Month: February 2019

I love physics. I wish I had the power of the web when I was in school. It may have changed the trajectory of my career. Not that I’m unhappy where I am at, but who knows where life takes you?

Tomorrow eve is another class of Tai-Chi. Looking forward to that. It’s weird, I feel like I need to start doing static tai-chi poses for practice (along with some chi-gong warmup). It feels like a totally different type of Tai-Chi. The practice takes a physical toll on me as we go through class. It also seems like chi manifests itself differently in both types – although the exact same father type: Yang style. In the “Yang Temple Style” that I first learned, the energy feels light and energetic. The new chi feels warming and blanketing/sticky. Two very different feelings.

-Rat

So, last night I slept with a CPAP machine. I slept 4 hrs. with it on, then I took it off and slept the balance with it off. I had a crappy nights sleep, or so I thought. My eyes were tired this morning, but I had more energy throughout the day. So, who knows? Had Tai Chi last evening also. The jury is still out on this. I was sore upon leaving but really got hot during class. I don’t know if my chi was flowing or not, but I was certainly warm. Usually, I can feel my chi flow, then again… who knows?

v4
The Dao is empty
but inexhaustible, bottomless,
the ancestor of it all.

Within it, the sharp edges become smooth,
the twisted knots loosen;
the sun us softened by a cloud;
the dust settles into place.

It is hidden but always present.
I know not who gave birth to it.
It seems to be the common ancestor of all,
the father of things.

-Rat

Well, Tai Chi kinda stalled for the time being. Last weeks class was cancelled due to weather and a power outage. So, in the interim I found a book on static Tai Chi positioning. It will be something that I can practice in lieu of moving. Should be interesting. It seems to tie the movement and the practice together by utilizing static positioning. Should be interesting, it kinda dives into the yin-yang theories for explanation. Ill comment on this at some other time after I had a chance to read, digest, and practice. I do know that several of the Chinese grand masters teach this, so I am anxious to put into “action”.

-Rat

So, last night I had my first real Tai chi class in approximately 2 years. I was sore when we were finished (that was probably a good sign). I feel that I only scratched the surface – another good sign. I heard some things in his spiel that raised an eyebrow on the fact vs fiction side. But all in all, it was positive. I didn’t feel like I wasted my time. The style is similar to mine – that is also good (similarities in movement). I think I will practice when I get home later. Chi Gong is involved. It will be interesting to see if he has single sets or not, push hands or not, joint locks or not, darkness or not, wrestling or not, and how or not – the sword is an extension of the body.

-Rat

I start a new Tai Chi class tonight. I hope its more traditional and not some new age, mumbo-jumbo, b.s. (like at the health club). Either Chen or Yang would be good, preferably Yang. Speaking of Yang…

v.3
Putting a value on status
will create contentiousness.
If you overvalue possessions,
people begin to steal.
By not displaying what is desirable,
you will cause people’s hearts
to remain undisturbed.

The sage governs
by emptying minds and hearts,
by weakening ambitions and
strengthening bones.

Practice not doing…
When action is pure and selfless,
everything settles into its own
perfect place.

Ya know, I never thought very much of Doctor Phil on Opra, but I was listening to his podcast and he’s got some dynamite advice in a new series that he is doing called “Living by Design” – part 1. It is via “Phil in the (blanks)” on Apple Podcast. I’ve been in enough therapy to know good advice when I hear it 🙂

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/phil-in-the-blanks/id1446088262?mt=2

-Rat