Revision Lesson For Castletownbere T'ai Chi Short Form Class and Mini Form For Beginners

Here is Our Revision lesson from Sunday, what a great session !


Revision Practice tor Castletownbere Class from ann on Vimeo.


Here is the Mini Form


Mini Form with postures described ( filmed from behind. from ann on Vimeo.


And Here is a happy memory from last weekend's Retreat In Dzogchen Beara



Double Figure 8 exercise as a partner work. from ann on Vimeo.

Releasing our Feelngs

This is Lester Levenson  who developed ' The Sedona Method '  a technique that teaches us how to release our feelings.  Releasing all feelings is a great way to quiet your mind and bring peace , clarity and a greater sense of happiness to your life. I have been training in this method over the last nine years and have experienced a great benefits. Feelings often prevent us from being present here and now, we often miss being really with ourselves and others because we are avoiding our feelings. This method helps us to deal with our feelings in the present moment so we can be fully present.
Here is a piece about Lester's awakening and a link to the Letting Go Movie. This I hope will give you a taste of Releasing .

Lester . . .
“Wait a minute!” he thought. “If happiness is when I’m experiencing love for the other one, then that means happiness is a feeling within me.
“And if I felt unloving in the past? Well, I know I can’t change the past, but could I possibly correct the feeling now inside myself? Could I change the feeling to love now?” He decided to try it. He looked at his most recent unhappiness, the day he left the hospital.
“First,” he asked himself, “was I experiencing a lack of love that day?”
“Yes,” he answered aloud. “Nobody gave a damn about me, not the nurses, not the orderlies, not even Dr. Schultz. They did not care. As sick as I was, they threw me out, sent me home to die so they wouldn’t have to watch one of their failures . . . well, the hell with them. They can all go to hell.” He was shocked at the vehemence in his voice. His body trembled with rage and he felt weak. He really hated the doctor: He could feel it burning in his chest. “Oh, boy,” he thought, “this sure isn’t love.”
“Well, can I change it?” he asked. “Is it possible to turn it into love for the doctor?”
“Hell, no,” he thought, “why should I? What did he ever do to deserve any love?”
“That’s not the point,” he answered himself. “The point is not whether he deserves love. The point is, can you do it? Is it possible to simply change a feeling of hatred into a feeling of love—not for the benefit of the other person but for yourself?”
As the thought crossed his mind, he felt something break loose in his chest. A gentle easing, a sense of dissolving, and the burning sensation was gone. He didn’t trust it at first. It seemed too easy, so he pictured again the scene with Dr. Schultz in the hospital. He was surprised to find that it brought only a mild feeling of resentment rather than the previous intense burning hatred. He wondered if he could do it again.
“Let's see,” he thought, “what did I just do? . . . Oh, yes. Can I change this feeling of resentment into a feeling of love?” He chuckled as he felt the resentment dissolve in his chest. Then it was totally gone and he was happy. He thought of Dr. Schultz again, pictured him in his mind and felt happy, even loving. He saw now, reliving that last meeting, how the doctor had hated to tell him the things he had to say. He could feel the doctor’s pain at having to tell a young man in the prime of his life that his life was over. “Dr. Schultz, you son-of-a-gun,” he said, grinning, “I love you.”
“Well, it worked on that one,” he thought. “If my theory is sound, then it should work on everything.” Eagerly, he began trying it on other moments, and the results were consistently the same. Each time that he asked himself if he could change the feeling of hostility or anger or hatred to one of love, the dissolving process took place. Sometimes he had to repeat it over and over until he felt only love for the person. At times, the entire process would take only a minute or two; at other times, it might take him hours of working on a particular person or event before his feelings were only loving, but he would doggedly stay with it until it was completed on each person and each incident.
His entire life came up for review in bits and pieces. One by one, he changed to love all the old hurts and disappointments. He began to feel stronger as the weight of his pain dropped away. He was happier than he had ever been in his entire life, and he kept it going, feeling even more happiness with each new thing corrected.

Letting Go Movie

Castletownbere T'ai Chi

We are back here in our T'ai chi ' home ' in Castetownbere tomorrow. So looking forward to seeing everyone and to welcoming some more new beginners to our great practice.




Turning the ball exercise. from ann on Vimeo.

Mini form to Brush Left Knee and Push For Mallow College Class

Here is the Mini Form to Brush Left Knee and Push, this is where we finished last night .
Keep up the good work.
See you all again next week.


