Training Tips
Greetings. I have been writing and sending these out since 2015, and for you who have just joined us, welcome to the Gilman Studio Training Tips. These Tips are a result of my desire to share my life’s study and teaching in the area of Internal Arts and human potential.
I have taught Tai Chi and Qigong since 1973 and shared with thousands of people, and yet feel limited, as I live in a small community in the northwest corner of Washington State. I wanted to reach a larger audience on a regular basis. Thus, the Training Tips was born.
Most books on Tai Chi are written by an instructor to share his or her form. They are meant to teach the movements. They also, usually include short chapters on history and philosophy, but that is usually limited. I have written two Tai Chi books and now these Training Tips, not as “how to” books, but as “why to” books. Most people who are attracted to Tai Chi seek relaxation, focus, balance, health improvement, and a very few, martial skills. What most people need to carry on with their studies is motivation. That is what these Tips are all about. I want to encourage students to continue to practice, and continue looking deeper into this marvelous art form, and that only comes from regular and continuous practice.
I hope you read through all of these and maybe one or more will stimulate you to stay with your initial interest and enthusiasm. You can bookmark the ones you like to go back to in the future. As you grow and change, the meaning of these Tips will change, and hopefully you will find you understand them in your body, mind and spirit. If you aren’t already receiving these in your mailbox, subscribe and it will come as regular as clockwork on Monday mornings. The Gilman Studio never shares your information.
I sincerely hope you enjoy these and share them with your friends. You will make me happy. Thank you for your interest in our beloved art.
Very Wise Teachers – 12/18/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #450 Very Wise Teachers One never knows when something someone says will resonate and have a nice, positive affect. These spoke to me and I hope they will for you. Enjoy. Alan Watts Alan Watts was very instrumental in popularizing...
read moreForward and Reverse – 12/11/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 449 Reverse Thrusters I live in a community surrounded by water. We have a ferry that connects us to the longest island in the U.S. I ride this ferry on occasion and one day found it a source of Tai Chi enlightenment. Let me share...
read moreFiji Practice – 12/4/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 448 Excuse Me Sir In 1978, I was on my way to New Zealand to teach a series of Tai Chi classes, and stopped along the way in Fiji. A beautiful country. I was staying in a small guest house in a quiet part of Suva, one of the main...
read moreTai Chi and Jazz – 11/27/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips # 447 Tai Chi and Jazz The more one plays with Tai Chi, the more one's mind sees Tai Chi in everything. Someone was talking about a jazz instructor who had put his philosophy for learning to play jazz up on a blackboard. When I...
read moreTissues and Roses – 11/20/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 446 In the Summer, I had a call from a woman in Illinois. She wanted to order some DVDs. In chatting, she shared that the temperatures were in the 90's and quite humid. I told her it was in the 60's here, and she said,”"Sounds...
read moreTai Chi Body -11/13/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips # 445 Tai Chi Body We want to take a look at the Tai Chi body and compare it to the more traditional Western view of beauty and health. The Western ideal for a man is sometimes represented by Hercules. Huge, powerful arms, chest...
read moreExternal or Internal – 11/6/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 444 Internal or External Most Tai Chi instructors and players are proud to say Tai Chi is an “Internal Martial Art”, and bad mouth Kung Fu, Karate, etc. referring to them as “External Martial Arts.” What is it that makes an...
read moreEight Energies – 10/30/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips # 443 Eight Energies Do – Re – Me – Fa – So – La – Ti – Do. From those few notes, all the songs we sing are constructed. Eight basic sounds, or since sound is nothing but waves of energy, we can say eight basic energies create an...
read moreEmbryonic Breathing – 10/23/2023
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 442 Embryonic Breathing Breath is life. Breath affects every aspect of our life – physical, emotional, spiritual. I think we can all agree that the more one breathes, the more alive one feels. Notice your breath when something...
read moreSeeing is Believing – 10/16/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips # 441 Seeing is Believing I went to the wharf early one morning and it was one of those perfect, early Fall days here in Port Townsend. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the water in the bay like a lake, the mountains in all...
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