T'ai Chi Lessons For Mini Form Beginners And The Full Mini Form

I love term beginning's with  lots of  new people to meet. Introducing T'ai Chi to new people always excites me and rekindles my love for this great art. When I watch people awaken to more subtle aspects of awareness I feel a great sense of achievement, and also a sense of how  priviledged I am   to participate in such awakenings. It sometimes feels like being present at a birth because of the newness of the sensations that arise in people when they turn inward and listen deeply to their oun bodies.

Beginning Posture of the Mini Form from ann on Vimeo.



Warm up exercises from ann on Vimeo.



Full Mini Form from ann on Vimeo.

T'ai Chi At Áras an Uachtaráin

T'ai Chi is still a minority interest. However it  is much better known now than when I began my training 26 years ago.There is a much greater awareness of all energy work and it's benefits now then there was previously..
How delighted I was therefore to receive an invitation to participate in a T'ai Chi Afternoon at Áras an Uachtaráin next Saturday October 3'rd.

It's great to have the opportunity to meet and share this practise at the Áras. I certainly never expected to be invited to the the President of Ireland's  Residence and it is exciting to be looking forward to the an afternoon of T'ai Chi. This invitation is a recognition of the growing value society has for T'ai Chi and other energy work which greatly enhance people's life experience.

Reconnective Healers Meet Up

We had a get together at my house today. 

Did some Reconnective Healing.

It is great to meet, share our healing experience and work together. There are not that many Reconnective Healers in Ireland and it is good to connect and inspire each other.
Pauline in the photo above came from Dublin for the afternoon session.  Pauline has done a lot of work to raise awareness about our practise including setting up our website Reconnection Practitioneres Ireland
A big thanks to you all for being here to share the day.

Beyond our ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’ doesn’t make sense any more.
 Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Runi

This field is accessed in the space between our thoughts when the silence spreads out wide and deep. This is the wordless space of silent music that nourishes our body mind and spirit. Nothing compares to this space, it is the source of all wisdom and peace.
 Listen for a moment to that silence between and beyond your thoughts and rest there in the field beyond right - doing and wrong - doing. 


 

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. -Victor Frankel

Releasing helps us to access the space that Victor Frankel is speaking about. In releasing we move our attention inwards and become more conscious of what we are feeling, and rather than trying to get rid of the feeling we attend to the space where our all emotions arise.
Being able to 'sit ' with ones emotions is a huge skill. It allows for great personal growth, it is a balm for the pain and upset of life's challenges. It allows us to deal calmly with the ups and downs of our daily life. When we learn to Release and remain calm,we conserve our energy, life is no longer a roler coaster of emotions, rather it is a steady relaxed ride which is easier on us.
If You would like to become more familar of that space where our power to choose our response resides, join us at the next Releasing Workshop and begin your journey to a calmer happier life.


Blackrock Community Centre
Saturday October 10'th

11am - 4pm  

Cost €35 per person 

To reserve a place
Phone 087 6616800  or email taichimcilraith@yahoo.co.uk

Beginner's Lesson And No Class In Blackrock Tonight

There is a Fundraiser in Blackrock tonight T'ai Chi is cancelled we will be back next week Tuesday 29'th.


trim.2802B4F1-A01B-4795-B1AA-1DD6B984B34E from ann on Vimeo.






Mini Form Lesson For Beginners

Beginning Posture of the Mini Form from ann on Vimeo.






Warm up exercises from ann on Vimeo.

A Workshop Experience With Young Scouts

Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with 2 groups of young Scouts (8-11years ) at a Scout Camp in Kilcully  I was so absorbed that unfortunately I didn't have any opportunity to take some photos, one of the leaders took some and has promised to send them so I'm looking forward to sharing them as soon as they arrive.
Anyway back to the day itself. I started with  the Figure 8 exercises below.


trim.D088F31A-F74F-410A-AE7B-82A36A5AF330 from ann on Vimeo.

