Tai Chi Caledonia

It was noticeable that the evening free pushing sessions last year were not as well attended as usual. Whether this was because there were quite a few newcomers I don’t know.

The term “push hands” may have put some of you off trying it, making it sound like a competition. While it can be, that is not what it is about at Tai Chi Caledonia. Some people have suggested that it would be better named “sensing hands”, the idea being to sense your partner’s intention and respond using taiji principles. It is a good way of testing your understanding of these principles in a practical situation and your ability to apply them. It is an iterative process: the more often you practise the more your understanding and ability grow.

My first experience of push hands (tui shou) was at Tai Chi Caledonia in 1999 and I found everyone helpful and understanding towards someone who didn’t really know what he was doing. This made it a great introduction and I have observed the same attitude in the years since.

Another noticeable change last year was the lack of women participating, perhaps thinking that they had no chance against “all these experienced big guys”. We always have an introductory half hour for the inexperienced at the start of each session where one of the teachers will explain the basics and aims of tui shou.
This year, in an effort to dispel this myth, we will have a separate introduction just for women. This will be led each evening by Judith van Drooge while the introduction for men will be led by a different teacher each night.

After this you are encouraged to join the general pushing population. Make it clear you are a beginner and if you don’t understand or dislike something, communicate with your partner. They will understand.

Sadly Jacquelynn Ward will not be able to join us due to a family emergency so the planned Shiatsu treatments will not be available.

If anyone is thinking of making a late booking then please do so now as the university needs the final list of names tomorrow!

Jacquelynn Ward will be offering some shiatsu treatments this year. These will be in morning and evening and should be booked with her at the event.

Details are as follows:

Five Element Zen Shiatsu Treatments

Shiatsu is a body work tradition combining acupressure, fascial release, energetic movement, and joint mobilization. With a focus on the five elements and the movement of meridian pathways through the landscape of the body, treatments not only open us to healing but also offer an opportunity deeper communication and integration within the body.
With a special interest in how the world and the body mirror and map each other, Jacquelynn is a certified shiatsu practitioner (AOBTA-CP and Shiatsu Society UK) and teacher of nature connection practices and ancestral lifeways. She trained with Nini Melvin for 5 years and has also studied Movement Shiatsu with Bill Palmer and Western and Chinese Herbalism with Chris Marano and Jade Alicandro Mace.
1 hour session: sliding scale £55-£75
Longer sessions available on request

Just a reminder to a few of you that balance payments are now overdue.

To those who have recently booked for days at the weekend remember to give me your registration number if you're travelling by car.

We are aware that the website is down again. This is being addressed.

The "How The Week Will Work" page on the website is back up having been down for some changes to the push hands schedule and where we will be eating.

It is 25th May

A few more day bookings have arrived with no car details. Please remember that the university staff will issue penalty notices for vehicles parked on campus unless we have registered them.