Tai Chi 1
Burke Fairfax Springfield VA Area
Mon, Sep 13 – Dec 13, 2010

By Kris Brinker | Published: August 17, 2010
  • Day(s): Mondays
  • Date(s): Sep 13 – Dec 13, 2010
  • Time(s): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Number of Classes: 14
  • Location: Ekoji Buddist temple
  • Class Code: N/A
  • Fees: $168 Non-temple Members / $140 Temple members
  • Description: Taiji (Tai Chi) Section 1
    Yang Style – Ch’eng Man Ching Variation


    De-stress, wind down, relax, become more flexible and increase your strength and balance! Explore the health benefits and relaxation offered by the ancient art of Tai Chi!

    Classes will be taught with an emphasis on relaxation and increasing flexibility. Modifications are available for physical considerations. The goal is to relax, have fun, and increase and maintain health through breathing and the gentle movements of the form. A tool for improving physical and mental health, taijiquan is also a martial art, with each movement having applications.


    Please REGISTER FOR CLASSES in advance (required).

    Please include your full name, phone number and email address in your registration email. Please bring your payment to the first class.
    Email Kris Brinker for more information.

    Please see my entire class list for Tai Chi (Taiji), Chi Kung (Qigong), and Yoga classes as well as Reiki, offered in or near Chantilly Virginia, Centreville Virginia, Burke Virginia, Fairfax Virginia, Reston Virginia, Herndon Virginia, Manassas VA, Gainsville VA Bristow VA, and Springfield Virginia!

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Tai Chi Exploration – Victory Lakes
Bristow (Manassass Area) Virginia

By Kris Brinker | Published: June 25, 2010
  • Day(s): Mondays
  • Date(s): July 19-August 30 **NO CLASS AUG. 2
  • Time(s): 9:45-10:45AM
  • Number of Classes: 6
  • Location: Victory Lakes Club House: 12600 Victory Lakes Loop, Bristow, VA
  • Class Code: N/A
  • Fees: $60
  • Description: Taiji (Tai Chi) Exploration

    De-stress, wind down, relax, become more flexible and increase your strength and balance! Explore the health benefits and relaxation offered by the ancient art of Tai Chi!

    Though Tai Chi is, by nature, a martial art, these classes will be taught with an emphasis on stress-reduction, relaxation and increasing flexibility. Modifications are available for physical considerations. The goal is to relax, have fun, and increase and maintain health through breathing and the gentle movements of Tai Chi, with additional exploration of Chi Kung and Yoga movements.

    This is a multi-experience class. This is a combination class allowing new-comers to experience and explore the many advantages of various arts and allowing current practitioners to deepen their understanding and expand their feeling. Some meditation may be incorporated as well. All experience levels are welcome and will benefit. You will learn practical applications to take to work or home.

    Please REGISTER FOR CLASSES in advance.

    Please include your full name, phone number and email address in your registration email. Please bring your payment to the first class.
    Email Kris Brinker for more information.

    Please see my entire class list for Tai Chi (Taiji), Chi Kung (Qigong), and Yoga classes offered in or near Chantilly Virginia, Centreville Virginia, Burke Virginia, Fairfax Virginia, Reston Virginia, Herndon Virginia, Bristow VA, Manassas VA, and Springfield Virginia.

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The Tai Chi Walk – Walking Brush Knee and Press

By Kris Brinker | Published: June 9, 2010

One of the core practices I focus on for Tai Chi is the Tai Chi Walk. This version of The Walk (which is really more of a glide with wide, short stepping rather than walking forward) is a continuous repetition of the movement Brush Knee and Press. We use this exercise as a way to strengthen the legs, deepen the stance, increase flexibility in the hips and kua. It is a walking meditation and great practice for all of the principals of Tai Chi.

To learn the Brush Knee and Press Tai Chi Walk will aid you in learning the form more easily and better ingrain the principals. The following break down is not intended to teach, but rather support what you have learned in class.

Tai Chi Walk break-down:

Preparation (or 5 – Bow stance):
Get into a forward bow stance (let’s use left foot forward for this example). Left foot is facing straight forward to front wall, right foot is pointing to the right diagonal, feet are shoulder width apart, weight is shifted more forward than back – 70/30, knees are relaxed into a bend, right hand is pressed forward with palm facing front wall in front of shoulder center, left hand is next to the left thigh. Relax!

1 – Sit back
Pour the weight back into the rear (right) leg and sit with all weight on that leg. Hands remain in position, but expand. No waist turn.

