Category: Articles

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

General wellbeing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Czech Republic Group photo

Let’s get started

Okay this how it is

And this is how it is done

Just one happy family

Ready for the wet?

Smiling in the rain?

Someone remembered raingear

Good man

 Master Ric with Silka and Jirka

Master Ric and Jirka

Nice Summer Weather

Leesee now.. ‘ave I got all me

In the field or in the bog?

Thirsty work

Ah… Into the fog

From whence cometh the man…

On your marks

Outtadaway!

Puppie

Ready?

Zzz…

The whole group dances

Indoors lesson

Raise Hands

Master Ric demostrating

The Dance

After meditation

Master Ric adjusting Hanuman

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.

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.

You can soak your feet or go for a swim.

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

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

For more information please email:  yuanchi@constantbalance.com

The true significance of Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan is that it is movement that invokes the flow of the All-Pervading Energy. It is motion that obeys and is in the Tao, the Way.

The wider implication of this is the potential for a human being to spread blessings through his/her motion.

There is both an art as well as a science to this transforming ability. A master of Yuan-Chi can turn walking, writing or housework into Grace. It is like transforming motion into music.

The field of systematic movement includes dance, sports, therapeutic exercise and martial arts. {Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan, incidentally, is all 4 of the above categories}

I think that most systems of movement are too unevolved to be transformed into cosmic dance.

There are however notable exceptions:

• In athletics; in running I have seen two exceptional Olympic champions who have imbibed (unconsciously?) parts of the secret: Michael Johnson of the USA in 400metres(retired undefeated) and Usain Bolt of Jamaica in 100metres. (If you discover what they have in common in their running styles you will have uncovered a few of the ‘tricks’ of Tai Chi Chuan.) And of course there’s a reason why graceful cricketers and tennis players are entrancing to watch?
• In dance I think the following may have enough potential to be upgraded into Yuan-Chi; ‘belly dance’{Raas Shaqui}, Indian temple dancing, tango[milonga], flamenco, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, modern waltz, Chinese dancers twirling silk streamers in the classical style etc.
• In martial arts, 3 styles come immediately to mind; judo, ba-kua[no surprise as it is condensed from Tai Chi Chuan] and Choy Lee Fut / Hung Gah.

Put another way, the greater of the greatest masters is one whose every movement is a prayer, a benediction, and dedication to the Divine.

Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel

YUAN-CHI TAI CHI CHUAN – A PARADIGM SHIFT

The essence of art
Art in itself is not inherently spiritual. It has the potential to express spiritual desire. At best, it can be a reflection of spirituality. Which is not the same as spirituality; in the same way that your  reflection is not the same as you. It may look like you (the better the reflective surface, the more faithful the reflection) but no matter how authentic the reflection, it has none of the substance of the real thing. In other words, martial art is part of the matter of the earth, albeit on a subtler level than some things.

The first master of martial art was perhaps Shri Parashurama, who lived in India about 8,000 years ago.
The original purpose of martial art was to purify and balance the grosser bodies in the hope that the subtle system may become clear enough for Mother Kundalini to connect us to the All Pervading Energy; the Grace of the Divine.
A secondary purpose was for man to not only connect with Nature, but to be in harmony with Nature, to awaken Nature within us, to become Nature.

The purpose of art is to create beauty; in this case beauty in & of movement.
On the gross level, we have emotions, physical activity and mental activity. If done properly, martial art may help balance us on this mundane level.

What then is the essence of martial art?
Balance- to be in perfect balance
Movement- the ability to move in harmony with the flow of chi
Energy- to be able to follow, tap into, lead and direct chi

Addressing this essence is what distinguishes Tai Chi Chuan in the field of martial arts.

Tai Chi Chuan was developed from Taoist cosmic principles by Zhang San-Feng.
The Mother gave birth to the universe. The Feminine Aspect rules the universe. In practice; the theory, attitude, approach and techniques of Tai Chi Chuan puts it on a higher footing than the hard variety of hard martial arts. Water is softer than earth but harnessed properly it can overwhelm even the hardest steel. In fact, ladies have an innate physical & psychological advantage in the study and practice of Tai Chi Chuan.

Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan – The paradigm shifts

When Zhang San-Feng discovered Tai Chi Chuan, before the advent of the Mother as foretold long ago, the way of Tai Chi Chuan had many things in common with soft internal martial arts. Nevertheless, it was quite different from other martial arts.

Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan is a step beyond all other Tai Chi styles.
The way of Yuan-Chi is as the Tao of the sage Lao Tze { Tao Te Ching or Tao De Jing }.

It is dancing on the heavenly river of the Way. It is spontaneous, it is the effortless way.

The movement of Yuan-Chi is powered by the All-Pervading energy of the Divine.
Automatically. There is no doing. Where ‘chi gong’ is energy work, Yuan-Chi is “chi liu”; energy flow.

It is beauty that is fashioned by the power of Grace.

Beyond all other systems of movement, whether dance, sports, therapeutic exercise or martial arts, Yuan-Chi relies on this heavenly energy, which can be felt as a Cool Breeze.

Art of the essence
The truly artistic part of movement occurs when we move in obedience to the essence of the  movement, which is beyond the shallowness of mere form, i.e. substance shaping form not form before substance.

In Yuan-Chi, the dance is shaped by the pattern of movement of the limitless energy.

But what are the benefits?
An avenue for graceful expression. Expect to enjoy increased energy levels , be less susceptible to illness and to improve your posture. Enhance your sense of well-being; feel balanced, supple, more confident and empowered. Just by the way, you’ll learn to defend yourself. You may feel more attractive as a result of improved health, self-confidence and poise.

Your physical abilities will be enhanced- balance, coordination, speed, ambidexterity, control, strength and reflexes that can spill into the emotional & mental sides. This may become apparent in your sporting activities or just in the way you walk.

Together with patience and harmony, you should gain a better sense of timing, more acute perception and become more effective at “going with the flow”.

You begin to live a philosophy of not wanting. You become natural. And peace shall descend upon you.

Along the Way, you may become a spiritual being.

“Practise Non-Ado, and everything will be in order.”
~Lao Tzu, Tao Teh Ching ch.3

What students say:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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