to inform forthcoming events at the studio and tai chi information http://thestudio.active24blog.com/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:15:22 +0100 Active Blog by Active 24 www.active24.com Wed, 27 May 2009 12:57:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/25694/ On Saturday, March 13th eighteen hardy students of the Tai Chi Studio came along to take part in a day long seminar on the ten essential points of Tai Chi Chuan. I think you will see from the Photo that everyone seemed to have a good time and although they may have all left feeling a little tired they all left with a smile on their face!!! Some would say that the highlight of the day was the lunch provided by my other half Lesley who seems to be able to do amazing things with rice, coriander and a piece of lemon. personally, the leek and potato pie and malteaser cake always does it for me. The photo shows me demonstrating some of the power that can be generated by putting all the right principles and concepts into action - I love the way you can see the guys all hitting the mat and the blurry images while I seem to be standing stationary - Lesley took the photo - maybe she is in the wrong job!!!   thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:10:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/24944/ Hi one and all - well, how about that snow last night. I was truly amazed that anyone actually turned up for a class last night - just goes to show eh!!! Thought I would just say a word about breathing today. I remember when I started my Tai Chi journey many years ago that one of the students asked if there was any special breathing techniques that we should use while practising our Tai Chi. This seemed a very strange request to me because we were only a little way through the long form and was having enough trouble remembering the moves. However, this particular student insisted and our master said that there was a special technique we should use and that he would show us it at that very moment. This made the inquisitive student very happy and he watched as the master stood hands at his side breathing gently. The master continued this for about ten minutes and then stopped. 'There', he said. 'Use that method, very effective.' The precocious student seemed quite disgusted at this and said it wasn't a special technique at all and that the master was just breathing in and out. 'Quite correct', said the master, 'in and out is very good.' But the student said that this was not special to which the master replied 'Oh yes, very special technique, in and out; try not doing it for fifteen minutes and see how special it is!' Much laughter ensued from most of the students but we never saw Mr. Precocious again!!!  thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:33:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/24629/ I know I have said this many times before but to get really great results from Tai Chi you have to practice. It absolutely amazes me when people say 'but I don't have time' - time is something that is thrust upon us and it is up to us to govern it and not let it govern us - A well known saying says that if you want something done ask a busy man! When I say 'get up in the morning fifteen minutes earlier to have some practice' you would think I was sending them on the quest for the Holy Grail! Most people give up Tai Chi saying they have trouble remembering the moves what they should say is I'm giving up because I don't practice. This sounds like a real rant on my part but you can tell me what you want but please be honest with yourselves and understand the real reasons. It takes years of practice to understand the intricacies of Tai Chi - I never say it is easy - one of my acquaintances who runs a martial art school in Colchester has a sign on the wall that says 'A black belt is only a White belt that never gave up' - I think that about sums it up really.  Enjoy your Training!!! thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:38:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/24374/ Master John Ding came to the studio on Sunday, 18th October gave insight to twenty or so students on applying the principles and concepts of Tai Chi. The day was a great success and everyone left with a new sense of purpose about their Tai Chi training - although everyone was looking a little wilted by the end of the seminar - I'm sure we all slept like logs that night. Thank you to all the students who attended the seminar and also bigs thanks to Leslie (the wife) who provided us with a much needed lunch half way through the day - also big thanks to Julie who provided the biggest chocolate cake imaginable. Here is the group photo.   thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:09:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/23475/ Saturday 27th June - one of the hottest days of the year so far and myself and sixteen studio students spent the afternoon giving Tai Chi Demo's and promoting new classes and seminars for the future. it was a good day though and lots and interest generated although we were right next to the Punch and Judy man!!! Concentration is tested to the limit when you have someone shouting 'That's The Way To Do It' every couple of minutes. We stopped at around 4.00pm and returned to the Studio for some beer and nibbles to celebrate my coming birthday the next day. I have deleted the 'I need to start decorating' blog now because after eight months in Golf Hall we are returning to the Plough Road Centre unit A13 - which is in the process of being prepared for our takeover in August.  