5-day International Workshop, UK National Centre, Edinburgh, Great Britain

The workshop started with Tai Chi sets and then the President of the Society in Great Britain, Crispin Barker, welcomed everyone and introduced the workshop leader Marsha Eberhardt, President of Fung Loy Kok. 16 different countries were represented including Australia, Canada, USA as well as 13 European countries; a really “international” International Workshop.

Marsha drew us in and together with interesting observations and insights into the Taoist path and how our training in the internal arts is about so much more than just physical health, important though that is.

The opening chapter; our journey had begun…

After choosing group leaders we were introduced to the workshop co-ordinators who would help us with our care-taking tasks. It was striking to see how many people were involved in this and of course they represented just one layer of volunteers looking after the workshop.

Over the 5 days we found ourselves drawn deeper into the internal work of Taoist Tai Chi™ through instruction, practice, helpful imagery, informative talks about physiology and anatomy and personal stories and experiences both from the past and those happening right there in the workshop.

The structure of the workshop soon gave the training a rhythm which provided some familiar, secure base from which to investigate and improve our internal universes: breakfast, chanting (before the 10am start of the workshop for those who wished – and many did), sets, standing, walking, foundations, instruction, sharing, questions, observations, group practice, lunch, tasks, sets, talking, sharing, dinner, set, foundations, sharing. Every day was different and unique but recognisable and with a friendly face, just like the dedicated breakfast and kitchen teams. It was a rich mixture and soon we were open and wanting to tell and hear stories and experiences of our tai chi.

We felt really immersed in the path that Marsha had outlined and described to us, engaged in an exciting adventure of exploration and discovery. As we told our stories we were also creating new ones, new biographies, fresh perspectives, and horizons. The moves we knew so well in the bodies we knew so well fell away revealing new moves and invigorating our bodies with new energies. During the process pains, stiffness and habits fell away clearing a space for the spirit. Day by day this was more and more visible in everyone; we were taller, more upright, happier and our eyes shone more brightly. We were more aware and acknowledged each other with more clarity. We were waking.

When Marsha talked she talked directly to our hearts. When she talked about dual cultivation of body and mind as a way to fan the spark of goodness we all have, were born with, we understood because we felt it happening – right there and then. When she told us how the Taoist Tai Chi™ arts help us be better in the world by removing the dust of the world we understood because we felt the dust dropping away from us and could see more clearly what was important in our lives.

Through this process of transformation that we were offered and participated in we realized how the circulation can be altered by our intention, our movement of mind and body, and our balance. We moved from the muscular and mechanical to the elastic, the sticky, pushing from the feet and simultaneously pulling up from the ground, letting go and lengthening, hanging the spine and dropping to separate, allowing the body to stretch and open. It all felt so good. So this is what it is to be a human being.

From the tor-yu and dan-yu to the first moves of the Tai Chi set, wave hands, hit tiger and even a little lok hup on the last day, we explored these ways of moving and made new connections. Everyone was together in their journey but it was individual and personal; our discoveries were our own, our challenges were our own but it was so nice to be able to share with everyone and to be able to relate to everyone’s experience because however individual, from 2 months experience to 30 years experience the process was the same, the common denominator that harmonized and levelled us and brought us joy.

Posture affects the emotions, Crispin explained, during a talk where he shared his knowledge, gained from physiotherapy as well as Taoist Tai Chi™, about the skeleton and the internal organs. We could feel it. The straighter, more aligned we became, the better we felt.

 On Friday we were once again honoured by the presence of Kenny McAskill, the Justice Minister for Scotland, a member of the Scottish Parliament who has a genuine wish to see people be the best they can be and enjoy quality of life, and consequently fully appreciates what it is that we do and how we help people. We invited him to a presentation about the Fenway, made by Edinburgh branch President, Ken MacLachlan and he was interested to learn of the Scottish connection between Edinburgh and Dunedin (the Gaelic name for Edinburgh), Florida.

 It was such a rich week and we seemed to look at Taoist Tai Chi™ from every angle. On the last day Marsha told us that Master Moy Lin Shin had once said that a monk on the mountain was ok, a monk in the town was better, but a monk in the city was best because that’s where people need the most help.

This help meant that together we’d somehow rewritten our stories. We came to the workshop as supporting characters in other people’s narratives, our energies scattered and spirit diluted by the demands of the world but we left as the main characters in our own stories, our energy increased and centred and spirit collected and strong once again; more able to share this help with others. We remembered the way, stepping more definitely on the path, living in the legend that Master Moy scripted for us. How can words express our joy and happiness to be on this journey together? How can words express our gratitude and good fortune? They cannot. As Marsha told us, Master Moy said we can only say thank you for this gift by sharing it with others. So we left with light hearts to go back to our classes and say thank you.

