vinnie_mall

Tai Chi and Qigong
FREE and available 5 days a week at Weberstown
Dillard's Court unless otherwise indicated

 

Schedule

QiGong
baduanjin (8 silk brochades) -- Mon 8 am
wuqinxi  (5 animals) -- Wed 8 am
da wu (& yuanchi) (big dance) -- Fri 8 am
yijinjing (muscle & tendon stretching) -- Mon-Fri 9 am

Tai Chi 
beginning (8/10, 11, 12, 13, 16) - Mon 9 am
(center court)
hand forms (24, 40, 42, 48, 88) - Mon-Fri 9 am
hand forms (24, 40, 42, 48 different music & 32, 73)
- Wed 9 am (center court)
sword & fan - Mon-Wed-Fri 8 am (Penneys),
Tu & Thur 8 am

 

vinnie_mall

The Mall Walk is blessed with multiple TaiChi teachers and some exceptionally helpful practitioners as well.

And yet, we are all at different places in our learning, have different bodies and experiences, and unique ways of learning.

I personally benefit from many teachers and many sources.  Often a lesson from one instructor that confuses me suddenly becomes clear when I see the same thing from a different approach.

I encourage everyone interested in learning and improving their own practice, to look around the internet until you find what works for you.

Amin Wu

vinnie_mall

AMIN WU is one of my favorite shifus.  Her influence on me cannot be overstated.  I invite anyone interested in Tai Chi practice to check out her site:  https://aminwutaichi.com/

Meanwhile here's 6 minutes of wisdom for beginners, and for advanced practioners who still retain a "beginners mind" attitude.

Stroke and Push

vinnie_mall

Great detail in this explanation of Stroke & Push, which he calls "Grinding Palm."  Like any form, dantien, feet, upper body all work together.

The stroke, alone, is also used as a transition in many of the forms we practice.

Another Tai Chi Video

vinnie_mall

I find that watching many masters helps me a lot since my abilities are tied to my own body, which lacks those beautiful long slender legs.  Ah well.  I often share this sort of video on Facebook, but knowing not everyone uses Facebook, I like to bring at least some of them to the Mall Walk blog.  Hope that's helpful.

We do this form in Monday's beginner Tai Chi class.  Our version is exactly the same as this "10 forms," but called "8 forms" on the LINKS page.  (Opening and closing forms are included but not counted.)

I love this form.  No matter how long I practice, there's always something to learn and improve so returning to basics, and to a "beginner's mind" attitude isare both key to my own practice.  Highly recommended :-).