2 – Turn waist, turns out the toe
Turn the waist to the (left) diagonal, relax the forward (left) leg and allow the toe to turn out to the (left) diagonal with the waist turn. Palms of both hands turn to face inward. No weight shift.

3 – Pour weight and hips forward to diagonal and bring in knee
Pushing with rear (right) foot, push hips to diagonal and pour weight into front (left) foot to the diagonal until rear foot peels off the floor, then bring in the (right) knee to meet the other (left) knee. Upper (right) hand turns to face center of chest, arm becomes rounded as though holding a beach ball against your chest. Lower (left) arm floats upward in line with body, palm down, just below height of shoulder. No waist turn, weight shifts body to the diagonal.

4 – Step with heel and pierce ear
Step with unweighted (right) heel shoulder width to the right – do not shift weight here! Curved (right) arm descends slightly downward. Straight (left) arm first flips palm to face upward then bend elbow to point finger tips to ear. Very slight waist turn toward front wall and no weight shift.

5 – Return to bow stance
Turn waist to face forward, pour weight into front (right) leg to 70/30. Lower (right) hand continues to descend until hand brushes the leg and comes to rest by the thigh. Upper (left) hand is sent straight toward front wall by the waist turn and is now the upper hand pressed forward with palm facing forward in front of shoulder.

Now same movements, but alternate sides to continue.

At first, just practice the foot movements. To assist memory, you can try printing very large the following and hold at eye level to keep your head from looking at your feet (trust me they are still down there!)

…can you hear my voice? :-)

5 – Start in bow stance

1 – Sit back

2 – Turn waist, turns out the toe

3 – Pour weight and hips forward to diagonal and bring in knee

4 – Step with heel

5 – Return to bow stance

Relax and again!

Posted in Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi) | 3 Comments

Tai Chi Form Movements – Ward Off Right

By Kris Brinker | Published: May 25, 2010

Ward Off Right continues Grasp Sparrow’s Tail and begins by

1- Relax the right hip joint and push all weight forward on to the left leg, peeling up the right heel

2-Turn waist right, forming a slanted ball with the hands – left hand on top – pivoting on the ball of the right foot

3-Step right heel slightly to the right of it’s former position

4-Pour the weight slowly into the right foot. Right arm rises (to chest high at finish, palm facing chest), left arm follows the waist turn and settles facing the right palm. Palms look like they are holding a small ball (the cabbage! :-) in front of the chest. Turn back toe with the second half of the waist turn by pivoting on the heel.

This will practice your first right bow stance of the form. Hold this posture for some time to practice rooting and alignment. Remember to not allow elbows to stick out – relax! Knee does not go beyond the toe on any stance.

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Tai Chi Form Movements – Ward Off Left

By Kris Brinker | Published: May 25, 2010

Ward Off Left begins the series know as Grasp Sparrow’s Tail – a collective name for: Ward Off Left, Ward Off Right, Roll Back, Press and Push. Continuing from the end of Beginning,

1-Relax the left hip joint and fully sit into the left leg

2-Turn waist right, turning toe to face side wall and forming a ball with hands – right hand on top – at same time

3-Pour weight forward into right leg, carrying ball, until left heel pulls away from ground

4-Turning waist slightly left, step left foot (weightlessly) exactly forward toward front wall a small amount, hands begin to split

5-Turn waist, shift weight, left hand rises (palm faces body and chest high at finish), right hand presses down and finishes palm facing down and back by right thigh. Turn back toe with the second half of the waist turn by pivoting on the heel.

You finish with 60-70% weight in left (front) leg. This stance is known as a left bow stance and is the basis of a rooted stance. Tailbone feels weighed, heavy and melting downward, spine is straight, head is being pulled gently skyward, shoulders are relaxed, feet are flat on the floor, hips are both in line with front wall.

In your practice, stand and hold this posture for a while to increase root, leg strength and flexibility.

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Tai Chi Form Movements – Beginning

By Kris Brinker | Published: May 11, 2010

Taiji is stillness in motion and motion in stillness. The beginning movement
demonstrates the separation of yin and yang as stillness is transformed.

1. Arms float upward like bubbles from the bottom of a pond. Wrists are bent and tranquil – fingers being drawn downward. Sink body slightly.

(1.5) At shoulder level fingertips lift slightly as if being puffed upward by a breeze.

2. Elbows sink toward the body as fingers extend. Hands are flat – palm down – as if sliding along atop the water. Sink body slightly more.