Mini Form to brush left knee and push for the Monday Morning Class from ann on Vimeo.

The Teaching Rooms

On Saturday night there was a fire in our Hall in Blackrock. the fire happened in the kitchen but the hall has water damage and so is out of use for the moment . I have been searching for a space to use in Blackrock but have been unable to locate any space that is available on a Tuesday evening.
I have found a space in the Teaching Rooms in the city for Tonight and for Friday morning this week and we will see if that suits people we can stay here until Blackrock is back in action ( which hopefully will be soon).
Tonight's class will be @7:30.
Here is the link so you can find us tonight.
The Teaching Rooms

Dzogchen Beara Weekend

 There is something special about Dzogchen Beara

There is a sense of peace and tranquillity,

that enhances our practises.

 Something about sharing food that has been prepared with love.

About a spacious environment, and the stunning views that just renews one's spirit.

Warm Up Execises Lesson For New T'ai Chi Beginners

Welcome to T'ai Chi Here are some videos to help you get started. This is a great practise that will enrich your life in so many ways and all you need to do is a little practise each day. If you give a little of your time T'ai Chi will reward you with awareness, flexibility, insights and serenity.  You will get to know yourself and others in a new and deeper way and have lots of fun along your journey.



Stepping like a cat exercise. from ann on Vimeo.





Cross Energy Exercise from ann on Vimeo.





Parting Wild Horses' Mane posture for beginners. from ann on Vimeo.

Figure 8 Exercises

Here are some of John Kells great Figure 8 Exercises. I never tire of working with these exercises they feel so connected to something much bigger than my mind can grasp. Even watching them allows me to connect to the energy and recharge.


Figure 8 Exercise through the heart from ann on Vimeo.




Figure 8 Heart Exercise Connecting Heaven and Earth from ann on Vimeo.




Figure 8 partner work hands doing opposite 8s from ann on Vimeo.

Autumn Retreat in Dzogchen Beara

Movement in Stillness and Stillness in Movement

We will Dance with these mysterious dimensions of our Being,
 exploring T’ai Chi and Mindfulness, following our Hearts
 and connecting with our True Nature.

  Taking time to nourish body mind and spirit is never more important than now as winter approaches. Days are getting shorter and colder and we prepare to 'hibernate'. This is a great time to turn inwards and reflect on the year that is almost complete, to clear space in and around ourselves so we can be open to a fresh approach to our life. We all tend to repeat patterns in life and the only way to break free is by firstly recognising that we are stuck in the pattern. If we keep rushing around we never have the time to even realise that we are stuck.
In this weekend we will Stop the rushing and racing we will Slow Down as we move.
 We will Slow Down as we nourish ourselves with food, we will take the time to be fully present in each moment and allow this presence to awaken us to the wonder of life lived fully in each moment.
Take a moment right now to to Slow Down, notice your next breath and allow yourself to really feel it. Notice it in your nostrils and in your chest, allow it to nourish every cell in your body.
Giving yourself the time for even just one deep breath makes a difference.
 Now imagine giving yourself a weekend to breath in the fresh Atlantic Air,  to take in the vast expanse of ocean and sink fully into an experience of presence.

 Join us and give yourself the gift of TIME.

This weekend will be a unique opportunity for you to get to know yourself through stillness, movement, and connection. With T'a Chi led by Ann McIlraith and Mindfuness with Trisha Lyne.

 Fresh, locally sourced vegetarian cuisine by Maureen Fitzpatrick.

 This retreat promises to be a deeply restorative time for body and mind.


A Weekend Retreat

with Ann McIlraith & Tricia Lyne

November 3th-5th 2017

€200 includes classes, vegetarian meal /snacks.

Wide variety of on-site accommodation options

available separately.

For details and bookings contact:
 Ann: 087 661 6800 / taichimcilraith@yahoo.co.uk  

Welcome To New Beginners

A Big welcome to all our new T'ai Chi Beginners.
 What a great decision you have made for yourself.
T'ai Chi is such a wonderful Art, it has transformed lives all over the world, bringing awareness, health, peace and happiness to many who have embarked on a T'ai Chi journey. In this practise we learn to value and be present in our life. We learn to focus on the present moment rather than contemplate our past or our future, this ability to be present is (in my opinion) probably the best gift you can give yourself, because as you may have noticed already our problems are never in the present moment. Our problems are the minds way of keeping us occupied with the past or the future and in doing so the rob us of this moment . This moment is the space in which we can connect, connect with our inner self , connect with the people in our lives, connect with our life moment to moment.
So welcome to this fabulous opportunity to get to know yourself from the inside out. I am really looking forward to sharing this journey with you.
Here below is one of our Warm Up Exercises and if you scroll down to my previous post you will find another one.



