I practice tai chi as part of finding an internal harmony that had eluded me in my younger, more rebelious years. The practice of looking within as part of movement to release your true nature has given me confidence and a contentment that I had never experienced. Combined with reading works by Lao Tsu, Chuang Tsu and others, I have found a connection between the internal (spiritual) and external (world) that I look forward to exploring for the rest of my life. I hope to explore all aspects of tai chi, including the sword form and push hands.
—Reed Ayers (2006)
For many years, I lived in an active life, play tennis, volleyball and regularly workout. I particularly enjoy outdoor activities, hiking, ocean kayaking and cross country ski. However, I slowly noticed there is something missing in all of these activities. My mother has practiced Taichi since I was little, and I never paid any attention to it until recently. I have been observing how my parents (in their late 60's) walk. Some part of my father feet seems never lifted from the ground although he has been a active person for many years. My mother walks much younger than my father's. Maybe Taichi made the difference? I wonder. Then I met a friend's father who has practiced Taichi seriously for more than 40 years. It is hard to believe that he is in his 80s seeing how fast and easy he walks. I got my answer.
—Weiyan Chen (2006)
I find that taiji provides challenging physical and mental exercise and that its practice and philosophy offers a way to integrate body, mind and spirit.
—Ralph DeRose (2008)
Tai Chi is challenging in so many ways. Through it I see the types of thoughts and emotions I go through when learning a new skill. And Laura's patient, detailed instruction with a consistent focus on the fundamentals, has shown me the right way to learn probably anything. It's more than just the movement, it's the letting go of expectations, being part of a process that doesn't have immediate results and where acheivement can't be forced. It's learning how the mind responds to physical challenges and overcoming the illusions of conditioned perception (for example, resulting from postural corrections). It's giving myself to a path in the midst of so many other paths to choose from - like finally being satisfied with a purchase and not rushing out for something else to fix the craving. It's stopping the self-criticism and letting effort and current ability be enough. I'm finally not trying to jump out of my own skin all the time.
—George Eakin (2005)
I do Tai Chi for healing, well-being, and fitness.
—Barbara Farhar (2006)
(1) For my health, (2) to learn theory from Tai Chi, and (3) for my soul.
—ShanShan Gong (2005)
I started practicing TaiChi because I've heard so many good things about doing it. But, it took me a long time to realize some of the benefits. I've been learning TaiChi on and off for several years. Although I always liked it when I was taking the lesson, there was always some excuses to stop. Three years ago, I joined the GuFeng TaiChi club. The atmosphere of the club - good leadership, diligent and good instructors, nice and hard working members, helped me to hang in there and practice no matter how busy I was. After three years' practice, doing TaiChi becomes part of my life. I use it to exercise, to loose wight, to meditate, to increase my energy and health.
Why don't I continue practicing TaiChi?
—Ching Huang (2005)
I practice Tai Chi for the health benefits: physical, mental and spiritual. I love the fluid beauty of it, and the gentle self-discipline it helps me to cultivate. I also simply enjoy doing the postures. It just feels good. I so look forward to Sunday mornings being with the group, and am very grateful to Laura, all the other instructors, and to my fellow students. It's wonderful learning with all of you and from all of you. Many thanks.
—Jackie Hudson (2008)
The reasons why I practice Taichi are:
1) To participate in Asian culture.
2) Taichi is good for my health.
—Cynthia Lee (2005)
All the sports and excercises I do bring me a lot of fun, but Taiji is unique: it is a practice that unwinds my mind as well as my body. So it may not be that surprising to see a significant drop in the frequency of the migraine headache. I also enjoy learning the different forms of Taiji, because they help me understand Taiji from different perspectives. On the other hand, I am well aware that the muscles are still tight, the Qi is still elusive, the mind is not yet let go and the indigenous spirit has not come alive after four years of practice. This awareness, along with the awesome power Master Chen demonstrated, really makes me appreciate how deep the rabbit hole is. This depth is yet another reason why Taiji is such an appealing martial art.
—Hanli Liu (2005)
I started practicing Tai Chi looking for a martial art, but I continue to practice tai chi for my health. I spent half my life studying various martial arts but, after a few accidents, I began searching for alternatives. Tai chi has its roots in the martial arts, but is also great for improving health and balance. It's also very relaxing and I enjoy how good I feel after practicing Tai Chi. At almost 5 years of practice, Tai Chi is the only discipline in which I've stayed for so long. I don't see me quitting any time soon, either.
—Sean Luckett (2005)
1. To avoid falling down: I broke my ankle and did surgery in Sep. 1993, after that time, I tried to find some exercises to help me to stand stably. Taichi's "Mar Bu" is helpful.
2. To benefit from Chinese philosophy: If not "learning by doing", most of Chinese philosophy is doctrinaire. Taichi's postures have their philosophical background. Laura talked a lot about it during our classes. You know the benefits from your feelings by practice.
3. To enjoy friendship with our group.
—Li-Ming Meng (2005)
I had a feeling that my body needed a real tuning and that Tai Chi will help me accomplish this. So I came to Gu Feng Tai Chi club. After the initial frustration of learning the 24 form, I started feeling better and better each Sunday.
Now I find Tai Chi energizing, relaxing, and some of the physical pain I was experiencing is either gone or very much lessened.
