For me, Tai Chi is a calming ritual, a quiet retreat from life’s hustle. Its slow, deliberate movements offer a soothing rhythm, helping me unwind and find a gentle balance in the midst of daily challenges.

I got into it with one simple goal in mind: finding some inner peace. And it turned out to be a mix of challenge and relaxation that kept me hooked.

The journey wasn’t all smooth. The gentle dance of Tai Chi demanded patience and discipline, traits I thought I lacked. Yet, in that very challenge, I found a peculiar kind of relaxation. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about embracing the flow, both in the movements and in life. The more I surrendered to the rhythm of Tai Chi, the more I discovered a calming refuge.

What I love about it is that it’s not just a workout routine. It’s my ticket to timeout from the crazy world. Tai Chi is like my personal retreat, a reminder that even on the busiest days, there’s a sweet spot of serenity waiting for me.

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 22:45:58 +0200

My name is Eugen, and I hail from the beautiful city of Cluj-Napoca în România. I initially embarked on my journey into Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan under the guidance of Mr. Sipos, Aron. Life has seen me immersed in Japanese martial arts, particularly Kyokushin, since 1991. As a military individual, I’ve always believed that discipline and method were my guiding principles.

It’s intriguing how the shift in my mindset occurred almost imperceptibly. One day, while attempting to relieve tension in my legs using a Chinese method, something clicked. Without consciously realizing it, I found myself seeking more knowledge that very day. Since then, it’s been like an enchantment for me. Every evening, I eagerly retire to bed, anticipating the joy of waking up the next morning to practise. I don’t quite understand why, but there’s an undeniable sense of fulfilment in it.

When I crossed paths with Aron, I had already been practising Chen style Tai Chi Chuan for over three years. At the request of my instructor, I delved into the study of anatomy and took up Yang style for a while. But learning 108 forms from Aron was a revelation. I felt a profound connection, as if something within me was effortlessly moving in harmony with gravity. At first, I felt the nerves in my arms pulsating in an unpleasant manner, giving me the feeling of weakness but at the same time they felt light. In time my movements became more interconnected, and a sense of comfort settled in. Very comfortable indeed.

A recent enlightening moment occurred just last week during my practice. I realized that being upset or angry is not a natural state of being. Everything around us, people and things, serves a purpose and are somehow interconnected, including myself. In that moment, I felt like a warm summer breeze gently flowing through an ancient mountain forest, connected with all other beings.

Regarding the physical benefits, I must emphasize that I no longer experience knee pain, and my left coxarthrosis has improved. Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan is, without a doubt, the softest and most friendly system of movement I have ever encountered.

With all these reflections in mind, I am genuinely delighted and eager to continue my journey with Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan from this point forward. 

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:08:26 +0200

During the final salutation of the dance, as I closed my eyes I began to sense what felt like energy pulses through the ground. They came from 3 directions, One from each side and one from behind, the positions of the days attendants. I could feel the pulses through the earth beneath me which filled me with a great sensation. I opened my eyes to look at the ground to make sure it wasn’t moving! After closing my eyes again and feeing the pulses, I involuntarily started swaying which enabled me to soak up what was on offer. Truly amazing

I came to Tai-Chi as a bit of a sceptic, having dabbled with yoga and meditation with limited results, not really thinking it would bring any benefit. However, I was proved wrong on my very first lesson! I felt an immediate connection with the practice that left me bewildered, humbled and wanting more. 

From that first week I began practising whenever I could, keen to learn the Dance and open myself up to the universal energy source, which I can feel myself tapping into at each lesson. Sifu Ric has opened a door for me that I have gladly stepped through, and with his guidance and the help of the rest of the group I am slowly learning “the Way”.

1. Copy what you see,
   
2. Become what you follow.
   
3. But if you don’t need to see me in order to follow me?
   
4. Then you shall no longer need to follow me!

My interest in beginning Yuan-Chi Tai-Chi came from a desire to connect with my dan tian; to move from a central place. The standing weight shift element is highly applicable for my work as a hands-on practitioner (remedial massage, Feldenkrais), in how I move myself around the treatment table – having the force come all the way through, up from the ground, with my arms carried as an extension of what’s happening below rather than generating the power from up top. I feel lucky to have chanced upon this group in the park.

Sifu Ric Lum sharing wisdom cultivated from a long lineage via an apprentice style teaching, meeting each person where they’re at with a perceptive task to stimulate them to learn for themselves. I enjoy the clarity of precision in orientation/detail within the flow of collective energy that carries you along. Worth waking up early for, of a Saturday morning!

