China – Page 4 – White Crane Academy

Day 9 – Dealing with Frustration

China 2019 - Day 9, Friday, 26th July So there comes a time in learning anything where you just get that feeling where you don't feel like you're quite getting it...and frustration sets in. This quite often leads to a student leaving class and never coming back, which from an instructor's perspective is never a … Continue reading Day 9 – Dealing with Frustration

China, Travel

Day 8 – Stand like a Tree

China 2019 - Day 8, Thursday, 25th July So I have to confess that today I woke up feeling a little weary (yes, it does happen!) and that in combination with a very hot morning first thing, meant a rather slow and sluggish feeling when I started training. Personally I'm not a breakfast person, so … Continue reading Day 8 – Stand like a Tree

China, Travel

Day 7 – Balance

China 2019 - Day 7, Wednesday, 24th July More hard training today and after a week I can really feel the basics coming along - although, as with all things, there's always a long way to go... and there probably always will be, as there's forever another level you can aspire to and try to … Continue reading Day 7 – Balance

China, Travel

Day 6 – Cupping

China 2019 - Day 6, Tuesday, 23rd July So today as well as training and learning Mandarin, I have had my first cupping treatment on this China trip. I first had cupping in 2007, the first time I came to China and visited Beijing. I could only describe it as a feeling of my entire … Continue reading Day 6 – Cupping

China, Travel

Day 5 – Training

China 2019 - Day 5, Monday, 22nd July Well, the red tea from last night was very nice but that and the humidity and heat meant that I was up half the night over caffeinated and too hot! So my day got off to quite a slow start with a gentle pre-class stretch and mobility … Continue reading Day 5 – Training

China, Travel

Day 4 – Yangshuo

China 2019 - Day 4, Sunday, 21st July Heat and humidity meant a lack of sleep last night and a slightly later start to the day today but as planned yesterday, I had a longer walk along the river to see if I could follow it all the way to Yangshuo, the closest town. The … Continue reading Day 4 – Yangshuo

China, Travel

Day 1 – When in China

China 2019 - Day 1, Thursday, 18th July Well, I am finally here - after a total of 30 hours either in a taxi, on a plane, or a train - or waiting for one of the aforementioned means of transportation to arrive and/or depart! "Here"... is a lovely little tai chi school in China, … Continue reading Day 1 – When in China

Chinese Medicine, Health

Spring and the Wood Element

In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we are now heading into the Wood element and this changing of the season from winter to spring brings with it a renewing of energy, a rebirth and a new beginning. Spring always gives me a (for want of a better word) spring in my step and … Continue reading Spring and the Wood Element

China, Travel

Thoughts on Training and Travel in China

I have been meaning to write down some thoughts about my travels in China back in December and January but as the year has got off to a light-speed start, and we suddenly find ourselves entering the tail end of February, it feels as though a travelogue is a little late already from a trip … Continue reading Thoughts on Training and Travel in China

Weapons Training

If you like me love a good action movie, you will love the WCA weapons classes! It is less ominous than it sounds (although still pretty cool to wield a sword or a staff), in fact learning tai chi weapons is incredibly meditative. And at the same time fun! It adds an extra layer to your tai chi, you have a partner in crime in your weapon of choice, and like a dance, you eventually learn to perform a beautiful sequence of moves that at times could very well be described as a slow meditative ballet. Without having to go on the the tippy toes. Mark’s knowledge of both white crane and chen weapons is vast and all… Read more “Weapons Training”

Karina