Warm Up Exercise ; Stepping Like A Cat from ann on Vimeo.

Empowering Exercise

Here is the empowering exercise that is so useful in opening ourselves up especially when we are feeling reluctant. It has been shown is experiments that when we open our body physically for 2 minutes hormones are released into our blood stream that cause us to feel more empowered or courageous. How cool is that !!! This is exactly what this exercise will do for you so go on and give it a go you will be glad that you did.




Opening the body and heart to empower your day. ��� from ann on Vimeo.



For people who are getting into 'Pushing Hands here is a little exercise you can practise on your own that will help you when actually working with a partner.



Ward off - pushing hands exercise. from ann on Vimeo.


Here is a link to the Sedona Method Movie that I promised to share. Enjoy !
Sedona Movie

Welcome

Welcome to the great T'ai chi group at ARC House on Thursday morning. It was lovely to have the opportunity to share time, relaxation and some T'ai Chi with you all. Here is the ' Ball ' exercise that we 'played' .


Turning the ball exercise. from ann on Vimeo.



Here below is a link to  the movie about the Sedona Method of Letting Go ( or Releasing ). It gives an interesting overview of the work and how to use Lester Levenson's inspiring method of letting go of our feelings and discovering our true nature. Looking forward to seeing you all soon again.

Sedona Movie

Apologies for the delay in posting this for Thursday's group.


Short Form To Single Whip from ann on Vimeo.

Time to Heal

Here is our baby crow enjoying his breakfast. I got him into eating from a syringe my next challenge is to teach him to eat solid food. Now he responds easily to this method but tends to spit the food back out if its not from the syringe. We will work on that tomorrow.


Breakfast time ! from ann on Vimeo.

We took him to see someone yesterday who checked out his injury and we are hoping that his wing will heal fully.


Time to Heal from ann on Vimeo.

So happy to have the opportunity to get to know this wonderful bird.

Rescue Mission !

Yesterday we rescued this injured crow. My daughter and her friend Brian  saw him struggling on an embankment unable to fly as one of his wings was broken. They phoned me and of course I couldn't resist coming to get him even at the cost of being late for my T'ai Chi.  

 Just a day later and he is eating hungrily  from a syringe. Yesterday I had to prise his beak open and look now how quickly he has learnt.

I'm besotted !

But it still does get messy  when we miss each other.

So wonderful to give him this chance at a life as he so clearly wants to survive.

Remembering Santa Monica

Sunset in Santa Monica on the evening I arrived from a Releasing Retreat in LA.
Warm sand under my feet, calm mind from Releasing and a few days to explore  Santa Monica I was in a state of bliss.

 Next day I had time to stroll around and take in the local beauty,

Succulent plants so different from our native Irish ones,

 So beautiful in the leaf arrangement reminding me of sacred geometry

 City Centre attire so different to Cork !!!

Super healthy acai bowl breakfast - delicious.


 

 Well fortified and ready to stroll Santa Monica's Iconic  Pier,

 Where else could you find this !

Sometimes it's just a perfect to be alive.

Welcome to New Beginners

Welcome to new T'ai Chi beginners it is great to share this fabulous practise with you. Keep up your practise and you can expect great benefits. Your health will improve, you will feel more relaxed and self aware, better able to deal with life. Stick with the practise and discover even more benefits for yourself.

 Here is the 'Parting Wild Horse's Mane , such a lovely exercise to connect you to the feeling of soft flow and movement a great introduction to T'ai Chi. .


 
Parting Wild Horse's Mane for beginners. from ann on Vimeo.






I have found this posture to be a  great place to begin as it allows people to get the 'feel' of tai chi and as you can see in the video below we can prctise together and get a really nice sense of connection even in a few lessons.




Garden taichi in ARC House from ann on Vimeo.





Here is the Mini Form for people who are moving on .     .          .



Mini Form with postures described ( filmed from behind. from ann on Vimeo.

We are so lucky to be able to practise here in Fitzgerald's Park

 The trees provide great cover from both sun and rain.

We practise looking out over the pond, 

 With it's waterlilies,

 Ducks,

And a heron patiently waiting and watching.