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 13:16:36

I have a long interest in Spiritual teachings and the history of Ancient eastern arts and music.
Throughout my childhood I watched Kung-fu movies and of course did try to copy them sometimes 🙂
I have practiced martial arts when I was younger, but was always missing something in them:
The Depth ,what is beyond the movements; love & compassion maybe…

Started to practise around the year 2005 Sahaja Yoga meditation, it is a great inspiration.

I have also worked as a traditional massage practitioner in Norway and India.
I always liked to exercise to feel better …. The art of movement attracted attention differently.
I have practiced different styles of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan before. But what Yuan-Chi Tai-Chi brings is more fluidity compared to my previous experiences of Tai Chi Chuan.

In 2013 I met Teacher Ric Lum in Moravka in my home country and experienced what I had previously only read about;
The flow, Tao and stillness while moving?

Nowadays I live in Bangkok , self-learning Permaculture, building a tiny garden ecosystem in town and doing gardening and woodworking projects.

The journey begins with simple steps so here I am ..2 forward and 1 back 🙂

Jiri Solc
Bangkok .Rama 3
On 16/06/2021 10:55 pm

I’ve worked in IT my whole life. But as a mum of a 4-year-old boy, I now work part-time.

I have always been interested in and have done different types of physical exercise; including eastern techniques  for harmonizing meridians, 5 tibetans exercise and latterly hatha yoga. Always amazed by martial arts, but never tried it.

My first experience of Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan came in 2015, when I watched Dagmar practising it. It was wonderful to watch. I was so excited to have a chance to join intensive course in Viterbo, Italy later that year.
It was very interesting but very intensive.
After that I continued to practise on my own, but my life went a different way for a while. I got pregnant and many things changed after that.

When I felt a strong need to come back to some type of exercise which suited me, I had a chance to join online lessons with sifu. I really enjoy practising, making progress, learning new movements and mainly realize how I feel while doing it.

For example, last lesson, doing “Once around the world”, I realized how much tension and blockage is present in my body, how the movements help to relax these parts, how my arms felt like being pumped up and full of energy. While moving, I relaxed my whole body as much as I could and let the energy flow. It is wonderful!!
Mon, 23 Nov 2020 10:24:22 +0100 (CET)

Why did I start Tai Chi? I heard a call inside of me for it and I just followed it. It was “a feeling” or intuition that this is exactly what I need.

How do I feel when I practise Tai Chi? Every time when I finish the Tai Chi practice, I feel joy in my heart. No matter how tired I am at the beginning of the practice, at the end the feeling inside and the state of mind is completely different, meaning better 😊 It is almost like my heart is singing by itself. I do not understand anything of Tai Chi, I do not recall the names of the movements and I honestly don’t bother much about it. I just feel it. The joy is more important than understanding or knowing with the mind, for me at least.

Aron says we write history every minute of our lives. I had the chance to realize the truth behind these words. The feelings during Tai Chi practice are different every time. Sometime intense, sometimes very smooth – almost like silk or air – sometimes very fast appearing and disappearing, and sometimes they last longer.

Today, we did the first section four times in a row. The feelings were amazing. Usually, my movements are pretty fast. In order to practise slower than usually, I decided to give time to my mind to notice every detail of the changes in my body during the movements. I was surprised. Some parts of the body were totally relaxed, while others were very active. I discovered tiny muscles that I didn’t know that I have, the way the layers of subtle muscles from the spine/back and ponytail or from the abdomen changed gradually their state from tension to relaxation and … a little more. Something for which I do not have a name yet. It was more then joy. By the time we reached the third repetition of the first section, it was like my neck and my head were like a big fire, or like a spring of water spreading joyfully endless “light” in all directions. It was like all the previous practice was a preparation for this moment.
Very precious experience!

Thank you Sifu for patiently guiding me. 
21^st November 2020

Noriko Shimada

It was my colleague Timothy who introduced me to Sifu Ric Lum. It was perfect timing for me as I needed some gentle physical exercise after suffering tinnitus. And I’d been interested in Tai-chi for some years. Tai-chi looks cool. I always liked watching martial arts, because it looks cool.

I started learning Yuan-Chi Tai Chi Chuan in August 2017. When I started, I felt absolutely hopeless. I struggled to learn the movement and used to blame my age. I’ve just turned 60! After attending sessions for more than two years, I finally got to the Initiate’s starting point; 04.01.

I was born, raised and schooled in Tokyo. Left for W.Germany to continue studying the bassoon and worked in Europe for 20 years before moving to Sydney. I joined the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2001. Love teaching bassoon to my students.

I enjoy learning with Sifu . It is fascinating to watch him performing. He challenges us. At every session I learn something new which makes me feel good. I mean, I gain awareness of my body and become more aware of the outside world (trees, air, wind, earth etc.) One day I’d like to be able to move like Sifu.