Tai Chi for Thriving

Tai Chi for Thriving Aliveness: connecting with what is there – feeling into your body without judgment meeting yourself where you are do your own work Boundaries: “ward off” energy – your “bubble” Connection: self connection feeling into the structure/core of another nothing happens if no one does anything Control: Begin with balance – good structure is the key; reaching and grasping destroy structure. Trees have just one leg but stand on it confidently knowing the universe itself conspires to hold it up. You must make a commitment to yourself from the moment the thought occurs to stand on one foot, take a step, or otherwise transfer the weight; commit fully to the idea that your one leg alone can hold you upright, and then shape your body to best facilitate that. Check in with your body - listen, and respond with compassion. Receiving while holding boundaries (“rollback”) Maintaining the ideal posture; forming the shape that serves best.

Doing what needs to be done: being prepared to act from your core without too much thought Energy and Expression: energy naturally goes to what's alive find where something is in your body, and express! giving the type and amount of energy required for the intended purpose fluidity – adjusting for what's happening right now  Thrlving Life Institute, LLC  503-395-5366  [email protected]   www.facebook.com/thrivinglifeinstitute  www.thrivinglifenvc.org 

2 Effortlessness: it's more a matter of relaxing into it than of “trying” good structure allows for maximum effortlessness brute force and tensing won't get you there Ways to practice:

standing: joint opening, breathing (microcosmic orbit), quiet cultivation of sensitivity, imagining, visualization, affirmations walking: slowly with consciousness, intention and commitment two person: push hands position, riding along, offering resistance movement: form, free-form

I’m so glad to have you join me in playing Tai Chi!

Lori Loranger 360-837-3760 [email protected]

 Thrlving Life Institute, LLC  503-395-5366  [email protected]   Currently hosted at www.rosecitynvc.org 