It's a snow day!!! I cancelled all three of my T'ai Chi Chih classes scheduled for this morning and evening. And, like a lot of other adults, I felt like a kid again with a totally open Play Day.
We didn't receive the predicted 18+ inches of snow, but I'm guessing that at least 10 inches fell. I took a test drive to decide whether I could make it to my morning class and found close to white out conditions. Now that the snow has stopped and the wind is less harsh I can see further out the window to all that's been buried: cars, roofs, wood piles, and the east side of trees.
I didn't really play today since I had an accumulated array of chores to complete. Nevertheless, it felt wonderful to relish the quiet and enjoy the sensation of being snowed in for the day....
I practiced T'ai Chi Chih late in the afternoon as I looked out the windows at our better-late-than-never winter wonderland. The cat, who slept throughout the day, roused herself and jumped onto the chest of drawers in front of me. From that vantage point she viewed the wonderland too. Then she rose onto her hind feet and pawed at the curved icicle that pointed directly at the window. I'd been wondering about that icicle too....
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
A Life Buoy
Yesterday's strategies worked beautifully. I shoveled snow for 45 minutes; by the time I came back inside, I felt better. Next I did a full T'ai Chi Chih practice, then ate liver for lunch (Frances swears by the mood boosting effects of the B vitamins contained in liver). By the time I left for work the world was, again, a friendly place.
I practiced TCC today while more snow drifted from sky to earth. There's a winter storm warning through tomorrow evening with up to 18 inches of snow, high winds, and low visibility predicted. Winter has finally arrived; it's comforting to look outside and see fresh layers of winter wonderland white blanketing the woods.
I haven't been sleeping well and I'm hopeful that my AM TCC practice will buoy my energy through this afternoon and evening. I always enjoy practicing T'ai Chi Chih while snow (and rain) fall. There's a comfortable slowdown of body and mind that seems to occur naturally when precipitation falls from the heavens.
I practiced TCC today while more snow drifted from sky to earth. There's a winter storm warning through tomorrow evening with up to 18 inches of snow, high winds, and low visibility predicted. Winter has finally arrived; it's comforting to look outside and see fresh layers of winter wonderland white blanketing the woods.
I haven't been sleeping well and I'm hopeful that my AM TCC practice will buoy my energy through this afternoon and evening. I always enjoy practicing T'ai Chi Chih while snow (and rain) fall. There's a comfortable slowdown of body and mind that seems to occur naturally when precipitation falls from the heavens.
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Wandering, Worrying Mind
Today I continue to feel overemotional and out of balance. While lying awake in the middle of the night I practiced what I preach to my students; I performed a mental rehearsal of T'ai Chi Chih to aid in relaxation and (hopefully) return to sleep.
My mental rehearsal was helpful up to a point. I drifted off to sleep for short periods as I made my way through the entire TCC practice. Now that I'm out of bed it's clear that I need to do a full moving meditation practice before I head to work because I'm caught in a cycle of low level anxiety.
It's also obvious that I have to move my body more vigorously to shift the chemistry in my brain. Lucky for me I have about six inches of new snow lying on the ground and it needs to be shoveled off the front step, deck, and around the car.
We'll see what relief my moving meditation practice and my snow shoveling provide for my wandering, worrying mind.
My mental rehearsal was helpful up to a point. I drifted off to sleep for short periods as I made my way through the entire TCC practice. Now that I'm out of bed it's clear that I need to do a full moving meditation practice before I head to work because I'm caught in a cycle of low level anxiety.
It's also obvious that I have to move my body more vigorously to shift the chemistry in my brain. Lucky for me I have about six inches of new snow lying on the ground and it needs to be shoveled off the front step, deck, and around the car.
We'll see what relief my moving meditation practice and my snow shoveling provide for my wandering, worrying mind.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Weekend Wanderings
Saturday, February 25, 2012:
Well, I learned a lesson: Don't wait to blog until the day after I do my practice because my memory won't dependably recall the previous day's activities.
I remember going to the sixth annual donut fry at Port Wing on Saturday afternoon. The Town Hall was filled with people, children, music, talent shows, potluck items, conversation, and, yes, donuts. But, (I'm guessing) as a result of the overstimulation, I can't remember anything else about my day. Usually I take the time to write in my journal if I don't get to the computer, but today I totally spaced out making any written record of the day and the TCC practice.
How odd to not remember what happened a mere 24 to 36 hours earlier....
Sunday, February 26, 2012:
It's been one snowy, all-white day. Finally.
Today I worked on taxes. Again. I hope to meet with an accountant this week and I still had a fair amount of collecting, calculating, and streamlining to do. It feels good to get organized and to know that soon this annual obligation will be completed.
In late afternoon I did my seated TCC practice out on the porch as I listened to background sounds of Frances sharpening knives in the kitchen, Chiripa playing wildly in the living room, and a space heater running softly next to me. I had a highly emotional day and it felt wonderful to calm and settle myself.
