| EZ Tai Chi for Health 413-625-2800 |
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I was at the funeral of a remarkable woman today. She was a formidable force of nature, especially as a white water rapids canoer. Thanks to her friend, who shared a few stories, I received a powerful teaching and inspiration. She spoke of how the woman gave her lessons out there in the rapids and would tell her to "stop trying so hard". The friend summed up by saying that "She knew how to let the River take her...." Wow. There is some profound wisdom in that! Feeling grateful.
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Snowstorm last night made it difficult for everyone to come to class for the party today. ON the other hand, Steve was unable to come because he had the lovely problem of having to fill many, many, many product orders for the holiday! I had to direct most of the class /party from a soft padded folding chair because my right ankle, again, suddenly is sending me the screaming pain message. Ice and essential oils made it possible for me to come to class but I'll be seeing the p.t. on Friday. :--( Chef Marty was my I.T. person extraordinaire. He brought his imac so that the participants could enjoy learning the Standing Crane animal frolics with Master Paul Gallagher. We had just reviewed the principles of Tai Chi so it was fantastic to hear Paul G. demonstrating them as he taught the Crane frolics. After a round of TCA and Part 2, we played "Tai Chi Create a Move". The only rule is that it must follow Tai Chi principles. We collaborated to create a sequence of two sweet moves: Sparrow Walking flowing into Fleeing Sparrow. Darn! We didn't get a video of that, but I can assure you it was very wonderful. Chef Marty cut and served the scrumptious yin yang carrot cake he made while we watched the video of Dr. Lam demonstrating the 73 Sun Style form, from in front and from behind. We have begun this form , up to the 3rd piece, but we've all realized that less is more right now....we are staying with TCA and Part 2 and working on going a bit deeper and smoother with those for awhile. I handed out their holiday Tai Chi party favors and then their Big Deal Tai Chi Certificates in Recognition of their special achievement of having learned all of TCA and Part 2. A good time was had by all!
Cool party favors! Yin Yang stress ball, stickers, candy and a fortune cookie pen with six different fortunes!
 I am so grateful to everyone who has brought Tai Chi to my life and to all who give me the opportunity to share it. Tai Chi has changed my ilfe in so many profound and positive ways. I am so grateful for this fine art in my life.
Thank you, all the Tai Chi "ancestors". Thank you, my close lineage Tai Chi teachers whom I have had the privilege to study with in person: Richard Roy, Paul Gallagher, Dr. Paul Lam, Mark Deaver, Marty Kidder, Pat Lawson, Bruce Young, Dan Kleiman, and the woman whose name I can't remember but from whom I received my very first Tai Chi instruction at the old Joy of Movement Center way back when I was 18... Thank you, all of you have and continue to participate in classes I am teaching. Thank you, my Tai Chi friends across the globe. Thank you, my Tai Chi classmates. Thank you, all of you teach Tai Chi. Thank you, all of you who bring Tai Chi to people through your writing and dvds and youtube videos. Thank you, all of you who have dedicated yourself to teaching Tai Chi. What gifts and insights have you received from your Tai Chi practice and instruction? EZ Tai Chi for Diabetes begins October 10th at Hart Yoga! Not for Diabetics only…. Are you or a loved one sugar-challenged? Are you someone who is new to exercise? Are you just looking for a Tai Chi form that is simpler than other forms you’ve tried before? If you answered YES to any of these questions, then EZ Tai Chi for Diabetes may be just what you’re looking for! The gentle exercise of Tai Chi has been shown to help relieve stress, manage blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, improve muscle mass, elevate mood and increase immune function. Tai Chi for Diabetes is a unique program of 11 simple to learn movements, warmup and cool down exercises that have been specifically chosen for their effectiveness for diabetic concerns. The program is endorsed by the Australian Diabetic Association and was designed by long-time family physician and Tai Chi master, Dr. Paul Lam, and his team of medical associates. You do not have to be sugar-challenged to benefit from this class. It is a short, effective program of modified Yang style movements that make it a Tai Chi for Health program for anyone. The program is simple enough that you can join anytime. The class will run Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 9:45 at Hart Yoga Studio in Shelburne Falls (just above Salmon Falls Showroom at 1 Ashfield Street). Certified Instructor, Deborah Yaffee, will lead the class. To learn more about the program, come to a free talk and sample class at Hart Yoga Studio on Thursday, October 3rd at 9:00 a.m. Deborah is also available for private EZ Tai Chi instruction for small groups of 1 to 4 people at her office in South Deerfield. For more information or to let Deborah know you will attend the free talk, call her at 625-2800 or visit www.EZTaiChiForHealth.com September is just around the corner. We've had a lovely little break and now it's time to get together to continue our group practice in class. Some of our participants have continued the 30 Day Tai Chi Challenge and I am excited to learn of their experience and how the support tools have helped them on a day to day to basis while we've been on break.
