Explore the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis Workshop

[mlamb]

This wonderful workshop was presented by Dr Lam in Mackay, Qld Australia on 1-2 July. Forty very lucky (and dedicated) Tai Chi students and leaders from all parts of the state spent 2 days immersed in the extra layers of the TCA form that Dr Lam exposed us to through lively discussion, fun and practical work. If you get a chance to attend this workshop, grab it with both hands and your TCA will take on a whole new meaning. Thankyou Dr Lam for bringing us a new insight into our TCA. As usual you have left us all inspired to keep practising!!

[HazelG]

Hi Maree,

So delighted to read your wonderful review of Dr Lam's Depth Workshop, it sounded amazing.
Currently we are preparing for Dr Lam's Depth Workshop in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 2-3 September. We have a couple of places remaining, so anyone who's considering it should take your excellent advice and get in quickly!
Register at this site (go the left of the screen and click on Calendar) or send me an e-mail through the Forum.

Hazel Thompson

[carolined]

The depth workshops are wonderful opportunities to explore Tai Chi at a deeper level by allowing us to experience and "feel" the movements from a different perspective than when we are learning them. Coming to these workshops with a beginners mind, regardless of our skill level, allows us to be guided by Dr. Lam into a new awareness and relationships to Tai Chi movement. I've attended two of these workshops and from the enthusiastic response from participants, I would have to say that people are hungry for how to bring depth into their Tai Chi practice.
Caroline

[pamkircher]

I hosted a Depth of Tai Chi workshop here in Durango, Colorado last year. Each person who attended really felt that they had made quantum leaps not only in their understanding of the principles of tai chi, but also in the way that they felt the Tai Chi for Arthritis form in their bodies. It was a joy to see how students who were relatively new to tai chi benefitted from the workshop without feeling lost and people who had been practicing tai chi for years were able to gain great depth from the same workshop. In our weekly classes here we are still working on what we learned at the workshop. I would highly recommend the workshop to anyone who knows TCA Part One and Part Two.

[Dr. Paul Lam]

thanks maree for starting with this idea, i have received so many enthusiastic feedbacks on this workshop and i never thought of the forum.

also thanks hazel, caroline and pam. this is one of the most enjoyable and fullfilling workshops for me too.

[carolined]

The next opportunity to play with the depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis with Dr. Lam in the USA will be October 14th & 15th in Memphis, Tennessee. What you will learn from these workshops you can also apply to the longer Sun 73 form, so it will be a wonderful opportunity for anyone who appreciates the fluidity of Sun style to spend the weekend immersed in exploring how to express the movements at a deeper level. Each depth workshop has been a little different. I love to repeat workshops because I take away new insights from each one. I know that many of the USA teaching team will be coming to see what more we can learn.

Caroline

[HazelG]

We were privileged to have Dr Lam conduct the above workshop in Lyttelton, New Zealand, on 2-3 September, along with his Master Trainer, Toi Walker.
The feedback has been 100% positive, and a week later I'm still getting calls from participants eager to pass on their thanks to Dr Lam, and chat about their favourite sections.
The workshop was fully subscribed, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone considering attending the next one, in the UK.
With many thanks from all of us in New Zealand, Dr Lam.
(Also many thanks to Anna, at Tai Chi Productions, who helped me to organise the workshop.)

[mlamb]

Yes Hazel, our class is still discussing Dr Lam's In Depth Workshop at every opportunity even though it is nearly 3 months now since we attended - things like "Remember Dr Lam described it like this" - can be heard as we try to incorporate the Principles and refine our form.
So don't expect those calls to stop anytime soon! And wasn't that workshop just the best way to spend a weekend????

Cheers
Maree

[HazelG]

Hi Maree - you're absolutely right, it was a wonderful weekend for everyone. Actually the whole process from start to finish was fun. The planning and publicity stage was a great excuse to get my kids off the computer and e-mail all my old friends. Amazing how much news I caught up on! It's inspired us all to keep in touch and exchange our tai chi ideas more frequently.

[Robin Malby]

I was fortunate enough to attend Dr. Paul Lam's In Depth TCA workshop in Memphis, Tennessee. What I liked best was getting more information on the basic tai chi principles and how they applied to each of the TCA forms. The principles and how they work in each TCA move are like little pearls of tai chi wisdom, and those of us who have done TCA for awhile felt ready to work those into our tai chi.