 In the grand, beautiful and historic city of Edinburgh we felt ready to go back to the hustle and bustle of city life with balance but already many of us had our minds on the upcoming workshop in Madrid and also our appetites had been whetted for the workshop in Helmond in January.

 Moved by the spirit of helping others an unprecedented number of people stayed behind after the workshop to help clean and tidy the centre before they continued their journey home. You really made a difference.

When Ancient Art met Ancient Arts in Great Britain

Sunday 14th September 2014 dawned cool and misty and breezy, as members from across the south of England (Chiltern branch, South Wales branch, and one hardy traveller from London branch) gathered on a hillside in Oxfordshire, wearing the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Great Britain’s year of  the horse T-shirt. Their destination, the Uffington White Horse, situated on the upper slopes of White Horse Hill in Uffington,  Oxfordshire,  emblazoned on their chests. The band of 20 cautiously approached the ancient monument, a highly stylized prehistoric horse, 110 m long (374 feet), formed from deep trenches filled with crushed white chalk, first setting up a camp half way up the hill, down in a dip, doing a couple of sets, and getting ready for the climb.

Approaching the horse means losing sight of it, as you climb the steep path, to come out near the horse‘s head. Though in photographs the top of white horse hill looks relatively flat, it’s oddly steep and uneven, So when the group began the first set, it was even slower and even more considered than usual. Bemused onlookers trying to make sense of the ancient art they had come to see found themselves captivated by the ancient art of tai chi, as the 20 moved together as one through a series of sets.

During a brief lunch break at ‘base camp’, the call came in that at 2pm there would be a flypast by two more members in a light aircraft to get some nice aerial photographs.

Gathering back up at the summit, the group lay down along the horse‘s neck, forming a mane which could be seen from the passing plane. The excitement was palpable, the onlookers astonished as the plane circled twice and the members rose to do a couple of full Tai Chi sets as the plane waved its wings and faded into the distance.

We decided then that there was no way we could leave without paying a visit to dragon hill, so we carefully made our way down the steepest part of the escarpment, then back up and onto the flat(ish) topped hill for a set. We all agreed that it would be great to have the dragon dance on dragon hill!

Definitely time for tea-break, so we headed off to the local tea rooms for cream teas and a well earned sit down!

Beginner Weekend TTCS Centre, Colchester, Sept 26th – 28th

After talking to people from many different countries at CIT week, who’ve already helped to run Beginner’s Weekends, we decided we were ready to go ahead in the UK. And we’re glad we did. It was a great success. So a big thank you to all those who’ve shared their experiences with us and helped to make it so.

 There were 29 participants, a mix of completely new people, people already participating in beginner’s courses, some returning after a break and a few continuing students. Some travelled from as far away as London and Suffolk. We had a lot of fun, found our balance and everyone said they would keep coming back.

 Friday 7:30 – 9:30pm

After introducing everyone to Taoist Tai Chi™ and Master Moy Lin Shin we got going with the first few moves. Everyone worked well together and were soon enjoying tai chi.

 Saturday 2-5:30pm

The group just kept soaking up the silent instruction and finding their own balance as suggested and so we just kept going to move 108. During tea break we also watched Taoist Tai Chi™ arts: A moving meditation for body, mind and spirit, which of course we all found fascinating..

 Sunday 2-5:30pm

We practised the set together several times, looked at the first two foundation exercises, talked about health benefits in general, put some more content and detail into the first 3 moves and reviewed fair lady. At tea break we ‘walked the walls’ of the centre talking about some of the items on display; we discussed meditation and other Taoist arts, the international nature of what we do, branches, International Centres, volunteering, fundraising, aims and objectives, intensives, workshops and other events, health, Awareness Day, the internals and the shrine.

 It was quite a roller coaster ride from start to finish but all the participants entered into it whole heartedly and seemed to have a great time.

One completely new member told us on Sunday that the previous day she had knelt to weed the garden when she got home – the first time in 10 years – citing the previous two days of tai chi as the reason. Another said he was already feeling much calmer and many commented on the calm atmosphere in and around the centre. Someone who started in June told us that she can now stand happily on one leg for the first time with a feeling of being balanced. Our youngest new member, 14 years old, said it she found it lovely and relaxing and every enjoyable. Currently studying for exam’s she said that she particularly enjoyed it being non-competitive. Her friend noticed her t-shirt on Saturday night, was shown a few moves and now wants to start too.