A big thank you to Reg (the owner of Golf Hall) for understanding that although the venue was very spacious it just lacked a little in atmosphere and  would have cost too much to replace floors and renovate rooms etc. Still I'm sure he will have no trouble finding a new tenant soon.  thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:44:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/23144/ Had rather a busy day yesterday (saturday). started off by giving a demonstration in Clacton at a 'well being' exhibition sponsored by BBC Essex. I was only supposed to do 10 minutes but as usual I managed to go over time and did about 30 mins - I can get carried away sometimes! Then it was down to the Wivenhoe Regatta - an annual event where everyone congregates at the riverside to see some serious and fun races. it was the hottest day of the year though and in the end came home to watch the second half of the cup final. in the evening a couple of friends and myself played at the leaving do for our local landlady - she is off to live in France and we all wish her all the best. As a group we go under the name of Hurricane, after the Bob Dylan song and because we do lots of Dylan covers it just seemed appropriate! we also play Eddie Cochran/Elvis Presley and Paul Simon numbers as well as lots of other artist, mainly 60's/70's. My son, Gary also played - he is great and I swear he does Oasis numbers better than Oasis, but then I am a bit bias! All in all, a very good though tiring day - think i'll take it easy today! thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Sun, 31 May 2009 12:23:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/23122/ I'm often asked how it came about that I opened a full time studio. Well, it was definitely a case of 'Meant to be'! We moved to Wivenhoe in 2002; at the time I worked as a London Cab Driver. Unlike a lot of other cab drivers I absolutely hated the job but carried on out of necessity to pay bills etc. Fortunately we were able to sell the house in London and buy a two up two down in Wivenhoe without having to take on a mortgage so with this in mind the plan was to go down to London and work for 2 or 3 days a week (staying over at my eldest sons house) and then spend the rest of the time 'at home'. I had heard of many cab drivers who had pulled this off quite well, even after to moving to Cornwall and even more 'far flung' places. After three weeks of Wivenhoe living and having done not one days work in London it seemed obvious to me that this plan was never going to materialise and what with the taxi's yearly overhaul coming up (which can cost an absolute fortune just for the privilege of driving around London receiving no end of abuse) I decided that while looking for some other means of earning a living I would MOT the cab and use it for my private transport.  Now the cab failed the MOT miserably and rather than have it fixed up I drove it down to a breakers yard in Colchester, handed them the keys and walked the three or four miles along the river back to Wivenhoe. The feeling of freedom was unbelievable, but here I was now with no job, no car and absolutely no idea of what was in store and yet I felt ecstatic! At the time there was a few empty shops in the lower end of town so in my naivity I thought it would be a good idea to maybe go into the retail business. With absolutely no idea what to sell or how to go about selling it I called the letting agent and arranged a meeting. While we were looking around the premises the agent asked me what I intended to sell - GULP! 'I don't know,' I replied. 'I was thinking of maybe a music or art shop.' 'Have you put forward your business plan?' She asked - another gulp! I then proceeded to tell her the story of the cab driving, the dumping of the cab and the walk of freedom down the Wivenhoe trail. I wasn't sure if she was impressed or not but she did ask what else I could do. 'Well, I am also a Tai Chi Instructor,' I said rather incredulously because that was one thing I had totally forgotten. I had been teaching at Master John Ding's International Academy of Tai Chi Chuan for the past few years while also running independent classes in the East Ham and Ilford area of London. I had many years of experience in the art and always enjoyed passing the knowledge on to others. A look of triumph came over her face and she told me she had just the place for me and we immediately went round to the Wivenhoe Business Centre where she showed me a small but excellent unit where I could begin my new venture. I haven't looked back since and eventually had to move to a bigger premises in Great Bentley, a few miles down the road. I still live in Wivenhoe and I now have a car, albeit a lowly Vauxhall Corsa and enjoy the daily drive out through the country roads to my place of work. How many people can say that! What i'm trying to say here is that if you have a chance to work at something you also enjoy then go for it - not many people get the chance and not many people are willing to take the risk but just do it! - An ounce of performance is worth a pound of preaching (Allen family and Tai Chi Studio Motto)   thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100 http://thestudio.active24blog.com/23106/ Great Bentley holds it annual carnival on the 27th June. The Studio will have a stall and also be giving Tai Chi demonstrations and holding workshops. As it is also the day before my birthday the studio will also be open for anyone who wishes to drop by later on in the day! The studio is situated just behind the Post Office opposite the Plough pub. The Bentley carnival follows hot on the heels of the Wivenhoe Mayfair held on Monday 25th. A glorious sunny day was enjoyed by thousands who enjoyed great live music. this year there was also the inclusion of a 'healing field' which proved very successful - Shiatsu/Tarot/Reiki and Reflexology stands did excellent business on the day and hopefully brought the joys of 'alternative healing' to the masses. Yours truly also had a stand to answer any questions on Tai Chi. I also did one workshop which proved popular but my Juniper bonsai seemed to be the biggest talking point of the day! On the music front, if you get the chance to go and see 'Rev Simpkins' do so. There was also a set from New Town Kings another popular local 'Ska' band. Wivenhoe's own poet Martin Newell did two sets - one on the main stage and one in the spoken word tent. Well, this is my first attempt at 'blogging' and hopefully I will improve as time goes by - Catch yer all soon! thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk Wed, 27 May 2009 12:57:00 +0100