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Enjoy Movement Newsletter

Tai Chi/Qigong/Trager

Winter 2012


Smile & Move

What could be easier?





Introduction

Happy New Year. A time for new beginnings. A time to review the past year and resolve to practice in the upcoming year that which is most valuable to us. This is a great time to refocus on our Beginner's Mind where there exists

only possibilities. For me, having experienced some challenging health issues the past couple months, I am having a greater appreciation of this wonderful gift called Health and Well-Being. My wish for each of us is that we do not take for granted our health and that we dedicate ourselves to the reality of the Present Moment- the only place from which we can create a better future.




The Three Promises of Qi

If there were one book I would recommend you have about the cultivation of well-being, it would be The Healing Promise of Qi by Roger Jahnke. The First Promise: Qi is free, it is everywhere, and everyone has direct access to it through simple methods that are easy to learn and practice. Qi can be cultivated purposefully to resolve any challenge or enhance any function. The Second Promise: Every person who uses Qi cultivation methods consistently experiences some form of health improvement and personal access to greater energy and power. The Third Promise: Qi cultivation-Qigong- is easy if you let it be.



Classes


Bard at Simon's Rock

Ongoing, drop-in

Mondays from 10:00-11:00 am. Free to members. A day pass for others.


Columbia-Greene Community College

Beginning class “Twenty Minute Routine”

Weds. Jan. 18-Feb. 15 from 6:00-7:15 $47 for 5 classes call 828-4181 ext. 3342


Intermediate class

Weds. Jan. 18-Feb. 15 from 4:45-6:00 $47 for 5 classes


Columbia-Greene

Movement for Agelessness

Based on Trager Mentastics

Tuesdays Jan. 24- Feb. 14 from 6:00 -7:00 $37 for 4 classes


Home Classes

I currently teach a small class on Tuesday mornings in my home. This class is presently closed to new participants but I would love to have more small classes in my home. These classes could be from 3-5 people and would be priced accordingly. The class can be tailor-made to you and your groups needs. So if you can get a few people together let me know and we will see what we can schedule.


Trager Demos

The first Monday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm. This is free and open to the public at our home at 268 Thielman Rd., Hudson, NY 12534 (Our mailing address for map quest although we are located in Claverack). Please RSVP by day before as our space is limited and we want to be sure to give each person a hands on sample of the bodywork as well as time to develop self-care movement for yourself. You may call at 518-851-7952 and ask for David or Lisa.

The Twenty Minute Body/Mind Routine-Tai Chi & Qigong for Busy People

For those of you new my approach to teaching this is the beginning class. For those of you who have taken this before I will be offering a new twist. In the beginning and emphasized throughout you will be introduced to the Trager Approach to self-moving or Mentastics. By teaching this way the movement you will learn in the routine will be easier and will feel as if it is truly your movement. The Routine follows a sequence of movements all designed to relax and loosen the major knots of tension that we hold preventing the free flow of life-force often called chi. Once loosened, we turn our attention to a few simple Qigong movements and the start of a simple Tai Chi form. We conclude with a seated self-massage and inner smile meditation. Depending on the class some movement done on the floor is included. A manual is included with each class and an accompanying DVD can be purchased. The DVD can always be purchased through my website www.enjoymovement.com.


Advanced Classes

After the Twenty Minute class students often progress to a more advanced level. This level is always evolving and depends on who is involved, space , etc. I currently teach one of these classes at my home and one at Columbia-Greene. Hopefully, some of you in my current classes may want to continue.



Teaching & Reaching Others

Wouldn't it be great to share with others what you have learned through classes or DVD? As our society continues going through crisis, it is important that we help others with simple Qigong practices. That is the purpose of the Certification workshop in teaching the Twenty Minute Body/Mind Routine. Presently, I have certified six others to teach the Twenty Minute Routine. It is my mission to train more of us to reach a varied audience of those whose well-being calls for support. A certification class takes 12 hours. During that time the Routine will be reviewed, you will be helped in how to instruct others in a way that is easy and fun and you will be supported in exploring audiences for your instruction. You do not have to be an expert to share this work, just a willingness to help others. I will be doing this class throughout the upcoming year. Here is the next class.