It is a wonderful place to allow one's consciousness to expand, and expand and expand. The trees lend a sense of tranquillity in their steady wisdom, watching on without comment. . 




Working on the ' dance' . from ann on Vimeo.




Stepping like a cat exercise. from ann on Vimeo.



It.is such a perfect space to 'meditate to the sounds of nature .To relax and absorbe all the abundant natural energy

T'ai chi In Fitzgerald's Park

T'ai Chi In Fitzgerald's this evening @ 6:30
Welcome to anyone who would like to learn t'ai chi and enjoy the fabulous energy of this beautiful park. You can find us here near the pond under the trees. Looking forward to a great evening of practise.


Figire 8 Exercise around the feet. 
 
Figure 8's around the feet from ann on Vimeo.




Figure 8's in the feet bow and arrow stance from ann on Vimeo.

T'ai Chi In Fitzgerald's Park

 

 

We will have a Free T'ai Chi Session 

             In Fitzgerald's Park this Saturday June 17'th, 

 
        Walk past the House to the pond,

And you will find us. We will be delighted to welcome you and introduce you to T'ai Chi.
It will be an hour of relaxation, fun and an opportunity to experience this wonderful Art.
Looking forward to meeting you there so do come and bring a friend we will be so Happy to share this practise with you.

Farewell Until September

Here is the section from Lifting Hands to White Crane Spreads Wings that we worked on yesterday.
It was such a lovely session and poignant with all the events surrounding our practise.
I felt really lonely as we drove home and visiting the stone circle near Lauragh lifted my spirits, being in the presence  of such ancient monuments put everything in perspective.



Lifting Hands to White Crane Spreads Wings from ann on Vimeo.



Here is the beginning of the Mini Form for our new beginners, it is so nice to have you join us and bring new energy and expansion to our group.
I will post more beginning exercises during the week.


Mini Form to White Crane Spreads Wings from ann on Vimeo.

 We decided to follow the path to Caiseal Coillte, Cashelkeelty Stone Circle

It was wild and windy but that didn't take from the beauty.

 Such wonderful craftsmanship in the stone wall that lined our path.

 And the views were stunning,even on this cloudy day.

 Even on this cloudy day.

 These stones radiate an ancient energy,

 Mysterious,

And majestic.

Harmonious Relationships

We have relationships with everything in our live, relationship with our mind, our body and our spirit (this relationship is often unconscious). The relationship we have with ourselves effects every relationship we have with the world outside.
Just think about it, when you feel good about yourself, doesn't everyone and everything appear better. Take a moment to reflect on your life notice times when everything seemed to flow effortlessly, or at least everything seemed possible you just  'knew' everything would work out. If you look deeply into those times you will notice that no matter what was happening externally you actually felt good about yourself, you had a sense of trust in your own ability and felt good inside.
When we have this, internal strength this trust and good feeling we know we can make good decisions, we know we can find true happiness and live fulfilling joyous lives.
However when we feel bad about ourselves everything takes on that 'odour' we paint the outside world with our internal state of mind.
Understanding how to Release our feelings gives us a great tool in living a happy harmonious life. Being at ease and finding our own love and joy inside we discover a happy joyous world outside.
This takes an effort, it takes an effort to look inside and clear up our limiting beliefs. It takes an effort to sit with our feelings and learn how to Release them but this effort pays us back in so many ways and with a little practise Releasing  becomes second nature. We just know how to relax in each moment and enjoy our life as it unfolds.
I will be sharing some Releasing tools at my upcoming workshop in Blackrock.




 Blackrock Community Centre 
  Saturday june 10'th
  10am - 4pm 
  Cost €40 per person 
  To reserve a place
  Phone 087 6616800  or email taichimcilraith@yahoo.co.uk

Donneralie Park with Finn

We took Finn ( he was so timid and frightened when we rescued him that we decided to give him a warrior's name to reawaken his spirit Fionn Mac Cumhall Fionn also means blond so Finn felt more correct. It seems to be working as he is becoming more confident each day.

Donneraile Park is really beautiful and watching Finn explore all the new scents really enriched our walk.

We met this dog who was full of spirit and so happy  to show us her balancing trick.

Donneraile Court

The Lime trees are stunning at the moment so vibrant and alive with young leaves that seem translucent.

The park is full of wild life,

All quite relaxed in this protected space.

Even  natures own works of Art accompany us on our walk.

A perfect place to find peace and nourishment for body , mind and spirit.