A couple of people remarked that the timings were great for them as they could get things done that they needed to before they came out and get back in time for dinner. Some also said the weekend was ideal because their work or studies meant they couldn’t commit to the same evening each week.

 Everyone involved was happy with how this wonderful event went and we look forward to many more.

East Anglia Region Awareness Day in Colchester

Many enthusiastic members began to gather for Awareness Day at the European Centre in Colchester on Friday 5^th September. After an evening meal around 60 people joined together to enjoy an intensive. We worked hard on our tai chi and practised working in rows and columns in preparation for the demo the following day.

People came from all over the UK, not just the East Anglian Region, to support the event and there were representatives from 11 of our 16 branches: Cambridgeshire, Chilterns, Edinburgh, Kent and Sussex, London, Mid Essex, North East Essex, Shropshire, South Wales, South West Essex and Suffolk.

Two bus journeys saw around 150 people arrive in the beautiful Castle Park grounds. They were joined by a number of local people who made their own way there. All were ready to show off Taoist Tai Chi™ to the constant stream of people enjoying the scenery and wending their way to the annual Oyster Festival in the lower park area. Many leaflets were given out and conversations had and once a few people had got the courage to “Come and Try” there was constant participation in a small beginner’s class to the side of the main group.

The day was cloudy but dry and we brightened it up with tai chi, sword and sabre demonstrations and used our new PA system to talk about our founder Master Moy Lin Shin, our history and the health benefits of Taoist Tai Chi™.

Old and young, male and female alike stopped to watch and chat and it felt like a very successful day of promoting Taoist Tai Chi™.

 An impressed young child watching on a bench with her mother was overheard to say “How do they all do the same thing when there is no one telling them what to do?”

 It’s a beautiful mystery…

 Two hours later, we were back at the centre for well-earned tea and cakes with the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester who enjoyed a demonstration and talk before the branch representatives delivered best wishes and greetings.

Thank you to all who participated and made the day so special.

Putting on the Ritz in Colchester

This May, many members from the East Anglian Region of the UK gathered together for a very English event at our Centre in Colchester; an Afternoon Tea Party. It was a fundraising event to raise money for the newly acquired dishwasher in Edinburgh. Ninety five people attended with members visiting as far afield as Kent.

The cream tea was based on Afternoon Tea at The Ritz (the famous hotel in London, England) with a selection of different teas, delicious sandwiches and scrumptious cakes available. Over half of the people who came brought homemade cakes, scones or sandwich fillings. The selection was immense, from coffee meringues and cream horns to chocolate gateau and apple cake, followed by freshly baked homemade scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam. Many Don Yu’s beckoned. The spread was really incredible and the effort members put into making the appetizing array was very impressive.

 

The weather was warm, sun streamed through the patio windows, birds sang delightfully, and bunting gently fluttered in the garden while relaxing classical music played softly in the background. It was a lovely way to raise some money and spend time with friends.

 Some people tried a quiz while enjoying their cream tea. Does anyone know what the PG in PG Tips stands for? (Don’t know? Find the answer here)

24 Apr 2014 – A Very Special Gardening Day

Colchester Centre had a very memorable gardening day this April. We installed our first Water Feature, a huge metre high granite-like monolith from the Lake District, which now magnificently takes pride of place in the patio garden.

 The effort involved in putting it in place was quite remarkable. A neighbour had kindly volunteered to mechanically lift the quarter tonne small mountain into place but was unable to help out in time. So a dedicated team decided to move it themselves using pieces of wood and rollers to manipulate the stone into place.

At lunchtime we all sat down to a delicious feast, just what we needed to keep us going through the afternoon.

      

 The weather was ideal, bright but not too hot and no rain, very still and warm. The whole of the garden was given attention and loving care. With 35 members coming together every corner turned saw people with forks, trowels and brooms in hand, busy tending the earth. The long grass was cut, unwanted weeds removed, hard soil hoed, unwieldy shrubs pruned and the guardian dragon of the Herb garden shaped.

 But the pièce de résistance was undoubtedly when the water feature was connected up. The sound of the water running gently down the stone was mesmerizing and its beauty stunning. Everyone worked together to make it such a perfect day and enjoyed a small celebration when the water flowed for the first time.

Exeter: New Growth in Great Britain

The far South Western arm of the South Wales branch (Devon, to be precise) was the venue for two days of small but spirited displays of Taoist Tai Chi™ . The first was in Tiverton on Friday, May 2nd, where local instructors and members were aiming to help expand the number of members who started last year.  They were joined by a member from Newport for the day which went very well indeed.