I'm ready--almost!--to begin another work week.
Well, I learned a lesson: Don't wait to blog until the day after I do my practice because my memory won't dependably recall the previous day's activities.
I remember going to the sixth annual donut fry at Port Wing on Saturday afternoon. The Town Hall was filled with people, children, music, talent shows, potluck items, conversation, and, yes, donuts. But, (I'm guessing) as a result of the overstimulation, I can't remember anything else about my day. Usually I take the time to write in my journal if I don't get to the computer, but today I totally spaced out making any written record of the day and the TCC practice.
How odd to not remember what happened a mere 24 to 36 hours earlier....
Sunday, February 26, 2012:
It's been one snowy, all-white day. Finally.
Today I worked on taxes. Again. I hope to meet with an accountant this week and I still had a fair amount of collecting, calculating, and streamlining to do. It feels good to get organized and to know that soon this annual obligation will be completed.
In late afternoon I did my seated TCC practice out on the porch as I listened to background sounds of Frances sharpening knives in the kitchen, Chiripa playing wildly in the living room, and a space heater running softly next to me. I had a highly emotional day and it felt wonderful to calm and settle myself.
I'm ready--almost!--to begin another work week.
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Need to Be
Yep. Again today I'm feeling that end of the week exhaustion. (At least the end of my work week.)
I slept late and then made every effort to pace myself. I only brought one sled of firewood into the house instead of my normal three sledfulls. I only made one food item rather than spending an entire afternoon in the kitchen. I did my entire T'ai Chi Chih practice seated, not standing.
Oh, I moved slowly after I got out of bed. And now, after TCC practice, I feel better, quieter, calmer, more relaxed.
I opted out of attending this evening's library presentation of the film, Freedom Riders (about civil rights activists in the south during the '60s). I was sorely tempted because a Freedom Rider who lives on Madeline Island will be there this evening to tell his story. But ... I need time alone. I need to soak myself in peace in quiet. I need to be free of obligations. I need to be.
I slept late and then made every effort to pace myself. I only brought one sled of firewood into the house instead of my normal three sledfulls. I only made one food item rather than spending an entire afternoon in the kitchen. I did my entire T'ai Chi Chih practice seated, not standing.
Oh, I moved slowly after I got out of bed. And now, after TCC practice, I feel better, quieter, calmer, more relaxed.
I opted out of attending this evening's library presentation of the film, Freedom Riders (about civil rights activists in the south during the '60s). I was sorely tempted because a Freedom Rider who lives on Madeline Island will be there this evening to tell his story. But ... I need time alone. I need to soak myself in peace in quiet. I need to be free of obligations. I need to be.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Practice, Practice, Practice and then ... Forget
Wednesday, February 22, 2012:
I began the day with a T'ai Chi Chih beginners' class and ended the day with a T'ai Chi Chih beginners' class. Between the two sessions I organized my 2011 taxes, logged on to a wireless connection at a public library to learn how to use a Kindle Fire (required for my Bayfield Library job in order to assist patrons when they eventually check out the Fire), bought groceries and gas, and taught another (continuing) TCC class.
When I arrived home from teaching, I went to bed immediately. Taking time to write my blog was beyond my capabilities because I was flat-out tired.
At the T'ai Chi Chih continuing class I mentioned Sr. Antonia's February 2012 Newsletter. In it she included a reprint of an email exchange between a TCC teacher candidate and a certified teacher following a training session for teacher candidates who wished to learn how to refine and improve their TCC form.
The aforementioned teacher candidate cited several suggestions and instructions from the training that spoke to her and helped her to move forward in her own practice. She wrote:
This morning's TCC class--the last one of the week--felt as though it was an inadvertent continuation of last night's Continuing TCC class discussion. Today, though, we talked about Buddha's Brain, Chapter 12, under the section entitled "Rapture and Joy."
As our group discussed how or when we experience Rapture and Joy during our T'ai Chi Chih practices we segued into a discussion about specific movements in the form. Each of us has our own favorite movements as well as others that we consider to be hard to relate to and/or simply don't understand.
Based on my experiences with my own TCC practice, I believe that after years of repetition we grow to love and appreciate each and every one of these movements. To me, that's an indication that we are mastering the form and learning how to let go of resistance and/or blockages that heretofore stood in our way.
I can no longer remember how many TCC movements I struggled with over the years. Still, I continued to practice. And, as one class member explained, now the finger that once hurt works perfectly and you've forgotten that it ever was injured.
T'ai Chi Chih inspires healing on all levels of the mind, body, and spirit until you have no recollection of the struggles that once existed in your bodymind with regard to one (or many) of the TCC movements (and much else in your life!). Now each and every movement becomes part of the great Universal Dance. And that is true letting go....