3. Arms float downward as elbows pull down and fingertips glide slightly upward (as if being lead around a log). Body begins to rise.

4. Elbows continue to pull down as fingers glide down an imaginary curtain and come to rest by the thighs. Body finishes rising same time as hands finish.

You can use Beginning as a stand-alone Qigong practice by repeating it over and over. Notice how your breath will begin to calm and the body relax. Remember to keep wrists below shoulder level and shoulder width in front of the body.

Posted in Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi) | Leave a comment

Tai Chi Form Movements – Preparation

By Kris Brinker | Published: April 29, 2010

PreparationFirst movement – “Preparation”…

Better not to think of “Preparation” as preparing to begin the form, but rather as preparing to let go of everything else. Allow the day to slip away, prepare to pay attention to only yourself, to your posture, to your weight shift, to your movement and to your stillness. Use the stillness preceding this movement to prepare yourself for your practice and letting go. Scan your body. Let go of tension, Let go of thought. Become aware of any tension and try to allow it to relax. Try not to anticipate the beginning of movement, but instead rejoice in the stillness and empty yourself of thought and expectation. RELAX, settle the weight, relax the knees, allow the tail bone to sink toward the ground, relax the chest (take a deep breath in and release a nice loud sigh!!) feel a gentle string pull the crown of the head upward as though you are attempting to grow a little taller. Relax and let go. Then, when if feels right… begin Preparation…

Start heels together, feet out at the diagonal (appx 90 degrees between feet), whole body facing front wall

1- Shift hips gradually right, sit on your right leg – allow your weight to sink

2- Peel up heel, then the toe, send heel exactly left in line with right heel (do NOT shift weight)

3- Turn waist right to face diagonal, allowing toe to turn (pivoting on heel) to face front wall (do NOT shift weight)

4- Shift weight gradually to sit on left leg, whole body still facing right diagonal

5- Turn waist to face front wall, allowing toe to turn (pivoting on heel) to face front wall (do NOT shift weight)

6- Shift weight gradually to center 50/50 weight on each foot

Notes:

Feet should end parallel and shoulder width with heels in alignment horizontally.

You will be more deeply sunk than when you begun because you initially sank to step out and should not stand back up with other movements.

Maintain “nose/navel/gaze” alignment throughout movement

Notice the words I have used… “relax”, “allow”, “gradual”, not “make”, “force”, “or pull”. Movements should feel like the ocean, like pouring sand or water, not a metronome, or grandfather clock. Feel as if you are sinking and floating at same time!

Posted in Movements of CMC 37, Taiji (Tai Chi) | 1 Comment

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at Medowlark Gardens in Vienna VA

By Kris Brinker | Published: April 28, 2010

Attendees at World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2010Peaceable Dragon and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens thank everyone who came out Saturday April 24th to watch demonstrations of Taijiquan (Tai Chi), Qigong (Chi Kung) and Yoga. Some of you also had a great time participating in mini-classes taught by some of the areas leading instructors from a variety of schools. I personally was thrilled to have so many participants playing Tai Chi with me and learning the Tai Chi Walk and the beautiful movement “White Crane Spreads Wings.”

Kris Brinker during Tai Chi Sword demonstrationSpecial thanks to our friends at Qi Elements (Herndon, VA), and Lung Chu’an Fu School (locally in Northern Virginia) for coming to join the fun and add to the variety of demos and classes.

Additional thanks to photographer Rick Gambhir who operates Open Eye Studios (OES) here in Virginia. Rick is a practitioner of Tai Chi and a current student of Instructor Kris Brinker, Peacable Dragon. He quietly, and silently made his rounds and blessed us with wonderful pictures of our event. To see all of the photos (including the ones used in this post), please visit his GALLERY

Learning the Tai Chi WalkPeaceable Dragon holds this event every year at Medowlark. It is a global event with the intent that there are tens of thousands of people coming together across racial, ethnic, religious, and geopolitical boundaries for the sole purpose of advancing personal and global health & healing. By creating a healing wave of calm around the planet, World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day paints a vision of possibility for humanity each year. One World . . . One Breath . . . World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is celebrated in over 65 nations and is recognized by the United Nations World Health Organization.

Paul Rischard, founder of Peaceable DragonPeaceable Dragon is a community of instructors and students of Qigong, Taijiquan, Yoga, Aikido and other “internal arts”, who share a desire to improve their physical, mental and spiritual health. Workshops with leading masters are held several times each year. Students of every level of expertise will find a community of learners in over 50 classes per week.

