the new year

Hello to all my friends-    How lucky are we to be here at this time to enjoy the ending of one year and the new beginning of the next---Lets pause for a moment and remember our friends who moved on to another place.....Thank you for taking a moment to reflect on all that happened in 2015.                  Now its time to get ready for 2016- I do that by making a few resolutions(actually 8) there is always 4 from the year before---My new four is LOVE-LIVE-LAUGH-APPRECIATE     I know this sounds like a wall hanging -and it sounds easy-but believe me it takes some work-some practice-and a commitment to succeed........When we think LOVE(do we include loving ourselves??)   When we think LIVE(are we in the moment most of the day??)  When we think laugh(can we really let loose with a belly laugh??)   When we think APPRECIATE(who and what are on that list??)     So my young friends-Please really ponder the meaning of the words and how they will enhance your special life.   With Love and appreciation      Sifu Mike Gentile

Practice for fun and health

Hello to all my Taiji /Qi-gong students...The beauty of Tai-Chi is in the practice-yet most of us do very little practice....Maybe its because we think we don't have time or we think we don't know enough or maybe we think we will practice incorrectly and develop bad habits??     So the challenge is : How can we make practice fun and productive?     How about we start with 5mins in the morning!    "Embrace the moon" form would be a perfect way to loosen and wake up the body as soon as you get out of bed----But after you loosen up the ankles and take your 3centering breaths as you enjoy the fact that you actually "Woke up".   When you sit how about taking 5mins to breathe and smile with the eyes closed ....When you stand how about shifting your weight from side to side slowly and deeply ....When you go up the stairs how about moving slower to work the legs...when you walk how about doing some mindful breathing...If you have a DVD how about spending 5mins a day watching and doing a movement....If you need better balance? Then stand on each leg every afternoon for 1min....So lets decide to do something each day that will benefit our health and our Taiji form.........Try it-you will like it!!         Ciao and be careful out there    Sifu Mike Gentile

Wisdom from the past

Hello to all my friends and students...A famous Taoist monk named Chuang Tzu said:  Do not seek FAME-Do not lose yourself in SCHEMES-Do not try to make THINGS happen-Do not think you KNOW anything-Let your spirit be VAST and walk where there are no paths-Be GRATEFUL for all that heaven has given you-Yet act as you have attained nothing- Be EMPTY and enjoy-Sounds like good advice...I will add that we are at a age where HEALTH is everything. Ciao Sifu Mike

thoughts

Happy May....I have been teaching my grandson the importance of having a philosophy for life....he knows about the "Golden Rule"  He was not aware of the "Serenity Prayer"....I personally feel that these two concepts are a great foundation to have a nice life....So lets add another thought to ponder- just for fun!    We are as big as what interests us....we are as small as what bothers us.....and remember that no matter where you go....There YOU are!!!       Ciao   Sifu Mike