I began Tai Chi with a long-suffering hip injury that is considerably improved and causes me significantly less pain or discomfort. I have greater movement in that joint and improved balance and strength overall.” Neelica

“… an old shoulder niggle …  began to ache. As the class continued this ache and any feeling of impairment left me without a trace.” Gerry

“I have had a lot less problems with my neck and back,” Magda

“Our youngest daughter at ISPS had suffered from debilitating knee pains since the age of two… we took her to Tai Chi classes with Master Ric and the problem was fixed within 2 months.” Ray

“Sifu showed me how I don’t bend my spine… It felt lovely to stretch like that.” Sara

“…I’ve already noticed little improvements; like my posture has started correcting itself.” Tash

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Rehabilitation

“..it prevents recurrence of DVT?” Gregor

“I’m eating MUCH better than I have for a very long time…” Sharon

“ A wart on my left index finger that has been there for at least four years is now gone.” Lionel

taking it inside

Rejuvenation

In Yuan-Chi Tai-Chi, when ‘Fire’ level is established, symptoms of thyroid dysfunction begin to disappear. In other words, clearing of Visshudhi chakrum then begins spontaneously.

“ The “spare tyre” is rapidly receding! Yay!” Lionel

“And here is a note on coming to class straight from a long distance flight:” Brenda

“..it appears that my feet have changed shape!” Sharon

“It is like I am sharper and I think faster and more clearly…my typing is faster… weird.” Jane

“At some point I realized the tiredness in my legs was associated with something in the “normal” gait of my own personality.., which when I could let go, all the tiredness would lift.” Andrew

hoo boy..

Strength

“..such power coming through all of them that it was frightening…” Danya

“..my students could see that I have roundness and internal power even within my linear Mantis forms. As for Choy Li Fut, well those low stances feel effortless to do now.” Master John

“..there is a force from the sacrum that is driving my legs into the ground.” Lionel

“..they felt light and yet not powerless (quite the opposite) and under control/well rooted.” Ss

“went to practise Tai Chi I noticed my quadriceps (front thigh muscles) were sore. Today they hurt just to walk. This shows me they really had a workout in class yesterday.” Andrew

“…went to the gym to do some weights, started, then added more, retried, then added more… I was much stronger than I expected” Gerry

“A proper work-out and at least twice I was just about ready to stop because my legs were so exhausted.” Gregor

“like they had been through a workout, they were a bit “sore” but not painfully so; like they had a good workout and were a little bit stiff afterwards.” Magda

this is dancin'

Fitness

“My own morning’s sensory repertoire included mostly stretching of all the tendons and muscles…” Danya

“Today I have no problems at all while walking and I now run up staircases quite effortlessly.” Sieghilde

“I have had the experience of running upstairs with the ease of feeling as going downstairs, and of running (kind of a shuffle) completely without effort after practising Tai Chi.” Andrew

ready

Balance

“Tai-Chi has led to greater balance and grounded-ness. I feel a lot more stable standing on one leg” Gregor

“Also, I recently did some kicks and found myself reaching higher whilst maintaining my balance more than I remember doing before.” Gregor

“I have also felt a lot more strength and stability in my legs and feet.” Magda

“I started doing Tai Chi as a way of improving my balance…” Tash

Claudia

Flexibility

“Whilst I do not go out of my way to stretch there is more flexibility.” Ray

 

Blood Pressure

“In particular my blood-pressure, a serious problem my entire adult life, has noticeably improved measurably.” Gerry

 

Migraines

“I feel very confident now that I’ve been able to go twelve months without a migraine pharmaceutical drug that I’ll now be able to do this for the rest of my life.” Mick

August in The Czech Republic 2013

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Czech Republic Group photo

& we're gonnais he gonna stop anytime soon..

Let’s get started

here's how it's gonna be

Okay this how it is

hoo boy..

And this is how it is done

3mousekeeteers

Just one happy family

but where'sda papparazzi

Ready for the wet?

ain't we gorgeouslike we're so ready..to go!

Smiling in the rain?

gotta go...

Someone remembered raingear

n'daman appears with his red cape!

Good man

ain't we sweetwith Jirka & auntie hippsee[Silka]

 Master Ric with Silka and Jirka

when you're perfect!

Master Ric and Jirka

glad that's over

Nice Summer Weather

lessee now...'ave i got all me bits

Leesee now.. ‘ave I got all me

in the field..or the bog

In the field or in the bog?

thirsty work

Thirsty work

into the fog

Ah… Into the fog

 out of the patter

From whence cometh the man…

on your marks..

On your marks

outtadaway!

Outtadaway!

puppee

Puppie

ready

Ready?

zzz.....

Zzz…

August in Czech Republic

The first ever intensive seminar of Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan in the Czech Republic will be held from the 3rd to the 10th of August in Moravka village at recreation centre number 322.

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Moravka is a small village in the Beskydy mountains, located near the town of Frýdek-Místek.
The cost of this 7-day seminar is 160 euro (or 4000,- CZK equivalent ), which includes food and accommodation. There is a child’s discount.
The food will be cooked as from the home kitchen; special dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Nature is ready, and the river is also ready.

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You can soak your feet or go for a swim.

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Half of the expected price should be paid into account: 2200320243/6210.
Foreign attendees can pay upon arrival, but a binding mail reservation is necessary in this case.
For more information please contact the organizer Mr. Radek Michalak : fm@nirmala.cz

We look forward to seeing you there.