This is one of John Kells amazing exercises which has a wonderful effect on our body. It opens us up to new experiences. Just  a few minutes of this exercise changes ones  physiology by causing the brain to release more testosterone ( allows you to feel courageous )  and reduces the production of cortisol ( stress hormone ). Once we had spent a few minutes practising this exercise I explained to the scouts how opening the body up big and wide ( in power poses ) helps in times when one needs courage. Times when one needs to take a test, or speak to a difficult adult, in fact any situation where one needs courage.  I had always intuitively felt the power of this exercise but now I am really grateful to  Amy Cuddy whose research has confirmed my feelings. So I shared her findings with these young people to empower them in life. They enjoyed stretching as high as possible and reaching right down to the centre of the earth.

Then I introduced my ' Sticking ' exercise( below ), this is usually the most popular exercise in every class and it lived up to my expectations.


November workshop from ann on Vimeo.


 I wish that I could show you how they responded to this exercise. Some of them were completely absorbed by the energy sensations and spent the remainder of the Workshop 'sensing' the energy between their own hands and checking it with some of their friends. I think that seeing this type of awakening is what makes my work so satisfying .
As we moved on with a little T'ai Chi Form I could see lots of the scouts feeling for the energy delicately bringing their hands close to sense it's subtle presence. Some had their eyes closed intuitively recognising that this would allow more internal awareness.
  It is really rewarding when people wake up to the awareness that there is more to us than our physical body. Seeing those young sensitive eyes awaken will nourish my practise for a long tine to come.

Thursday Night T'ai Chi

There is always more to work on in the T'ai Chi 'Dance' . We have been working on it for about three years now and the more work we do the more we find to work on.


trim.E89ECAB2-BE6C-458D-B276-E6B687714293 from ann on Vimeo.



In this session we were focusing our attention on Roll Back and Press.





trim.347DCA90-4E95-4599-89F7-EB97CBCAF5AF from ann on Vimeo.


It is great to spend a few hours investigating a few postures together, trying them out on each other. The only way to understand what a posture is all about is to keep trying it out on each other until it eventually reveals itself to you.





trim.F2B86A83-B672-4479-B98D-41C02EFE7EB8 from ann on Vimeo.

There are no short cuts in T'ai Chi it is a long interesting journey both internally and externally.

Change Of Date And Venue For Our Next Releasing Workshop

 

Owing to unforeseen circumstances the Next Releasing Workshop will be on October 10th. 
It will be held in Blackrock Community Centre

 Releasing allows us to be more at EASE in and with ourselves.
 Being more at EASE allows us to be more relaxed and present in life.
 When you can be at EASE with discomfort in yourself you are easy to be around.
 Being at at EASE with other's discomfort allows people to be themselves with you and this helps relationships to flow more smoothly. Relationships at home in work and in all life situations.
Would you like more EASE and FLOW in your life ?
 Join us in Blackroch Community Centre  and learn to Release those limiting thought , feelings and beliefs  that are keep you from living life with EASE and FLOW.
 
Blackrock Community Centre
Saturday October 10th

11am - 4pm  

Cost €35 per person 

To reserve a place
Phone 087 6616800  or email taichimcilraith@yahoo.co.uk

Listen To Genes, Music Based On The Immunoglobulin Gene

 I can't resist sharing Susumo Ohno's music and a little of his story the scientist in me is excited and inspired by his findings.  I hope you find it interesting too.

Music Based on part of a Immunoglobulin Gene 

In 1986, Ohno authored a paper published in Immunogenetics that explored the relationship between DNA genetic sequences and music. "The SARC oncogene, a malignant gene first discovered in chickens, causes cancer in humans as well. When Ohno translated the gene to music, it sounded very much like Chopin`s Funeral March". "An enzyme (phosphoglyceratekinase), which breaks down sugar (glucose) in the body revealed itself to Ohno as a lullaby. ``A violinist recorded the tune, and when kindergarten teachers in Tokyo play it, their youngsters yawn and willingly take their naps,``" said Ohno. The biologist, with no formal training in music, "decided to assign notes according to the molecular weights" and "put the heavier molecules in lower positions, and the lighter molecules higher". With DNA being composed of four subunits, he mapped each to two positions on the musics staff, forming an octave. He found that the more evolved an organism is, the more complicated is the music. His ultimate hope was "to find is some basic pattern that governs all life. . .everything."

