Newsletter   •   May 21, 2022

What’s Happening

21st May 2022

Hello my friends. Thank you for being with me along our monthly newsletter journey which began in 2018. The purpose of this newsletter is to share Tai Chi principles and inspirations, my Tai Chi understanding and update you with what is happening at Meridian Connection Tai Chi School.

From this month, we will change “What is happening” to more Tai Chi and Qi Gong related topics and evidence-based studies with fun and life stories. We surely will let you know tai chi classes/workshops updates, new offers etc. I hope you will find something informative, practical and related to what you are looking for in life. There is always space in my newsletter for open discussion, feedback and comments. I would love to hear your story, and welcome your message to me anytime.

I, with my family, visited my extended family in UK between April and May due to family member illness. It was sad to see your loved one who once was so vibrant and alive, suffering from ongoing excruciating pain and losing the hope for life. It was painful to watch. I also felt hopeless as there was little I could help. Have you experienced something similar when your loved ones are suffering, you can’t do anything to help? I know some of my mid-aged friends are stressed out as they are currently looking after their elderly parents who need lots of care and attention while managing their own household chores, business/work and children etc. Sometimes it just becomes too much to handle, as a result, their health begin to seriously suffer.

This trip made me to look at individual life further in a new perspective though I have thought this before. I think all lives and living beings are connected in a way as energy. When we talk about vitality, we may refer to various things. One of the core elements is energy, known as Qi ( may be seen or spelt as Chi). With little, one becomes ill. With none, one will be dead. I would encourage everyone to think about energy from micro and macro aspects.

Ask yourself some simple questions now,
* What is my current energy level?
* How do I consume my energy reservoir?
* How long can I keep running my life with the energy I have if I don’t get recharged ?
* What kind of energy am I surrounded and connected with each day?
* How do I recharge my energy like battery?
* Do I need change?

These questions can be a part of your self-care assessment on a regular basis. I feel this is important because our health is not only important to us, but also important to our loved ones.

Tai Chi practice is like an ongoing recharging kit ( food is another important part of the kit). If your battery is low, use Tai Chi and Qi Gong to recharge yourself. You don’t need anything apart from your own mind and body, not even a mat! The best part is that you have it already. You have the energy within you. Unlike many fitness exercise, your entry to Tai Chi and Qi Gong doesn’t require you to bend or stretch like a ballerina. You will become ballerina if you are committed to your Tai Chi practice as an end result.

Now you see the hope and excitement. The practical question is HOW ? How to cultivate your own energy center so that your energy can be generated like a bubbling well or current as you wish?

The answer, in my opinion, is quite simple: find a good teacher if you haven’t learned Tai Chi before. If you are confident with your own practice, 20 minutes each day to recharge your energy.

Why does Tai Chi and Qi Gong have the strength for life yet require so little of you to begin?

As Tai Chi and Qi Gong movements are completed by mental intention rather than muscle tension. We are being physically active without any unnecessary physical tension. This then paves the way for the ability to be mentally active without any unnecessary mental tension. Relaxation is a habit that many people need to relearn. “Trying” to relax creates tension. Instead you must “allow” yourself to relax, in other words, letting go, being empty, returning to your origin. There should be no tension in the muscles, so there is no restriction to the flow of blood and Qi which is essential for better circulation and nourishment. The body follows the Qi, the Qi follows the mind, and the mind moves in harmony with nature. Now you see how energy are cultivated and connected in a big picture, right?

Imagine you move like a light ( carries energy without having any mass), inducing abundant energy from outer world and connecting trillions of dots within you. I have my picture. What is your picture? what can you see, hear and sense?

If you have tried other fitness exercise and the result is not very satisfactory. I would encourage you to try Tai Chi and Qi Gong. There will be only more gain, nothing to lose. If you have already got good health result from Tai Chi and Qi Gong, regard it as your treasure, see it as the strength for life as it is so, physically, mentally and spiritually.

There are so much more depth we can go further, but I would like to leave here, so we can all take a break, digest and look up the sky and have three deep breaths, recharge ourselves.

By the way, our Term 2 classes will start next Tuesday on 24th May. Each term has 10-week sessions. More information is at https://meridian-connection.com.au/classes/ . Online registration is available and our class numbers are limited. Enrol asap if you are keen to boost your energy level and enhance your vitality.

During this trip, I also visited some local Tai Chi schools and interviewed some highly-regarded Tai Chi instructors, which I will be sharing in next newsletter. Till then, stay tuned and reach out if you need any help or support.

“As the Qi flows, the muscles and skin grow
The body’s trunk is like a tree with branches.
Concealed and hidden to most people, it is unknown.
Great virtue and Qi are like gold”
– To those who is interested in Qi and Dao.

Wish you all well and stay strong,
Fang & Meridian Connection Tai Chi Team