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.
Tai Chi and Qigong Reading List – 2/6/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #409 Tai Chi and Qigong Reading List Most people who start Tai Chi classes never finish. They don't see immediate results so they give up. They need motivation to keep going - that is the value of books on Tai Chi and related...
read moreTai Chi Chuan Thoughts #2 – 2/27/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #408 Tai Chi Chuan Thoughts - #2 I hope one or more of these turns you onto a new way of thinking about Tai Chi. 24. Tai Chi is natural. It is fast movement done slowly, not just slow movements. 25. Pantomime real movements....
read moreTai Chi Chuan Thoughts #1 – 2/20/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #407 Tai Chi ChuanThoughts - #1 This is a random collection of thoughts about the practice of Tai Chi. They all might not mean something to you at this moment, but they are important to contemplate. This list is included in the Tai...
read moreTurkey – 2/13/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #406 Turkey With the Earthquake so much in the news, it brings to mind my time spent in one of the earth's most interesting countries, Turkey, and how it relates to Tai Chi. As I've shared with you before, I was a student of Advita...
read moreSeeds of Greatness Forever – 2/6/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tips #405 Seeds of Greatness Forever Thich Nhat Hanh, in his lovely book Peace is Every Step, talks about consciousness existing on two levels: as seeds and as manifestations of those seeds. Let me share this idea with you and how it...
read moreTai Chi Learning Sequence – 1/30/23
Monday Morning Training Tip #404 Tai Chi Learning Sequence Learning Tai Chi is similar to moving through our educational system. Let me explain what I mean. Pre School: A majority of new students come to Tai Chi with only the most rudimentary idea of what it is. They...
read moreCalm and Relax – 1/23/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 403 Calm and Relax I have been a student of Tai Chi Chuan for 55 years and an instructor for 50. One of the most important ideas to keep in mind is that there is a lesson in everything we do if we just take the time to look. Tai...
read moreTai Chi and Religion – 1/16/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 402 Tai Chi and Religion Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art, not a religion. Using a Martial Art means that one or more people or groups can't agree, and one person or group attempts to impose its view on others through the use of...
read moreKnowledgable Strength – 1/9/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 401 Knowledgable Strength This is a term I have just come up with to describe how the body is used in Tai Chi. And how do we arrive at “Knowledgable strength”? Experience through practice. And how do we gain that...
read moreCongratulations – #400 – 1/2/23
Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 400 Congratulations We have arrived at #400 - Monday Morning Tai Chi Chuan Training Tip. It took your encouragement and interest to keep me going all these years. As I said in Tip #1, published on 12/23/2015, I planned on writing...
read more