On the Saturday, May 3rd, the focus switched to Exeter where another of our instructors has recently moved to and with the support of the SW branch committee aims to start a new class the following week.  He was supported by three of the Tiverton members and Bristol-based President for TTCS GB Crispin Barker and together they handed out many leaflets and demos done.  Perhaps our two most enthusiastic- and certainly the youngest members of the public from the day are pictured here joining in one of the tai chi sets.

We wish those making Taoist Tai Chi™ arts available in our newest area the best of luck for the future.

An impromptu set at Eindhoven Airport

What to do when waiting for your flight home?

A set of course!

Another good reason to travel together…:)

 

TTCS GB part of celebrating a new connection between East and West

TTCS GB was offered a unique opportunity to be part of the celebrations and promotion of a new connection between East and West in the form Air China flights from Beijing to Gatwick, London. We were contacted by social media company The Rabbit Agency and after several weeks of negotiations and planning we recorded this short video advising of some of the benefits of TTC to travelling on a long flight.

On 30 March when the first flights began to arrive a small group gathered together to perform three sets of tai chi in the departure area of the North Terminal. Among the onlookers were dignitaries from Air China, Gatwick and The Rabbit Agency who were all very happy with how the promotion went.

In between sets our group were escorted to and from a comfortable waiting area and the Six Harmonies Lion Dance group performed their lion dance.

Unfortunately a planned backdrop of our logo didn’t materialise but there were a lot of interested travellers and we had our usual t-shirt backs printed onto the Air China t-shirts. Also the event has a lot of cover on Facebook, Twitter and the Gatwick Airport sites so it should help further the aims and objectives.

During our last set the music from the video was played and it was interesting to see that a bit of sound attracted many more onlookers.

Those who participated had a lot of fun, enjoyed a new experience and met some really friendly people from Air China, Gatwick and The Rabbit Agency. We would like to wish them all the very best with their new venture and thank them for taking such good care of us.

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1st anniversary of UK National Centre

The Society celebrated the first anniversary of the UK National Centre at Marionville Road in Edinburgh with an inspiring international workshop and a birthday lunch. Workshop leader Jim Nicholson explained that the first anniversary is more important than the grand opening as it shows that the local members are all working together to maintain the Centre.

Jim Nicholson, Secretary of FLK, Philomena Pretsell, Vice President of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Great Britain, and Kenny MacAskill MSP cut the celebration cake!

Kenny MacAskill MSP and many local dignitaries who had attended last April’s Grand Opening, as well as a few who hadn’t been able to make that event, came along for the lunch time celebration. Both dignitaries and Society members expressed their pleasure at returning a year on and seeing the Centre so vibrant and active. Local ward Councilor Stefan Tymkewycz talked about the positive impact that the Centre has had on the community, improving the area by refurbishing a derelict building and bringing it back to life. He said there were concerns by some about noise and increased traffic, but these fears proved unfounded and he was pleased to hear that many in the local community had visited the centre and taken part in classes.

Councillor Stefan Tymkewycz talked about the positive impact our Centre has made to the area.

A Society member who was travelling to the workshop on a bus got chatting to a local woman who was interested to hear about the workshop. She said that initially locals thought a tai chi centre would not last very long but is glad to know that it is going from strength to strength.

Good hospitality and excellent food was clearly appreciated because several councillors hoped they would be joining our celebratory meals for every anniversary to come!

We are very grateful to our honoured guests from Edinburgh City Council for attending. Thanks to: Councillor and Mrs Ronald Cairns; Councillor Adam McVey; Councillor Cameron Rose; Councillor Alastair Shields; Councillor Stefan Tymkewycz and Mr Kenny MacAskill (MSP).

 

Dropping, rising – the elephant in the room!
The IWS was attended by 114 members and under Jim Nicholson’s instruction, they each found their elephant. Some people had baby elephants, some people had pink elephants, but everyone had a completely different tor yu come the end of the workshop! In the tor yu, Jim taught us to each find our elephant, the sweet spot where the structure was strongest and we could rest and let the weight drop through the structure whilst rising up through the top of the head at the same time. Participants were encouraged to explore their own body parameters, listening to the subtle movements inside and then to try the same thing in the set. This was not easy but everyone experienced lovely calm, grounded sets.

Members performed a set for our honoured guests

Jim also found time to give a very interesting and informative talk about the history of the buildings in Canada, the recent purchase of a Centre in Krakow and some of the future plans which follow the model set by Master Moy.

 

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