I began the day with a T'ai Chi Chih beginners' class and ended the day with a T'ai Chi Chih beginners' class. Between the two sessions I organized my 2011 taxes, logged on to a wireless connection at a public library to learn how to use a Kindle Fire (required for my Bayfield Library job in order to assist patrons when they eventually check out the Fire), bought groceries and gas, and taught another (continuing) TCC class.
When I arrived home from teaching, I went to bed immediately. Taking time to write my blog was beyond my capabilities because I was flat-out tired.
At the T'ai Chi Chih continuing class I mentioned Sr. Antonia's February 2012 Newsletter. In it she included a reprint of an email exchange between a TCC teacher candidate and a certified teacher following a training session for teacher candidates who wished to learn how to refine and improve their TCC form.
The aforementioned teacher candidate cited several suggestions and instructions from the training that spoke to her and helped her to move forward in her own practice. She wrote:
The feeling of a free floating Ferris wheel, in Bass Drum, is lightening, loosening and smoothing my practice! There are very light dear ones in my airy Ferris wheel, helping to soften and even the pace and level. I've noticed for awhile that there was a bit of wasted energy on Bird Flaps its Wings, but couldn't put my finger on where. Now, thanks to Bill, I know there was unnecessary pulling up of my wrists, as coming back together, and it also applies to the circles of Wrist Circles Taffy.... Working the Pulley ... the discovery of how shifting just a bit further forward, gets me more grounded, and makes for an easier ride forward and back, with fuller, lighter and evenly sized circles on each end.There have been many times in my own TCC practice when one small refinement or correction makes all the difference in the level of ease and relaxation with which I can now perform the movement. I've said it before and I'll say it again: That's what I appreciate about TCC practice. No matter how many years you practice, there are always opportunities for new learning and growth. As Sr. Antonia noted in her newsletter:
The evolutionary character of Chi continues to amaze, transform, deepen, enlighten, etc. those who delve into its mystery through their total presence in the form of awareness in their practice. The level of understanding, both on the part of the candidate and of the teacher, accounts for change on many levels.Thursday, February 23, 2012:
This morning's TCC class--the last one of the week--felt as though it was an inadvertent continuation of last night's Continuing TCC class discussion. Today, though, we talked about Buddha's Brain, Chapter 12, under the section entitled "Rapture and Joy."
As our group discussed how or when we experience Rapture and Joy during our T'ai Chi Chih practices we segued into a discussion about specific movements in the form. Each of us has our own favorite movements as well as others that we consider to be hard to relate to and/or simply don't understand.
Based on my experiences with my own TCC practice, I believe that after years of repetition we grow to love and appreciate each and every one of these movements. To me, that's an indication that we are mastering the form and learning how to let go of resistance and/or blockages that heretofore stood in our way.
I can no longer remember how many TCC movements I struggled with over the years. Still, I continued to practice. And, as one class member explained, now the finger that once hurt works perfectly and you've forgotten that it ever was injured.
T'ai Chi Chih inspires healing on all levels of the mind, body, and spirit until you have no recollection of the struggles that once existed in your bodymind with regard to one (or many) of the TCC movements (and much else in your life!). Now each and every movement becomes part of the great Universal Dance. And that is true letting go....
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
No Reason Other than Snowflakes
It's snowing! That's such a rarity this winter that I savor the beauty and silence that comes with each infrequent snowfall. While normally we'd wake each morning with a light (or heavier) dusting of snow, this year our snow accumulations are infrequent to none.
New snow greeted me when I walked to the kitchen window this morning. After I started my T'ai Chi Chih practice on the porch more snow fell lightly and then, fast and furious.
It certainly feels as though fresh-falling snow contributes to the experience of my TCC practice. Perhaps the snowfall reminds me of my childhood when snowstorms meant school cancellations while life paused for a day or two. Or maybe the pure white covering hints at a fresh start, a new beginning....
Whatever the reason, I found it easier to slow and relax into my TCC practice this morning. I've also been crazy-busy recently and it's likely that my body needed the slower pace, the quieter environment, the recalibration.
Today for no reason other than snowflakes I feel happy, comfortable, at ease.
New snow greeted me when I walked to the kitchen window this morning. After I started my T'ai Chi Chih practice on the porch more snow fell lightly and then, fast and furious.
It certainly feels as though fresh-falling snow contributes to the experience of my TCC practice. Perhaps the snowfall reminds me of my childhood when snowstorms meant school cancellations while life paused for a day or two. Or maybe the pure white covering hints at a fresh start, a new beginning....
Whatever the reason, I found it easier to slow and relax into my TCC practice this morning. I've also been crazy-busy recently and it's likely that my body needed the slower pace, the quieter environment, the recalibration.
Today for no reason other than snowflakes I feel happy, comfortable, at ease.
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