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.
Yang’s 10 Essential Points #3/ Parry and Deflect- 12/9/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 242 Yang's 10 Essential Points #3 – Relax the Waist The Tai Chi Body can be thought of being divided into three sections – the legs, the waist, and the upper body (includes the head). These three can and should function on their...
read moreYang’s Essential Points #2 – Sink the Chest , Raise the Back/Stance Progression/Help – 12/2/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 241 Yang's Ten Essential Points 2. Sink the Chest and Raise the Back The most effective and powerful results happen as a result of using the torso to do an action. Look at any sport – tennis, baseball, golf, track and field – and...
read moreYang’s Essential Points #1 /Glass Half Full/Schedule Updates – 11/25/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 240 Yang's Ten Essential Points of Tai Chi Chuan These are ten essential principles or points that make Tai Chi unique among meditative/martial exercises. You must study and contemplate these ideas until your mind has integrated...
read moreLive for Today? – 11/18/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip - Number 239 Live for Today? We in the West are not encouraged to plan for the future. We often hear the philosophy of living just for today, for there most probably won't be a tomorrow, because of the threats of growing population,...
read moreEffective Force – 11/11/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 238 Effective Force Every effective force issued from our body also uses an equal and opposite energy. As we move forward from Sit Stance to Bow Stance, our back foot pushes down from the hip, while our forward foot acts like a...
read moreExploring Stress – 11/04/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 237 Exploring Stress Stress, especially unrelenting stress, plays havoc with all the systems of our body.There is only one sure-fire way to deal with this as far as I can see – soften and relax. Let me give you an example....
read moreLao Kung Point – 10/28/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 236 Lao Kung Point I want to share with you something I was playing with during this morning's practice session. It is in regard to an energy center called the Lao Kung point. It reaches the surface of the body in the center of...
read moreVaried Tai Chi Forms – 10/21/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 235 Varied Tai Chi Forms How beautiful and wondrous the varied styles and forms of Tai Chi! The current trend toward the standardization of Tai Chi forms for competition and ease of teaching is so limiting that I feel saddened....
read moreTai Chi Greeting – 10/14/19
Tai Chi Greeting Shaking Hands got its start because two strangers would show their empty right hand (the usual hand to hold a weapon) and this evolved into clasping hands as we do today in the West. In the East people are much more reserved, so they either hold up...
read morePlaying Tai Chi With Steller Jays/ Fall Winter Tai Chi in PT – 10/7/19
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 233 Playing Tai Chi With Steller Jays I live in a small town, and my home sits among many tall firs trees. There are some dense woods right behind my house and there are a group (band, cast, party, scold) of Steller Jays...
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