 About Susumu Ohno:
Susumu Ohno was born of Japanese parents in Seoul, Korea, on February 1, 1928. The second of five children, he was the son of the minister of education of the Japanese Protectorate of Korea. The family returned to Japan after the war in 1945. He later became a citizen of the United States of America. Susumu Ohno married musician Midori Aoyama in 1951. They had two sons and one daughter.
His passion for science derived from his lifelong love of horses. He earned a Ph.D. in veterinary science at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 1949, and later a Ph.D. and D.Sc. from Hokkaido University. He went to the United States in 1951, as a visiting scholar to UCLA, and in 1952 joined the new research department at City of Hope Medical Center, where he remained in active research until 1996.


Music Based on part of a Immunoglobulin Gene

 

Welcome to T'ai Chi Beginners

Here is the lesson for new T'ai Chi Beginners.A big welcome to the new commers at ARC House today. So lovely to meet youall and share some of this great practice. I hope that your T'ai Chi journey is as fruitful an mine continues to be. This is an amazing practice that tunes your body , mind, heart and spirit. So welcome to this inward adventure that will reveal you to you


Beginning Posture of the Mini Form from ann on Vimeo.




  Warm up exercises from ann on Vimeo.

New T'ai Chi Term

I'm looking forward to a great new term of T'ai Chi starting tomorroow. 

trim.8FFAB141-FD88-4314-A81D-D3E607C84C5C from ann on Vimeo.
 

The ARC House Mini Form Class begins at 12pm  

Mallow Short Form Class @ 7.45 My Place. 

trim.79406549-DBCF-4F12-9F4C-15799915AFB8 from ann on Vimeo.

 Blackrock Community Centre Classes

 Mini FormTuesday Evenings @ 7.15pm  and Fridy Mornings @11.30

  trim.BCEC508A-1993-4757-B6AD-957D9E85FD37 from ann on Vimeo.

Short Formers join us at 7.30 

Advanced classes at the usual times. So excited to be starting a new term introducing new people to this amazing Art and meeting up with all our 'old' friends after the summer break.

Get off the scale and get on with life

Here is my niece Margaret who has a great article in today' s Irishexaminer.

How did thinness come to be the most important goal in so many people’s lives? Margaret Steele’s new philosophy course at UCC explores the dangerous ‘Operation Transformation worldview’ predominating today: if you are fat, you must have given in. Here is a link to the full article.
 Get off the scales and get on with life

A New Understanding Of Life

Did you know that the new science of Epigenetics (  term coined by the British biologist Conrad H. Waddington in 1942 ) is transforming our understanding of how our bodies operate.

It is showing how body problems that appeared to be irreversible can be cured.

It is proving that what really counts for health boils down to these 3 factors.

What we eat, ( nutritious fresh  preferably organic food).

 

              What We Do ( I mean how we exercise and keeep fit).

What We Think ( whether we think loving thoughts or fearful thoughts).

These are the key factors that decide how our bodies develop and our life unfolds, before this sciene uncovered this truth we believed that 'fate ' played a much bigger part now we realise that we ourselves through our choices can make a big difference in how our body matures.
How cool is that!

 Learn more here.

Epigenetics and 5 Things That Grow Your Brain

Heart Exercise For Today's Group At ARC House

Heart Coherence Exercise

Step 1: Heart Focus

Gently focus your attention on your in the area of your heart.It may help to place your hand over your heart. If your mind wanders just keep bringing your attention back to the area of your heart.

Step 2:

Heart Breathing

As you focus on the area of your heart, pretend your breath is flowing in and out through that area. This helps your mind and energy to stay focused and your respiration and hearth rhythms to synchronise. Breathe slowly and gently, until your breathing feels smooth and balanced.

