What a wonderful day of rest!
I practiced TCC in the calm quiet of evening after I positioned myself within view of the napping geese and simply flowed through the motions....
Shortly after my practice began Namaste and Ander engaged in a short episode of macho challenge and response. Ander dipped his head and headed toward the dog with an intent to nip. Namaste rose quickly and dashed from side to side avoiding, teasing, and playing.
Sometime later I head the sound of a tree cracking in the woods. Bear, I'll bet. This isn't the first time we've heard such a sound. A year or two ago Frances actually spotted a young bear dangling from a tree as it attempted to eat berries.
After I relaxed into the first half of my practice, I incorporated Seijaku into the second half. The evening was deliciously quiet. And now as the sun drops lower on the horizon I'm quiet too ... and peaceful.
Showing posts with label Seijaku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seijaku. Show all posts
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Slivers of Chi
A sliver of moon hung in the sky during my late afternoon TCC practice. It's milky shape stared at me out of the clear blue. Occasionally as I moved a welcome breeze shifted through the air while temperatures tilted downhill from their high in the low 80s.
Though I practiced outside on the deck--the breeze was strong enough to keep mosquitoes at bay--I turned up the music inside the house to add more relaxation and comfort to my practice. The only sounds were breezes stroking the trees and the watery call of dolphins in the musical background. Until, that is, Frances started the tractor and headed down the driveway to scrape our road back into smoothness after its sad episode of rut and gut from heavy rains.
I inserted three repetitions of Seijaku in the middle of my nine repeitions of each TCC movement. Some days it's easier to accomplish than others. Still, today when I placed mental focus on softening my legs as I shifted weight forward and back, side to side I noticed that I can, indeed, soften and relax the tension in my feet and legs. Yes, it feels good!
It's Friday evening and time to cook up a healthy, delicious dinner.
Though I practiced outside on the deck--the breeze was strong enough to keep mosquitoes at bay--I turned up the music inside the house to add more relaxation and comfort to my practice. The only sounds were breezes stroking the trees and the watery call of dolphins in the musical background. Until, that is, Frances started the tractor and headed down the driveway to scrape our road back into smoothness after its sad episode of rut and gut from heavy rains.
I inserted three repetitions of Seijaku in the middle of my nine repeitions of each TCC movement. Some days it's easier to accomplish than others. Still, today when I placed mental focus on softening my legs as I shifted weight forward and back, side to side I noticed that I can, indeed, soften and relax the tension in my feet and legs. Yes, it feels good!
It's Friday evening and time to cook up a healthy, delicious dinner.
Friday, July 9, 2010
"Bear"ing my Weight
Bear footprints galore--and, yes, I mean bear not bare--as we walked along a dirt road today on our early morning hike. Though Frances and I continue to discover prints of all sizes along this route we have yet to see a bear visitor in our own yard.
Our lack of visitors is in stark contrast to the stories we've heard from others in the area. The DNR trapped six or seven bears on one family's property. As soon as the bears were removed from the premises they saw new bears.
About 1:00 a.m. on July 3 a City of Bayfield resident's dog was attacked by a bear which next tried to get into her house. She hit the bear over the head with her cell phone as she dialed 911. This woman bakes bread for local restaurants and the farmers' market which leads me to wonder: Did this intrepid bear merely recognize a delicious jackpot when he smelled it?
Two days ago Frances and I met a porcupine in the middle of another dirt road. We pulled our car off to the side in order to pass and strongly encouraged it to vacate its center of the road location before another driver barreled along and chose not to stop. As the porcupine lumbered to the roadside I marveled at its quill-covered body and recalled several gorgeous quill boxes I've examined at Native Spirit Gifts in Red Cliff. Frances, of course, speculated about how a porcupine removes a woodtick from its own body while I wondered whether a tick would even dare to navigate its rough and spiny terrain.
Back home in my own yard it looks as though the fledgling robins took flight sometime between last night and this morning. The nest is quiet and the branch upon which it rests no longer bustles with the frequent visitations of mom and dad Robin. Frankly, I miss the overhead activity.
During today's TCC practice I focused on keeping my lower body soft and relaxed while I moved. I continue to hold tension in my legs and I was glad to receive Justin Stone's reminder to stay soft when I recently watched his Seijaku DVD. Yes, indeed, it felt good to relax my body from the waist down since I typically focus my relaxtion attention and intention on my upper body.
This day is absolutely, positively, fabulously beautiful!
Our lack of visitors is in stark contrast to the stories we've heard from others in the area. The DNR trapped six or seven bears on one family's property. As soon as the bears were removed from the premises they saw new bears.
About 1:00 a.m. on July 3 a City of Bayfield resident's dog was attacked by a bear which next tried to get into her house. She hit the bear over the head with her cell phone as she dialed 911. This woman bakes bread for local restaurants and the farmers' market which leads me to wonder: Did this intrepid bear merely recognize a delicious jackpot when he smelled it?
