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)
(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)
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)
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)
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)