Grafton Tai Chi Class June 2024

Hi All!

It was a fun class today in Grafton 06/11/2024! Thank you all for attending. I am pleased to share today’s practices with you all below. You can Google the name of the forms for better clarity. You will find there are multiple ways of doing these practices. Choose what ever feels good to your body.

Also note, that you can do these practices anytime. When you move, breath, tap and hum, you ignite the healer within. Practicing at home is as easy as paying attention to your breath. Sit up comfortably tall. Root your feet into the ground, the earth energy, the Yin. The top of your head reaching toward the sky energy, Yang. This engages and initiates your practice.

We began today’s class with 3 gongs. Honoring the mind, body and spirit (essence):

Breath

• Cleansing Breath
• Abdominal Breathing
• Sifting

Massage – massage hands, ears and feet

Open the Gates- open the joints – Do 5-7 times each in both directions

• Knocking on door of life- body moves, arms follow like an empty shirt. Tap on kidney’s, lower lungs, upper lungs.
• Shoulder Rolls
• Spreading the Feathers – Neck stretch Arms Out Palms down
• Circle wrists and fists
• Rotate Knees
• Rotate Ankles
• Shake the arms and legs like jelly
• Collect the Qi- Gather Heaven and Earth- 3 times

Flow

• The Crane
• Swimming Dragon
• The Phoenix
• The Archer
• Retrieving the Moon from the sea
• Pushing Mountains
• Exchanging Heaven and Earth- one hand up, one hand down
• Forward Fold
• Swallow Skims the Lake

Meditation

• Inner Smile Meditation

How do you do the inner smile meditation?

1. Inner smile meditation begins with finding a comfortable seated position and taking a few deep breaths to center yourself.
2. Gently smile, and with each breath, visualize this smile permeating through the center of your head, spreading its positive energy throughout your body.
3. Direct this energy to areas that may need healing or comfort, focusing on cultivating a loving and grateful relationship with your internal organs.

Visualization plays a crucial role in this practice, as it helps intensify the meditation’s healing effects.

Namaste’