I also liked that the majority of the time we moved! By repeating the TCA moves over and over, we had more chances to focus on the principles covered, and "feel" the principles in conjunction with the movements. Working on expansion several times in a row, then on continuous flow several times, etc. really helps these concepts sink in.

There is a real need for the in depth workshop, students are asking for it. Not everybody has access to a master tai chi instructor. I hope Paul will be able to offer more.

Robin Malby

[Rosemary Palmer]

It is always great when Dr. Lam visits South Australia to give workshops and the "Exploring the Depth of Sun Style" workshop in March, hosted by the Arthritis Foundation of South Australia was no exception.
It was excellent having Dr. Lam's considerable knowledge and enthusiasm for this wonderful art to inspire us.
We had over 35 participants and the comments received ranged from "Great atmosphere and great group" to "Brilliant teaching, energising and truly inspirational."
The atmosphere was one of friendship and unity and Claire Sheeky summed it up beautifully by saying it was "Wonderful! Absolutely excellent having Paul's expertise and passion to absorb all weekend".
We look forward to the next visit Paul, Thank you.

[mlamb]

Rosemary is quite right about the inspirational TCA In Depth workshops conducted by Dr Lam. If you missed out in SA, there is another chance in Brisbane, Australia on 25-26 August 2007 hosted by Qld Keep Fit Association.

Contact is:

Suzanne McLauchlan

Email: smclauchlan@netspace.net.au

(This will be my second one, I know there will be something new to improve my TCA)

[4taichi]

I have recently returned from the Depth of Arthritis workshop in Bradenton Florida (May 2007), and still absorbing all the information presented there.

First I want to thank Dr Lam for his presentation and seemingly boundless energy and Susan Scheuer for all the efforts and time putting this workshop together.

This is the SECOND time I have taken this workshop and would encourage others to do the same. There is soooo much information imparted here that it is too much to absorb in one experience. This is the nature of Tai Chi. There is always another layer to find.

By taking this workshop multiple times allows one to review one's form, breathing, structure and understanding. There is the chance to interface with others and their experiences teaching TCA. To be able to listen and discuss experiences with other instructors was most interesting, investigating issues in teaching such as retaining students in this busy world and understanding what motivates each of us to continue our learnings in this art.

I also want to thank all the others that attended for helping me to expand my knowledge and understanding of this program. May you all continue to spread this wonderful art to the world.

[escan]

I attended the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop in Bradenton, FL May 17-18th. It was wonderful to spend 2 days just working on tai chi depth using a form we all know and love. Although all of the techniques are all ones we’ve heard, read about, and practiced before, it’s still very beneficial to spend a couple days just using them again. It’s a helpful reminder to incorporate these techniques into our daily practice.

Having a weekend of tai chi with Dr. Lam is an opportunity not to be missed! The June workshop is wonderful, but if you’re looking for personal instruction from Dr. Lam, the weekend workshops are the way to go. I had previously attended a Depth of TCA workshop in October of 2005. But the focus this time was a little different and the sense of peace that I felt after the workshops lasted over a week.

I like the June workshops as an opportunity to learn a new form. However, the weekend workshops offer special opportunities to network with other tai chi enthusiasts and to improve your tai chi, whether you work with one of the master trainers or have the chance to work with Dr. Lam himself. My advice is to attend a workshop near you!

Betty

[Zanolini]

I had the wonderful opportunity of attending this inspiring workshop presented by Dr Lam in Brisbane Qld Aust. on 25-26 August 2007.

My TCA has taken on a whole new level. I feel I have peeled another layer of the Tai Chi onion. I use the word onion to refer to the unlimited layers to the depth of Tai Chi. These two excellently presented days were full of extra layers.
I never realised that 'Cloud Hands' could have that much depth, but when one learns to step before you change your hands the depth arises. When Paul speaks about when you breath in you store, to me it feels like I'm beginning to heal by gathering my reserves. When Paul speaks about breathing out you deliver, I feel it is like letting go of everything you don't need and I get to relax. When I feel relaxed I can focus on healing instead of my pain and it felt wonderful. As I stepped and then changed my hands it felt like there was a moment where I could sense an incoming force with the breath, and that's when I let go and breathed out and it changed everything.
We had group discussions - my favourite of course 'Chi Flow' - as it only enhanced my depth experience of storing and delivering energy, which in turn improved my ability to relax, focus and let go.
To have Dr Lam teaching for 2 full days was a real treat. A treat if you ever get the chance DONT MISS IT! - make it a must on your calendar, I can assure you it is money well spent.
So, thank you Paul for this truly amazing and inspiring experience. You've added another dimension to my Tai Chi journey.
To all out there - remember PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