Fall Class Schedule: YMCA Greenfield: YOU ASKED FOR IT...YOU GOT IT!!!! THIS CLASS WILL BE MEETING TWICE A WEEK!!! Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 10:30 to 11:00 will focus exclusively for those new to Tai Chi. 11:00 to 11:30 we will continue with more of the form. Come enjoy the whole hour ! FREE TO YMCA MEMBERS. $10 per class for nonmembers. HART YOGA in Shelburne Falls : Monday evenings 5:30 - 6:15 pm Wednesday mornings 7:30 - 8:15 a.m. Thursday morning class coming soon! Shelburne Senior Center: Tuesdays 4 to 5 pm Sign up for our mailing list so you'll be sure to learn about new classes coming soon!  While folks here in Shelburne Falls were having their pictures taken with celebrities of the silver screen (Robert Downey Jr, Vincent Dinorfrio, Robet Duvall), I was in Connecticut having my photo taken with these two celebrities of the Tai Chi world! Check it out....there I am with Dr. Paul Lam and Master Trainer, Jim Starshak of Kansas City. As you can see, Dr. Lam is exactly as he is on his videos, both in looks and demeanor. I attended, and successfully completed, the Instructor training for Dr. Lam's Tai Chi for Beginners (TCB). TCB is a lovely protocol of warmups, qigong exercises and a short set of modified Yang style movements from the classic "Yang style 24 ". I was excited to really get a better sense of how to move through Yang style's Repulse the Monkey. Although I was disappointed that I would not be continuing on to participate in "The Week" with Dr. Lam, I did go home and had my picture taken with top cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski!  EZ Tai Chi for Health continues at the Greenfield Y for its 3rd term!!!
I am delighted that so many of the participants are able to attend in the new time slot. We now meet Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. So many new, eager to learn participants! I am excited to announce that I will be offering an evening section of E-Z Tai Chi for Health at The Body Shoppe in Greenfield, Ma! The new class will be 5:30 - 6:45 pm on Monday evenings beginning May 7th.
Class fees are $5 per class for Body Shoppe members and $10 per class for non-members. Non-members can also purchase a 4 week class pak for $30...that's only $7.50 a class!!! E-Z Tai Chi is the simple, 12 movement form developed by Dr. Paul Lam. It is easy to learn, easy to do and you will get the maximum health benefits in a minimum amount of movement. Excellent for those new to exercise, those who have inflammatory and chronic conditions, those who want to see what Tai Chi is all about , those who are looking to increase balance and muscle mass and those who just want a gentle way to relieve stress. Look on the home page here to learn more about E-Z Tai Chi for Health! In an article published in the Feb. 9, 2012 volume of the New England Journal of Medicine,
researchers concluded:" Tai chi training appears to reduce balance impairments in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease, with additional benefits of improved functional capacity and reduced falls. (Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00611481.) "Full details of the study can be found at http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1107911 E-Z TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS AND FIBROMYALGIA for Ages 55+
at Northampton Senior Center 8 weeks, Thursdays February 9, 16, 23, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 3:00 – 4:00 pm A class for people who wish to maintain wellness or who are new to exercise or who have a chronic condition and would like to participate in a program that is safe, effective and easy to learn. This program of 12 simple and effective movements was created by international Tai Chi master and family physician, Dr. Paul Lam, and a team of medical and Tai Chi experts. This is the program promoted by the American Arthritis Foundation and clinically proven to reduce discomfort, increase muscle mass , reduce fall risk and improve balance. Instructor: Certified TCA Instructor, Deborah Yaffee Fee: $80 Fee for age 55-59 and nonNorthampton residents: $85 Call the Northampton Senior Center at 413- 587- 1228 for info on signing up! |
Send an email to EZTaiChiForHealth@gmail.com and tell us you'd like to Join our mailing list!
Deborah Yaffee,
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