Two days ago Frances and I met a porcupine in the middle of another dirt road. We pulled our car off to the side in order to pass and strongly encouraged it to vacate its center of the road location before another driver barreled along and chose not to stop. As the porcupine lumbered to the roadside I marveled at its quill-covered body and recalled several gorgeous quill boxes I've examined at Native Spirit Gifts in Red Cliff. Frances, of course, speculated about how a porcupine removes a woodtick from its own body while I wondered whether a tick would even dare to navigate its rough and spiny terrain.
Back home in my own yard it looks as though the fledgling robins took flight sometime between last night and this morning. The nest is quiet and the branch upon which it rests no longer bustles with the frequent visitations of mom and dad Robin. Frankly, I miss the overhead activity.
During today's TCC practice I focused on keeping my lower body soft and relaxed while I moved. I continue to hold tension in my legs and I was glad to receive Justin Stone's reminder to stay soft when I recently watched his Seijaku DVD. Yes, indeed, it felt good to relax my body from the waist down since I typically focus my relaxtion attention and intention on my upper body.
This day is absolutely, positively, fabulously beautiful!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Living Happily in the Present
The weather cooled slightly today after a long, hot night. It's cloudy with brief moments of sunshine, sprinkles, and heavy showers. Plus it's windy, very, very w--i--n--d--y.
We're enjoying a mellow, laid back, stay-at-home day. What a treat! said Frances about our breakfast. We ate my homemade granola with Frances' homemade kefir and yesterday's handpicked raspberries. Delicious!
Lucy consumes lettuce like her stomach is a bottomless pit--it probably is!--plus she's back to grazing and drinking copious amounts of water. It is wonderfuly satisfying to see the geese behave in their normal goosely fashion and interact as if nothing out of the ordinary occurred just one week ago today.
A brief heavy rain cleared the humidity from the air and I'm back to feeling comfortably human once again. During my noon TCC practice I realized the major difference that a 10 degree temperature drop (from yesterday) can make in my movements.
Today it felt effortless to incorporate Seijaku back into my practice. Halfway through the form the geese joined me after downing another round of lettuce and water. Ander stood about six feet in front of me and Lucy stood directly behind him ... quietly watching.
I'm not accustomed to these two birds noticing my practice and/or needing or wanting to be physically close. But I do think they've realized that we're paying close attention to their whereabouts and monitoring them to ensure their safety. Their days of free ranging may be over.
Do they mind? I'm not so sure that they do. Ander approached me while I wrote my blog and he is currently asleep about six feet away from me. Lucy sleeps across the drive happy, it seems, to have some space from her humans who snatch her up twice a day to force food and medication down her throat.
Lucy's attack last week taught me to live happily in the present while I attend to the minute details of avian life and habits. I AM here now....
We're enjoying a mellow, laid back, stay-at-home day. What a treat! said Frances about our breakfast. We ate my homemade granola with Frances' homemade kefir and yesterday's handpicked raspberries. Delicious!
Lucy consumes lettuce like her stomach is a bottomless pit--it probably is!--plus she's back to grazing and drinking copious amounts of water. It is wonderfuly satisfying to see the geese behave in their normal goosely fashion and interact as if nothing out of the ordinary occurred just one week ago today.
A brief heavy rain cleared the humidity from the air and I'm back to feeling comfortably human once again. During my noon TCC practice I realized the major difference that a 10 degree temperature drop (from yesterday) can make in my movements.
Today it felt effortless to incorporate Seijaku back into my practice. Halfway through the form the geese joined me after downing another round of lettuce and water. Ander stood about six feet in front of me and Lucy stood directly behind him ... quietly watching.
I'm not accustomed to these two birds noticing my practice and/or needing or wanting to be physically close. But I do think they've realized that we're paying close attention to their whereabouts and monitoring them to ensure their safety. Their days of free ranging may be over.
Do they mind? I'm not so sure that they do. Ander approached me while I wrote my blog and he is currently asleep about six feet away from me. Lucy sleeps across the drive happy, it seems, to have some space from her humans who snatch her up twice a day to force food and medication down her throat.
Lucy's attack last week taught me to live happily in the present while I attend to the minute details of avian life and habits. I AM here now....
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Taxes? ... T'ai Chi Chih!
As tax preparation work piles up, my energy fades. T'ai chi chih practice to the rescue! I just finished another combination TCC/Seijaku practice and, yes, I feel brighter and more energetic. After a quick blog it's back to taxes. Now, though, I'm floating in the Chi and allowing myself to appreciate the feelings of peace and calm that emerged from my practice.
I just subscribed to DailyGood and began receiving a daily inspirational quote/story two days ago. Today's quote: Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. --Stella Adler
I could easily substitute the words t'ai chi chih moving meditation for art in the aforementioned quote and find a similar result. Recent and on-going contention within our Town over zoning issues has led to wide-ranging political and personal gamemanship and maneuvering.