[Starshak]

Originally Posted by 4taichi

This is the SECOND time I have taken this workshop and would encourage others to do the same. There is soooo much information imparted here that it is too much to absorb in one experience. This is the nature of Tai Chi. There is always another layer to find.

By taking this workshop multiple times allows one to review one's form, breathing, structure and understanding. There is the chance to interface with others and their experiences teaching TCA. To be able to listen and discuss experiences with other instructors was most interesting, investigating issues in teaching such as retaining students in this busy world and understanding what motivates each of us to continue our learnings in this art.

I must agree with Marsha on the value of Dr. Lam’s In-depth of TCA Workshops. I first attended in Memphis, TN, USA in October 2006. I was truly amazed at how much better my tai chi became after incorporating what I learned. This workshop also had a humbling effect, as I realized how much I did not know. Like most of us, I just keep peeling that “tai chi onion”. However, being the student again really helped enhance my teaching when I returned back home.

In September 2007, I had an opportunity to participate in my second In-Depth TCA workshop with Dr. Lam in Virginia Beach, VA, USA. What delighted me is how Dr. Lam adapts each workshop to his participants so although these two workshops were similar, they each went in-depth in slightly different ways. The first focused more on applying the tai chi principles and the second looked deeper at applying force and breathing techniques.

I left this second in-depth workshop so energized that I coordinated to have Dr. Lam come to Kansas City, Missouri, USA and facilitate an In-depth of TCA workshop on November 15 & 16, 2008. I am sure that Dr. Lam’s skill as both a tai chi practitioner and a teacher will again deepen my knowledge and feeling of tai chi, but in a slightly new—and yet to be determined—direction. Even if you previously have attended one of Dr. Lam’s In-Depth workshops, I highly recommend that at sometime you attend one again and see just how much your tai chi will continue to deepen and grow. As Marsha explained, there is sooo much more to absorb the second (or third) time around.

[tcybutterfly]

The Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop held this past weekend in Morristown, NJ, USA. was absolutely wonderful. The intensity and depth of material covered was incredible. The opportunity to be taught by Dr. Lam and then to continue the learning and practice with four master trainers made for a very special experience. Being divided into smaller groups for review and discussion gave ample time for practicing and leading as well. The positive atmosphere and lovely camaraderie of all those who attended added to the enjoyment of the weekend!

Having previously attended two other weeklong workshops I was very surprised and pleased that so much could be covered in such a short time frame. When the opportunity presents itself to attend such a weekend workshop, grab it, you will not regret it! What did I do when I arrived home? Booked my flight for the Tai Chi Workshop to be held in Memphis, TN, USA in June 2009!

[Pastor Bruce]

The folks from Lincoln, Maine had an excellent experience at the Depth of TCA workshop in Ivoryton. They enjoyed meeting Dr. Lam, and learned a great deal from the two days with him. They came home anxious to share what they had learned with other folks, and we are planning to have a two mini workshop to accomplish this soon. I think that they were as pleased of my elevation to Senior Trainer as I was.

From their responses to this workshop, I would expect that there will be an even larger contingent of folks from Lincoln in Hartford in May at the Osteoporosis workshop; and I would not be surprised to see some of our new friends from Connecticut coming up to Maine for next summer's annual TCA workshop in Lincoln. I have told Marty that he had better make sure that Dr. Bob gets an invitation.

[Maureen]

Over the weekend I attended Dr Lam’s ‘Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis’ workshop in Hobart. I have been a TCA leader for four years, and I am absolutely amazed at how much more I learnt and how much more there still is to learn. Making very subtle changes to movements, that at times would not feel quite right, has given new and enhanced meaning to the whole sequence, warm up exercises included. After almost 9 years of tai chi practice, I finally understand the concepts of loosening and stretching the joints from within, delivering force and sinking the chi. This understanding I most certainly attribute to Dr Lam’s natural ability to instruct his students in a relaxed, friendly and ‘no frills’ way.