Step 3:

Heart Feeling

As you continue to breathe, recall a positive feeling, a time when you ' felt good inside.' Now try
to reexperience the feeling. This could be a feeling of appreciation or care toward a special person, a pet, a place you enjoy, or an activity that was fun. Allow yourself to really' feel ' this good feeling of appreciation or care. If you can't feel anything, it's okay, just try to find a sincere attitude of appreciation or care. Once you have found a positive feeling or attitude, you can sustain it by continuing your heart focus, heart breathing, and heart feeling.

 This is a great exercise to do just before ( or even while ) falling asleep. You will be activating good heart energy and this will set a positive 'tone' for your night's rest. Having said that it is a good exercise to do at any time. I discovered this exercise a few years ago just after I had broken two fingers, I found it really helpful to practice it while waiting for doctors appointments, and while travelling by train to the city.  It has remained a firm favourite ever since. 

Next Releasing Workshop ( Note I have updated this post due to unforseen circumstances )

Owing to unforeseen circumstances the Next Releasing Workshop will be on October 10th. 
It will be held in Blackrock Community Centre

 Releasing allows us to be more at EASE in and with ourselves.
 Being more at EASE allows us to be more relaxed and present in life.
 When you can be at EASE with discomfort in yourself you are easy to be around.
 Being at at EASE with other's discomfort allows people to be themselves with you and this helps relationships to flow more smoothly. Relationships at home in work and in all life situations.
Would you like more EASE and FLOW in your life ?
 Join us in Mardyke House and learn to Release those limiting thought , feelings and beliefs  that are keep you from living life with EASE and FLOW.

Blackrock Community Centre

Saturday October 3'rd

11am - 4pm  

Cost €35 per person 

To reserve a place
Phone 087 6616800  or email taichimcilraith@yahoo.co.uk

If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black…it is enough if you prove one single crow to be white. — William James, MD

                                                        photo by Alden Stallings

 I'm reading The Heart's Code by Paul Pearsall and wanted to share some of the inspiring stories in the book.Thanks to Google I found this article and it has some fascinating transplant accounts there is one herein my post  and you can read the complete article on this link.

 I heard about Paul Pearsells book on a great Ted Talk  The secret formula for joy  ( this is the one I promised to share at Wednesday's Hour Of Calm ).

Organ Transplants and Cellular Memories
According to this study of patients who have received transplanted organs, particularly hearts, it is not uncommon for memories, behaviours, preferences and habits associated with the donor to be transferred to the recipient.

The donor was an 18-year-old boy killed in an automobile accident. The recipient was an 18-year-old girl diagnosed with endocarditis and subsequent heart failure.
The donor's father, a psychiatrist, said:
"My son always wrote poetry. We had waited more than a year to clean out his room after he died. We found a book of poems he had never shown us, and we've never told anyone about them. One of them has left us shaken emotionally and spiritually. It spoke of his seeing his own sudden death. He was a musician, too, and we found a song he titled "Danny, My Heart Is Yours"—the words about how my son felt he was destined to die and give his heart to someone. He had decided to donate his organs when he was 12 years old. We thought it was quite strong, but we thought they were talking about it in school. When we met his recipient, we were so...we didn't know, like, what it was. We don't know now. We just don't know."
The recipient reported:
"When they showed me pictures of their son, I knew him directly. I would have picked him out anywhere. He's in me. I know he is in me and he is in love with me. He was always my lover, maybe in another time somewhere. How could he know years before he died that he would die and give his heart to me? How would he know my name is Danny? And then, when they played me some of his music, I could finish the phrases of his songs. I could never play before, but after my transplant I began to love music. I felt it in my heart. My heart had to play it. I told my mom I wanted to take guitar lessons—the same instrument Paul [the donor] had played. His song is in me. I feel it a lot at night and it's like Paul is serenading me."
The recipient's father reported:
"My daughter, she was what you say....a hell-raiser. Until she got sick—they say from a dentist, they think—she was the wild one. Then she became quite quiet. I think it was her illness, but she said she felt more energy, not less. She said she wanted to play an instrument and she wanted to sing. When she wrote her first song, she sang about her new heart as her lover's heart. She said her lover had come to save her life."