I was grateful to teach my t'ai chi chih classes last night during the Town Board meeting and simply remove myself from the fray. It's often difficult to figure out what to do and how far to go when working toward positive change. Sometimes it seems that the best solution is simply to practice t'ai chi chih moving meditation and rest in peace instead of simmering on the burner of frustration, anger, and disappointment. I still have much to learn....
I just subscribed to DailyGood and began receiving a daily inspirational quote/story two days ago. Today's quote: Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. --Stella Adler
I could easily substitute the words t'ai chi chih moving meditation for art in the aforementioned quote and find a similar result. Recent and on-going contention within our Town over zoning issues has led to wide-ranging political and personal gamemanship and maneuvering.
I was grateful to teach my t'ai chi chih classes last night during the Town Board meeting and simply remove myself from the fray. It's often difficult to figure out what to do and how far to go when working toward positive change. Sometimes it seems that the best solution is simply to practice t'ai chi chih moving meditation and rest in peace instead of simmering on the burner of frustration, anger, and disappointment. I still have much to learn....
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Holding Fast and ... Letting Go
When I stepped out the door this morning, I felt as if I was entering a jungle. The trees were still bare of leaves, of course, the sky still visible through the tall grey trunks and branches of poplars, oaks, birches, and maples in our yard, but overriding it all was the lush melody of birdsong descending from those branches and working its way directly into my heart. The atmosphere resounded with excited, joyous song.
A bit later the kitten and dog joined me on the deck, each of us engaged in our own practices; the dog chased after his first squirrels of the season, threatening them with a strong, quick bark and Chiripa scurried across the deck in mad pursuit of the abundant crop of flies that buzzed busily through the sunshine-filled air. I practiced a mix of TCC and Seijaku in the 60 degree heat as I breathed in air and light.
My practice felt good in body and soul as I alternated three TCC repetitions with three Seijaku repetitions then back to three TCC repetitions per movement. The "holding fast and letting go" of Seijaku offers a decidedly different experience of the energy than regular TCC practice. It takes more attention and intention but the intensity of energy it provides is markedly different.
There's an energy and excitement to this day, too, and rather than sit in a dark room in front of a computer screen I'll abandon it all to the glory of this day. Premature spring--by one week only--here I come!
A bit later the kitten and dog joined me on the deck, each of us engaged in our own practices; the dog chased after his first squirrels of the season, threatening them with a strong, quick bark and Chiripa scurried across the deck in mad pursuit of the abundant crop of flies that buzzed busily through the sunshine-filled air. I practiced a mix of TCC and Seijaku in the 60 degree heat as I breathed in air and light.
My practice felt good in body and soul as I alternated three TCC repetitions with three Seijaku repetitions then back to three TCC repetitions per movement. The "holding fast and letting go" of Seijaku offers a decidedly different experience of the energy than regular TCC practice. It takes more attention and intention but the intensity of energy it provides is markedly different.
There's an energy and excitement to this day, too, and rather than sit in a dark room in front of a computer screen I'll abandon it all to the glory of this day. Premature spring--by one week only--here I come!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Welcome Tonic
A foggy haze encircled me as I walked outside to release the geese from their barn this morning. Earlier I watched white-tailed deer, one, then three more, graze quietly through the forest. The smallest--and probably youngest--deer ventured near the bird feeder to nibble delicately on a tender branch while the others gazed from afar quiet as garden statues.
I slipped Justin's Seijaku DVD into the player this morning and followed along. I was certified in Seijaku (Advanced T'ai Chi Chih) in 1999. The training occurred several months before my father's death and, preoccupied with Dad's declining health, I neglected to practice Seijaku regularly. Today, though, I felt like I was reconnecting with an old friend. It felt comfortable, familiar.
Pam Towne, one of TCC's teacher trainers, encouraged me during a phone conversation late last year to return to Seijaku. She suggested that I simply incorporate it into my daily TCC practice, perhaps alternating it within the regular nine repetitions. I intuitively knew the time would come when I could/would revisit Seijaku and ... today is that day.
It feels right, good and appropriate that I'm returning to Seijaku now. My body is in desperate need of it and I sense that its Serenity in the Midst of Activity will provide a welcome tonic in my life.
I slipped Justin's Seijaku DVD into the player this morning and followed along. I was certified in Seijaku (Advanced T'ai Chi Chih) in 1999. The training occurred several months before my father's death and, preoccupied with Dad's declining health, I neglected to practice Seijaku regularly. Today, though, I felt like I was reconnecting with an old friend. It felt comfortable, familiar.
Pam Towne, one of TCC's teacher trainers, encouraged me during a phone conversation late last year to return to Seijaku. She suggested that I simply incorporate it into my daily TCC practice, perhaps alternating it within the regular nine repetitions. I intuitively knew the time would come when I could/would revisit Seijaku and ... today is that day.
It feels right, good and appropriate that I'm returning to Seijaku now. My body is in desperate need of it and I sense that its Serenity in the Midst of Activity will provide a welcome tonic in my life.
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