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.
Conseal Your Strength/Practical Exercise/New Instructor – 8/20/18
Greetings. This week has been hard on those of us who practice on the wharf. The air is very hazy – filled with smoke. Port Townsend hasn't suffered from fire, but there are many fires in the surrounding areas. From the wharf, the mountains, usually in our view, have...
read moreMore on Push Hands – 8/13/18
Greetings. This is one of the clearest and most interesting explanations of Push Hands by an excellent instructor. A lot to think about. Don't forget that our exploration of push hands starts on Saturday, September 1, 1 to 4 PM at the Studio. And don't be afraid of...
read morePush Hands (Tui Shou) Principles/Workshop – 8/6/18
Push Hands (Tui Shou) Tai Chi Push Hands is a training exercise for developing many different skills associated with Tai Chi. They include: 1) Sensitivity training 2) Jing training 3) Understanding empty and full, substantial and insubstantial 4) Improving balance,...
read moreDa Mo Wai Dan/Schedule Update – 7/30/18
Da Mo Wai Dan Wai Dan is the practice of increasing Chi circulation by stimulating one area of the body until a large enough energy potential builds up and overflows through the Chi channel system. In moving Wai Dan, a specific muscle or part of the body is repeatedly...
read moreDistracted,Mindful,Mindless – 7/23/18
Distracted, Mindful, Mindless A majority of people who study Tai Chi do so for meditative exercise. There are plenty of wonderful exercise programs, and plenty of wonderful meditation programs. Tai Chi combines the two and that is why we love it so. There are three...
read moreThe Rack/Congratulations – 7/16/18
Congratulations I want to welcome our newest Tai Chi Chuan instructor , Paul Andrew Chambers, into our Studio family. Since he lives in Lincoln, United Kingdom, he did the training over distance. He already has lots of experience in martial arts, as he runs an Aikido...
read moreTai Chi Instructors – 7/9/18
Tai Chi Instructors I, modestly, admit to being one of the longest serving full time Tai Chi instructors in the U.S. This is going on my 47th year of teaching. Length of teaching doesn't mean much besides persistence and a love of the art. Speaking for myself and all...
read moreTai Chi Lineage/Tai Chi Weapons – 7/2/18
Lineage and the Form The known universe is made up of one thing and one thing only – energy or chi. This chi is influenced into different shapes, components, functions, actions by some overriding direction. This unknowable is called Tao or God or some other term...
read moreSpring Fed Lake/Schedule Update 6/25/18
Spring Fed Lake - 6/25/18 Our body is like a spring fed lake. The lake gets Yang Chi from the heavens in the form of rain, and Yin Chi from the earth in the form of an underground spring. They mix to form the lake. Our bodies get heavenly or Yang Chi through the Bai...
read moreYin and Yang of Practice/Schedule Update – 6/18/18
Shared Use of the Park I went to the Park this morning for practice. As I entered the grass covered field, morning dew still creating jewell like sparkles, two swallows came speeding towards me, only to veer off at the last second. As I walked to my favorite spot,...
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