Radek a Jana

Claudia Confides


 Storia del Yuan Chi Tai Chi ItaliaClaudia

Ho sempre amato  fare sport, in particolare il Tai Chi ma erano diversi anni che non  praticavo più nulla perchè sentivo che in qualche modo portavano la mia energia o verso un eccessiva attivazione o al contrario mi “scaricavano”,  fino a che un giorno la mia carissima amica Parvati, compagna di un meraviglioso percorso spirituale, sposa un Maestro di Tai Chi: Ric Lum.
In poco tempo nasce in me il desiderio di conoscerlo e di praticare con lui questa antica arte marziale, unico piccolo problema viveva e vive tutt’ora in Australia.
Avevo da subito intuito la grandezza di questo stile e del suo Maestro. Così nell’Agosto del 2010 in concomitanza con il suo arrivo a Roma per le vacanze riuscimmo ad  ad organizzare il  primo seminario a Trevignano Romano e Roma.
Fù un’esperienza incredibile per tutti quelli che parteciparono che ancora oggi ricordano anedoti e momenti di  intensa profondità e gioia.

In quell’occasione ebbi la conferma delle mie intuizioni: avevo incontrato, per la prima volta, un vero Maestro di Tai Chi e il Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan era uno stile Puro.
Sentivo mentre lo praticavo che i suoi movimenti morbidi e fluidi, simili ad una danza, richiamavano il flusso spontaneo della mia energia donandomi uno stato di quiete e pace interiore.
Erano molti anni che cercavo un’attività fisica che in qualche modo non si opponesse alla mia evoluzione, che armonizzasse il mio corpo, la mia mente e il mio Spirito. L’avevo trovata.
Dovettero passare però due anni prima di riuscire a far tornare il Maestro a Roma. Per pagare il biglietto aereo decidemmo di fare  dei gruppi di pratica a Trevignano e Sifu (Maestro in Cinese)  si autofinanziò la rimanenza con i corsi del seminario.
Finalmente nel Maggio del 2012 ci fu il secondo seminario di Trevignano e Roma.
Durante la permanenza il Maestro espresse il desiderio di creare una vera e propria scuola di Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan qui in Italia. Questo sposava perfettamente il mio desiderio di diventare istruttrice e diffondere la conoscenza di questo meraviglioso stile nel mio Paese.
In sintonia con questo desiderio a Luglio io e Parvati fummo invitate ad insegnare Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan all’Arts Accademy di Cabella.

Era chiaro che per  creare le radici della scuola era necessario che Sifu tornasse almeno tre o quattro volte l’anno in Italia. Fu così che di ritorno dall’Accademia  partimmo subito con l’organizzazione e dopo tre mesi Sifu era dinuovo ad insegnare per gettare più solide basi per la scuola. Nuovamente il costo del biglietto aereo fu ammortizzato con le quote dei corsi.
Il seme era piantato molte persone avevano potuto gioire dei suoi insegnamenti e io ero pronta a poter insegnare ai principianti.
E così da Settembre decisi di organizzare  corsi a Roma e dintorni volti a creare un fondo per poter far tornare ancora una volta Sifu.
Ed eccoci qui ad oggi. Questa volta l’idea è di organizzare un tour tra Roma e  dintorni, Cabella e altre città tra cui Praga dove un carissimo amico ci ha invitato ad  insegnare.. Un bellissimo progetto che sta prendendo vita.

In questi anni ho avuto la fortuna di poter percepire il valore vibratorio di questo meraviglioso stile, la profondità che si raggiunge praticandolo ma anche la gioia che si ha quando si trasmette ad altri.
Ogni volta che Sifu torna in Italia è una meravigliosa opportunità per noi Italiani per conoscere, praticare, approfondire la conoscenza di questo meraviglioso stile.
Una meravigliosa opportunità per imparare a danzare la danza del Tao.

Claudia Casetti
Naturopata
Medicina Naturale
Cell. 347/8269066

July in Italy

Il Maestro Ric Lum tornerà il prossimo Luglio ad insegnare Tai Chi Chuan in Italia.

Una bella opportunità per conoscere, approfondire e migliorare la conoscenza del suo stile: il Yuan Chi Tai Chi Chuan.

L’idea che stiamo realizzando è quella di organizzare un vero e proprio tour che tocchi varie località tra Roma e dintorni e alcune tappe nel Nord Italia.

Nelle prime tre settimane il seminario si svolgerà con tappe su Roma, Trevignano e Santa Marinella.

Spero di poter fare questo meraviglioso viaggio insieme.

Con affetto.

Claudia

ITINERARIO ITALIANO YUAN CHI TAI CHI CHUAN ITALIA

TOUR 2013

1° giorno: Roma Sabato 29 Giugno
2° giorno: Roma Domenica 30 Giugno
3° giorno: Trevignano Lunedì 01 Luglio
4° giorno: Trevignano Martedì 02 Luglio
5° giorno: Santa Marinella Mercoledì 03 Luglio
6° giorno: Santa Marinella Giovedì 04 Luglio
7° giorno: REST DAY Venerdì 05 Luglio
8° giorno: Roma Sabato 06 Luglio
9° giorno: Roma Domenica 07 Luglio
10° giorno: Trevignano Lunedì 08 Luglio
11° giorno: Trevignano Martedì 09 Luglio
12° giorno: Viterbo Mercoledì 10 Luglio
13° giorno: Santa Marinella Giovedì 11 Luglio
14° giorno: REST DAY Venerdì 12 Luglio
15° giorno: Roma Sabato 13 Luglio
16° giorno: Roma Domenica 14 Luglio
17° giorno: Trevignano Lunedì 15 luglio
18° giorno: Trevignano Martedì 16 Luglio
19° giorno: Modena Mercoledì 17 Luglio
20° giorno: Modena Giovedì 18 Luglio

For more information please email:  yuanchi@constantbalance.com