I also enjoy the gentle and relaxed group energy, and the generosity of the instructors who gave me their time and energy to help me through the difficulties. Thank you.
—Lorant Muth (2006)
Learning tai chi from Laura and all of GuFeng Tai Chi's wonderful teachers enables me to have an ongoing pratice and progressive learning (on many levels). Tai chi is a moving meditation for me and it improves my physical, emotional and mental balance. Other tai chi classes seem always to be structured as 6-8 week classes; I feel fortunate to be a part of GuFeng Tai Chi's ongoing classes where there is continuity and a deeper level of learning.
—Cathy Chen-Ortega (2008)
To practice Tai Chi is nothing. Do not misunderstand what I mean. In the forms that we learn, in the specific movements that we travel through, there is no deep meaning. The Tai Chi we practice is a nothing that lends significance to everything - a circumstance I do not and may never comprehend. My practice of Tai Chi is essentially meaningless - it would be easily forgotten if I were to stop practicing - but the effect that Tai Chi practice is having on my entire perception of the world - this is unforgettable.
—Sean Owens (2008)
I first started learning Tai Chi about 7 years ago, at the time primarily as a form of exercise. A couple years ago, I started exploring Taoism which eventually brought me back to an interest in Tai Chi as a means of trying to better center myself, and to better connect with the world around me, in addition to it's direct health benefits as a form of exercise. I have not been studying it for long yet, but already am finding that it is helping me with my concentration, as well as helping me control my weight.
—Richard Rapier (2008)
Tai Chi practice brings me closer to living as an integrated person. My mind and my body, my emotions, my place in time, all meeting as a single event.
—Manson Root (2005)
- Meditation; Meditation rocks. It takes some work, but it's a fantastic opportunity to explore what you are and gain some insight concerning your own humanity and what you might want to do with it.
- Martial Arts; Martial Arts rock; especially when combined with meditation. The training involved helps me to learn how better to control my body doing just about everything (including snowboarding).
- Community; The Gu Feng Tai Chi Club rocks. They're all pretty inspiring folks. Whenever I hit a tough spot and need someone guidance, I'm never at a loss to find someone; whether the issue is with my practice or something else in life. They're amongst the most intelligent, compassionate and diverse group of folks I've seen anywhere, and I'm thankful that I'm welcomed as a member."
—Chris Smerz (2008)
I have never been good at any sports. I started Taichi because it looked easy to me at first. I soon learned this is not the case. The controlled power behind the seemingly relaxed slow movement offers more than just health benefits. I think Taichi is making me stronger and more balanced physically. I hope I can take the lessons from Taichi and apply them to my life.
—Hong Wu (2008)
I started Taichi with Gufeng taichi club 6 years ago. That makes me one of the "oldest" members of the club. However, I wish I am even "older".
Taichi has become integral part of my life and I really don't know how to live a different life without it. For the past 6 years, I have been working for startup companies. Work has always been challenging and with a 3 year boy with me now, Taichi has definitely saved me among all the stresses I get. I feel relaxed by doing taichi even after a short form. Quite often a 10 minute short standing meditation makes up a great deal of lack of sleep. Believe it or not, taichi keeps me stay in shape.
Gufengtaichi is the best club I have even been with. It's a great experience to practice Taichi with these outstanding people. I constantly learn not only from the teacher (Laura) but also from other members.
To me, Taichi is not just a hobby, a passion, or even an "addiction". It's a way of life. May the Qi be with you ;)
—Wayne Xin (2005)
I was deeply touched the first time I saw Taichi many many years ago when I was a kid in China. Back then, of course I couldn't tell how good/bad that person is, I even can't remember which posture and which style he was doing, but I was totally fascinated by his slow but fluent, soft yet powerful, graceful but also dangerous moves. I couldn't figure how an ordinary person with bare hands can be so peaceful and so threatening at the same time. The curiosity about the mystery of Taichi ever since rooted in my heart and finally led me into the world of Taichi many years later.
I took the Taichi class to learn the simplified 24 postures right after I graduated from university. I remember that the class had about 40 people, and the teacher only took 2 weeks to finish all the teaching, he couldn't possibly give any individual corrections. After the class, I practiced many times by myself or with other people in the park, but I felt nothing more than a set of lifeless moves, I even didn't sweat much. Finally I realized what I was doing was not the Taichi I had in mind. Then I stopped doing it until I met Laura --- my present Taichi teacher.
Meeting with Laura and her enthusiastic group three years ago was the turning point of my Taichi life. Before that, I felt so puzzled and had lost most interest of doing Taichi. It was Laura's harmonious and energetic performance that reminded me of all the beauties of Taichi. I knew immediately that is the Taichi I've been looking for. In the past three years, with Laura's precise correction and effective way of showing the application of every movement, the gradual internal meditation training method, and her encouragement, practicing Taichi has been the most happy moments of my daily life. I finally can feel the magic of the combination of the body, mind and inner strength. Every time after the practice, I feel like every cell of my body is opening. I sweat a lot outside, but inside I would be filled with optimism, calm and a sense of well-being.
In the world of Taichi, there are still a lot I can not comprehend now. The secrets behind the secrets and the heavenly joy is the lure which keeps me interested and continues to nurture me as I learn more.
—Sue Yue (2005)