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Greetings Friends,
Welcome to the 11th Green Mountain Tai chi Newsletter.
At the beginning of this month 12 participants and myself joined together for a day long Tai-chi intensive. Although I was the facilitator, by the end of the day we were certainly a cohesive group. It was great fun with lots of laughter, informative with lots of learning, tiring with lots of leg muscle burning and profound with lots of insights. I left feeling so great that I have no doubt that I will do this again in the fall, so keep an eye out for info for the next intensive.
If you did not see the opening ceremonies of the Olympics it is really worth watching. It was spectacular in its scale and there was an awesome Tai chi performance.
I would like to share something that is in the beginning stages of process, Spirit of Tao Learning Center. At this point I am still clarifying my vision for this space of the teaching and learning of spiritual and physical nourishment. When my vision statement is complete I will be putting it out to you all. I invite all of you to share in the energy of this project. I will be filling you in as progress is made from vision and energy to physical manifestation. All ideas are welcome and appreciated.
Peace, prayers and happiness,
Rich
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Announcements
Coping with chronic pain
This is a subject that is part of my direct life experience. I have learned and developed many strategies and techniques in my process to live a life free of chronic pain that I would truly love to share. If you or someone you know is suffering without an end to their pain in sight perhaps this seminar could be of help.
-Rich
Free introduction evening:
Tuesday September 16th 6:30-7:45
Two night seminar
Dates: Tuesday, Oct 7 and 14th , 6:30pm - 8:30pm Tuition is $80
and includes the teachings, pain relieving strategies and a free guided meditation CD by Rich Marantz.
Location: Integrative Therapies, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Bennington VT
Registration with pre-payment required as space is limited.
To reserve your place please contact
Rebecca @ Integrative Therapies 802-442-1291
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Tai chi Tip
Choice as an indicator
One indicator that you are centered, rooted and connected within your practice is that at any given moment within the form you feel as if you have multiple choices as to where you can move. If you feel that you are compelled to move in one direction only or are falling onto the next weighted leg then you have lost center, root and connection.
The more options we have open to us the more control we have in a situation. If your only option is to go where the external force or situation dictates than this external force controls you. However if you have multiple options as to which direction to go regardless of the what the situation calls for than you have more control. The more options, the more control. No one likes to be backed into a corner with only one way out.
Happy practice!
Beginner and intermediate/advanced
Tai-chi classes are held each week in both Manchester and Pawlet
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Qigong
Spontaneous qigong
One of my favorites :)
A very powerful and effective qigong exercise is spontaneous qigong. Although this is basically a formless form, the other forms of qigong that we practice help us to obtain a deeper level of benefit from spontaneous qigong. My experience with this qigong is that we become both healer and patient at the same time. I have found when we have trust in our ability to let go of our intellectual mind (shi shen) and allow our awareness or spirit mind (yuan shen) to direct us, this will result in profound healing. Though this qigong does not follow a set pattern, I feel a qualified teacher who has had direct experience with spontaneous qigong is critical to act as a guide in this profound yet simple exercise.
Qigong classes are held
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 in Manchester
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Life philosophy
Full engagement
As part of our being human we sometimes experience feelings of anxiety, stress, worry, impatience etc. Often these feelings arise out of our mind being drawn into a future event that we either know or imagine will occur. They can also arise from carrying with us events from past experiences. The following is one way to help us deal with these all too human emotions.
When we notice these emotions arise, we acknowledge them without attempting to rid ourselves of the feeling. Once we are aware of the feeling within our body of the emotion we can then turn our attention to engaging the five senses. What I mean by engaging is to see, smell, hear, taste and feel the present experience. This is a mundane exercise, simply engaging the five senses in the physical space you occupy at that moment. This does not have to be done in a particular order and can rotate between the varying senses. The result of this is there is no room left for the emotion that arises out of the future or past experience and we relax. Once we relax and calm down we can then tap into the sixth, seventh and eighth senses that underlie the experience, allowing us to deal effectively and prepare us for the next present experience. Of course this is not done once and then forgotten as the next present experience is unique and will need to be engaged as well.
So by fully engaging in the physical and mundane aspect of the present experience we can find our way to the simultaneous energetic and magical present experience.
Enjoy!
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Thoughts For The Month
"Yesterday is history, live now and be happy,
be loyal to your spirit, do what you believe in"
-Chen
"When a dark room becomes light
it is not because dark has been removed,
it is because the light has been turned on.
When a light room becomes dark
it is not because dark has been added
it is because the light has been turned off.
Darkness is the absence of light.
We recognize the dark but we work with the light."
-Rich
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Sites worth checking out
GreenMountainTaichi.com
Lots of Tai chi and Qigong info, class schedules, etc.
To see my Tai chi videos, once you are on ExpertVillage.com, scroll down until you see my name and you can choose which series you would like to view.
ExpertVillage
Definitely worth checking out. After all he is my master.
Master Chen's site
I have never personally experienced Holotropic Breathwork, but I know Lenny and Elizabeth Gibson very well and feel confident in recommending them and their work if it resonates with you.
I know Karin and Drew and highly recommend them both. Karin is a marketing whiz. You would have to ask Drew what it is he does but I can tell you it is definitely cool and can really improve the way you approach your life.
Karin Witzig
Drew Rozell
* I went to Ray's place, The Inn at West View Farm in Dorset a few weeks ago. It was amazing. The food was second to none that I have experienced and the atmosphere while upscale was very comfortable.
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Richard Marantz www.GreenMountainTaiChi.com
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