I hope everyone can join us again next year to celebrate this amazing day!

Gassho, Blessings and Namaste,
Kris

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Tai Chi Exploration
Burke Fairfax Springfield VA Area
Wed, April 28-June 30, 2010

By Kris Brinker | Published: April 6, 2010
  • Day(s): Wednesdays
  • Date(s): April 28 – June 30, 2010
  • Time(s): 5:00-6:30PM
  • Number of Classes: Ten 90-minute classes
  • Location: Ekoji Buddist temple
  • Class Code: N/A
  • Fees: $180 with registration. $22 per class drop-in without registration.
    Temple members $160/$20.
  • Description: Tai Chi Exploration

    We will flow between energetic balance and strengthening work and relaxation and meditation allowing for more complete relaxation and toning of the body- Just what the body needs with all the stress and tension these days!

    Classes will be taught with an emphasis on relaxation and increasing flexibility. Modifications are available for physical considerations. The goal is to relax, have fun, and increase and maintain health through breathing and the gentle movements of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Yoga.

    This is a multi-experience class, allowing new-comers to experience and explore the many advantages of various arts and allowing current practitioners to deepen their understanding and expand their feeling. Some meditation may be incorporated as well. All experience levels are welcome and will benefit. You will learn practical applications to take to work or home. You will need a yoga mat and a blanket. Please wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes with thin soles and no heel – or just socks/bare feet.

    Let the relaxation begin!


    Please REGISTER FOR CLASSES in advance (required).

    Please include your full name, phone number and email address in your registration email. Please bring your full payment to the first class.
    Email Kris Brinker for more information.

    Please see my entire class list for Tai Chi (Taiji), Chi Kung (Qigong), and Yoga classes offered in or near Chantilly Virginia, Centreville Virginia, Burke Virginia, Fairfax Virginia, Reston Virginia, Herndon Virginia, and Springfield Virginia. And coming this fall – Manassas Gainsville VA, please inquire!

Posted in Qigong (Chi Kung), Taiji (Tai Chi), Yoga | Leave a comment

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day in Vienna, VA April 24, 2010

By Kris Brinker | Published: April 6, 2010

Everyone is invited to be a part of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day! Download the flier here.

Peaceable Dragon and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens invite you to watch demonstrations of Taijiquan (Tai Chi), Qigong (Chi Kung) and Yoga. You may also participate in mini-classes taught by some of the areas leading instructors from a variety of schools. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is being celebrated in over 65 nations and is recognized by the United Nations World Health Organization.

Meet other on-lookers, students and instructors of the Internal Arts. Complementary healing arts sessions will be available. Bring a dish to share and stay for the pot-luck lunch!

When:
April 24, 2010 starting at 10am and ending around 1:30pm

Where:
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct.
Vienna, VA 22182

Cost:
FREE!!!

Rain:
If it is raining, the event 
will be cancelled.

Eating:
A buffet, potluck lunch is served around 12:30pm. If you would like to stay for the potluck, please bring a dish and an index card describing its name and the ingredients.

For more information:
www.peaceabledragon.org
www.nvrpa.org/meadowlark.html
www.worldtaichiday.org

Schedule:
10am Demonstrations
11am First mini-class
11:30am Second mini-class
Noon Third mini-class
12:30pm Potluck lunch

This is a wonderful, fun and amazing event for all ages.

Peaceable Dragon holds this event every year at Medowlark. It is a global event with the intent that there are tens of thousands of people coming together across racial, ethnic, religious, and geopolitical boundaries for the sole purpose of advancing personal and global health & healing. By creating a healing wave of calm around the planet, World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day paints a vision of possibility for humanity each year. Subtely, quietly, providing a profound example to millions who participate or experience it through the arts. One World . . . One Breath . . .

Peaceable Dragon is a community of instructors and students of Qigong, Taijiquan, Yoga, Aikido and other “internal arts”, who share a desire to improve their physical, mental and spiritual health. Workshops with leading masters are held several times each year. Students of every level of expertise will find a community of learners in over 50 classes per week. Peaceable Dragon is registered in Virginia as a non-profit corporation.

We would love it if more people knew about this event. Most of the folks organizing the event are teachers and students of the internal arts that also have full time jobs like myself. We are a little short on time and finances to publicize. Any and all help and publicity or exposure would be greatly appreciated.

Posted in In The News, Qigong (Chi Kung), Taiji (Tai Chi), Yoga | Leave a comment