TAI CHI VILLAGE issue 9 - 16th May 2020
DISCOVER TAI CHI
Welcome to the Tai Chi Village
About Tai Chi Village
On our cover this week, ‘A Tall Pine and Daoist Immortal, ink and colour on silk hanging scroll by Chen Hongshou, 1635, Ming dynasty; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tai Chi Village began when we had to close our face to face classes due to Covid 19.
Sadly we haven’t found out how to become immortal just yet! But Tai Chi does offer us the promise of a range of health benefits. Research into martial arts such as Tai Chi show different effects on our brains compared to other forms of exercise. In this issue we explore some of those experiences known as mindfulness. Plus our usual news, updates, and participant images for you to enjoy.
Each week we delve into a different facet of Tai Chi and share it with you. Together we can appreciate this elegant form of movement. Contemporary practitioners and researchers such as Dr Tamara Russell who we feature in this week's issue offer us a window into which we can better understand the multi-faceted ways in which tai chi can have a positive impact on our lives. So, hit the pause button and take a deliberate in breath, just let it go, and enjoy this issue of the Tai Ch Village. We hope you feel connected with us in the Tai Chi Village too.
Phil & Helen
Bright Border Planting at Cliffe Castle Park, Keighley by Helen Image by Tom (Cliffe Castle Class)
One to One Sessions Good news from the Government earlier this week. The new guidance allows us to offer one to one private Tai Chi tuition outside. We know that getting outdoors gives us a positive boost to our health. Combining Tai Chi with a lovely outdoor space is a double bonus Spending two hours a week in nature is linked to better health and well-being
An additional benefit of getting outside is we can offer sessions looking at tai chi forms which make use of tools, like a stick or sword, without the risks of coming into contact with each other! Booking a one to one can sound a bit intimidating but it’s a real opportunity to gain focused attention on what you would like to learn. If you have a particular health condition or find specific movements challenging it allows us the time to explore and tailor movements for you while abiding to those all important tai chi principles. If you'd like to try a stick form for the first time or, you wish to dive into the depths of a form you already know or, just have a relaxing mindful session in a green space, call us to discuss what you would like to focus on. For more information on the guidance about outdoor exercise check out the link:
CIMSPA
update on Government guidance on outdoor training in England
自然 Zìrán Image by Helen Parsons
Clothing & Tote Bags
Improved Live Streams
Many of you love wearing our T-shirts and sweatshirts to class. We recently sourced a fabulous sustainable Tote Bag too.
If you haven't joined us for our live streams in a while why not pay us a visit for Tai Chi in the Tea House
We have taken time to source the happiest items available which we have lovingly hand screen-printed by the amazing Studio Print Press in Keighley. Ladies Organic Cotton T- shirt - £20.00 (S, L, XL only)
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Tuesday's from 11:00am & Thursday's from 7:00 pm
We host a mix of news and updates, answers to your questions, a review or two, and tai chi and qigong movements to relax and enjoy.
Organic Cotton Sweatshirt - £40.00 (S, M, L XXL only)
Recycled Cotton & Polyester Tote Bag - £10.00
You can watch all our live streams again on our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/grou ps/discovertaichi/
Get in touch to make your order : )
Scroll down the timeline or click on 'Videos' in the menu on the left hand side of the screen to find all our videos.
Art in the Tea House Margaret from our Skipton class brought us this beautifully intricate image from her trip to Singapore. Margaret visited the 'Living with Ink' exhibition in Singapore where she could take images, like the one on the left, of the wonderful calligraphy and ink brush paintings.
Living with Ink explored how Chinese art was appreciated by networks of overseas Chinese collectors and philanthropists, giving one a glimpse into the Singapore art world in the turbulent 20th century.
The artist - Pu Ru - painted the picture on the left in the early part of the 20th century Called, Figures in a landscape An ink and colour on paper. From the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Xiang Xue Zhuang Collection. Pu Ru displays here his mastery of cunfa (textured stokes) in deďŹ ning the foliage, trees, rocks and boulders. The colophon (calligraphy) describes reclusive scholars enjoying the mountain environment with their friends.
Movement In Mind Tai Chi, Brain Science and Pyschology
By Fiona
Carol from our St Hugh's class sent us this fab image of her on a woodland birthday walk.
By Irene
When we practise tai chi we ďŹ nd the sustained attention coupled with the purposeful intent to relax has a powerful positive impact on our emotional and bodily health. Over recent weeks Helen and I have enjoyed a series of interviews by Professor Paul Bowman of Cardiff University, with leading academics on his YouTube channel - Martial Arts Studies. We recommended his channel in one of our Facebook live streams a couple of weeks ago. In one of his most recent interviews, Paul talks with Dr Tamara Russell - PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Psychology, a MSc in Neuroscience and a BSc in Psychology and a practicing martial artist.
Together they explore some of the interesting ways that the slow 'mindful' movements of tai chi and qigong appear so good for us.
"By working with the body and movement, we are tapping into the most fundamental of brain processes that underpin all our mental activity and subsequent actions in the world." Dr Tamara Russell
We thoroughly recommend you take a positive pause in your day to enjoy the interview by following the link here: https://youtu.be/9x1_pkky8gY
Movement In Mind Tai Chi, Brain Science and Psychology Many studies show how exercise positively affects our brains. By sustaining an active lifestyle across the lifespan we can support our brains development and maintain cognitive function.
of exercise have given the researchers reason to suggest more research to find out how this slow paced moderate exercise has such positive benefits.
So, do the slow, low impact movements of Tai Chi offer the same positive benefits for our brains?
Differential Effects of Tai Chi Chuan (Motor-Cognitive Training) and Walking on Brain Networks: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Chinese Women Aged 60
A study has compared women who regularly walk with women who regularly practise Tai Chi. Although, only a small group took part in the study it showed significant differences between the two groups when the participants brains underwent a MRI scan.
Meditation and tai chi don’t just calm the mind – they seem to affect our DNA too. There’s evidence that such “mind-body practices” dampen the activity of genes associated with inflammation – essentially reversing molecular damage caused by stress.
The researchers could see differences in a number of networks: the default mode network, the sensory-motor network and the visual networks between the two groups.
You can find out more by reading the following article in the New Scientist magazine here:
Cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer's are complex but the differences the researchers found between the two types
https://www.newscientist.com/article/213759 5-mindfulness-and-meditation-dampen-down -inflammation-genes/#ixzz6MUiGeWeU
TAI CHI FOUNDATIONS
Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee via Ko-fi. It makes such a difference to know you appreciate our efforts. It helps to keep us going. If you'd like to buy us a coffee, just to say thanks, click the big button below to visit our new site at: ko-fi.com/discovertaichi
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We have 31 videos uploaded as well as other content for you to enjoy.
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We look forward to seeing you. Helen & Phil : )
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All the best Helen and Phil
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