Dates: June 2 & 3, 2012

Who: Open to those who have taken the Twenty Minute Routine class.

Purpose: To deepen one's understanding of Routine and to share with others this skill.

Cost: To be determined by response.


Trager Introductory Workshop

Dates: March 31 2012 from 10:00-5:00 for those taking the 6 hour class.

Who : Anyone interested in developing self-care through movement and an open meditative state. Guided instruction in the hands-on aspect of the Trager Approach will be given. Learning to give and receive the Trager touch is a blessing! This class fulfills an pre-requisite for entering the Trager training track. Also, National Certification for Massage & Bodywork CE's are given. Check out www.tragermata.com for more info. On Trager.

Cost: $90. The tuition is reduced by $10 if you register by March 1. 2012.



Trager

Trager is an Approach to living and moving more freely. There are two aspects. The hands on or table work part in which the practitioner shares with the receiver the feeling of more ease, comfort, freedom through movement all done in one's natural rhythm and ranges of motion. Once this feeling has been felt then the practitioner teaches the receiver how to initiate the movement and the feeling on one's own. This other aspect of the Trager Approach is the self initiated movement called Mentastics. These can be learned through guided touch or from receiving verbal or visual instruction.

I am instituting a free demo evening in which I will give samples to whoever shows up to help people feel if this approach could be helpful.



Trager Mentastics

Mentastics are simple. Here is one to experience as you sit and read these words. What little adjustment can you make to your sitting so that you feel more comfortable? What did you notice as you asked this simple question? Did you perhaps allow a breath to come in or did you sit up straighter or lean back into your chair? All questions are asked to the functional part of our body/mind in such a manner that we allow the response to emerge. Sometimes the response is immediate, some times we have to have patience and let different responses to emerge. Continue to play with this questioning process, always asking qualitative questions such as How could my sitting be more effortless or relaxed or more aware or more light or more playful? Does it feel good to stay with process for a while? The words will always be here.

Want to read more about mentastics? Check out www.tragerus.org.



Qigong & Tai Chi

Here is a link to the short Tai Chi form I am currently teaching that you can view on you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01GBu9QV6z4  

I will be adding more to this form in the next few weeks.


Zhan Zhuang-Standing like a Tree. This is the simplest form of Qigong although, in many ways , potentially the most powerful and most difficult. It is a way of Fire meaning that it can burn away accumulated layers of that which no longer serves us. And in the process helps us deeply relax into our ability to circulate that which heals us. It is most important that one is introduced to this practice gradually. There are approaches to this practice that use a somewhat “what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger” approach. For those who have experienced my manner of teaching , you know I am not a fan of this approach believing that it is only through an approach that grounds us in comfort that we are able to safely navigate our rough edges. We can then look forward to this practice.

I integrate this practice into all levels of my teaching. As you advance you will be introduced into longer periods of this standing.


World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

Join thousands as we all connect world wide on this annual event April 28. More to come in the Spring newsletter.


Massage

My partner Lisa is a licensed massage therapist currently working at Omega Institute, Body Be Well in Red Hook as well as at home. She gives all types of massage as well as Cranial Sacral and Reiki . Her loves are Trager and Zero Balancing. She can be reached at 851-7952 and lisaravetto@yahoo.com.



Here are the rates for Lisa:

$70 for an hour

She is offering sessions at Body Be Well

Modalities include Massage, Reiki, Reflexology, Trager, Zero Balancing, Cranio-sacral

Home visits can be scheduled, please inquire for rates.


Twenty Minute Routine DVD

The Twenty Minute Routine DVD can be ordered directly from me for $20.00(normally $25) or can be ordered through Pay Pal at my website www.enjoymovement.com.


Links

In the past I have included links to resources that I have personal knowledge of and recommend. I would like to hear from you resources such as books, teachers, classes, alternative practitioners that have impacted you.





Please know that I never share your address. If you would no longer wish to be on this list, please reply to this email with that request.



"If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work. There is no enlightenment outside of daily life."

--Thich Nhat Hanh


Blessings,

David Haines