Another aspect of this workshop I really enjoyed was the interaction between Dr Lam and his students. His talks on various topics were more like friendly discussions in which everyone was included, and the same natural approach was used for the practical sessions.

Although workshops are also run by Dr Lam’s team of very accomplished and respected master trainers, and I have attended and enjoyed three of these wonderfully inspiring initial training and update sessions, a workshop run by Dr Lam himself is a memorable experience not to be missed. I now look forward to not only sharing the wealth of information and insights gained from this workshop with my own TCA groups but also applying them to all my tai chi practice. Thank you Dr Lam for personally providing so many people from all walks of life with inspiration and encouragement.

[robbelli]

I attended an Exploring the Depths of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop in Melbourne in august. It was a terrific weekend with Dr Lam and several wonderful Master Trainers. It was a privilege and a great thrill to learn from such a skilled, passionate and dedicated team of instructors. I have spent several years "getting into" Tai Chi as a student, and now I feel that Tai Chi is "getting into" me as a new instructor.The Exploring the Depths workshop has given me a deeper insight into Tai Chi as a student, and I believe that can only help me as a teacher.

[thio]

I attended the Exploring the Depths of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop in Melbourne in August. It was a wonderful opportunity for a recharge of the Tai Chi batteries with a great group of people, including Dr Lam and six great Master Trainers. Tai Chi forms are not static but constantly evolving, changing, and improving. It's essential for leaders and instructors to keep abreast of new ideas and developments, revise and correct the movements, and share and exchange knowledge and experiences with Master Trainers and peers. It's easy for your own bad habits or embellishmets to creep into forms. When you are the one out in front of a class, all your errors will be followed and reproduced by your students!! Ahhhh! These workshops, together with the update sessions, are vital not only for keeping on track with forms, but for getting back those inspirational feelings of excitement and joy that are part of Tai Chi. It was great to have the privilege and opportunity to attend the workshop and be able to bring back the knowledge and enthusiasm that I gained to share with my classes. Thanks everyone.

[Lynette Knight]

This workshop was just what I needed personally to take my Tai Chi to another level to instruct and share with my students.
Learning and practicing Qi, Song, Jing, and Serenity has given us all new Tai Chi principles to think about and enjoy the depths of our form.
I loved hearing from Paul about his experiences. Learning from him is a wonderful and joyful experience. Paul is very inspirational.

[David Kiesel]

This is a note about the Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop recently held in Sisters, Oregon. As those of you - who get Tai Chi for Health information - know, Dr Lam was the instructor. Two of his Senior Instructors, Jenny Sheldon from nearby Redmond, Oregon and Sandi Wicher, from Walla Walla, Washington (Yes, that is the name of the town.) assisted him. I don’t mention these names merely to document who was there. No, I feel this was a fantastic experience. And it is due to the knowledge, the preparation and the warm-hearted generosity of these persons. And they MUST be named.

So what was so fantastic? This was not so much a training program as it was an event. An event that included learning by discovery, learning by smiling, learning by sharing. An event that left me not trained, but transformed. Not indoctrinated, but included. Not judged, but joyful.

I left the solitary self-learning of my Tai Chi practice and joined a community of Tai Chi players, in the truest sense of that word.

I left my practiced and precise external efforts and joined the ranks of those whose movement arises from within.

I left my concentrated searching for that illusive Qi and joined the humans who allow it to emerge whenever and however it will.

Pretty fantastic, eh?

I am a Tai Chi for Arthritis instructor and my students have already begun to change, not because I have shared that many of the tips I learned. No, they tell me they are learning from the change in me and how I move. Transforming weekend, indeed!

Thank you, Dr. Lam, for being who you are and for so artfully gathering like-spirited people like Jenny and Sandi into your family.

David Kiesel

[geli]

I wish english would be my first language in putting my experience and reflection of that same workshop clearly for many to read.
David just did this with his post.
And yes, Dr. Paul Lam is a gem to know.
I truly have been feeling an inner transformation after returning from the workshop. I mentioned to my students that I would have liked to share the presents of Dr. Paul Lam with them!
All who participated and organized my heartfelt thank you.
Danke Schoen.
Angelika

[susan123]

very informative post