 |
| Grandmaster Wu Jianquan, 4th from left. |
“Practicing is not only playing your instrument, either
by yourself or rehearsing with others - it also includes imagining yourself
practicing. Your brain forms the same neural connections and muscle memory
whether you are imagining the task or actually doing it.”
~ Yo-Yo Ma
Chilly and snowy December greetings! Warm ups, Qigong, Solo
Form practice, and cinnamon will help you keep warm.
“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice
makes perfect.”
~ Vince Lombardi
Classes will continue through to December 23rd,
then we’ll be closed until January 3rd.
“Practice makes improvement, not perfection.”
~ Lauren Bateman
I’m looking to hold two painting parties over the break. One
to finish the back stairwell, and another to paint the treads. Let me know if you
want to party!
"Practice
makes perfect, but nobody's perfect, so why practice?"
~ Kurt Cobain
Thanks to two big pains in my backside, I’m now working on a
version of the Taiji Cane that mixes using both hands, during the same form.
This is not simply switching complete sides, but changing hands at different
rows, and then switching hands back again. Seriously, I haven’t been this
inspired in quite a while! I’m trying to get it ready for a debut at Chinese
New Year, but I still need lots of work. Here is a YouTube clip about working
the non-dominant hand, enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVzV0lXNhWY
“Practice means to perform, over and over again in the
face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a
means of inviting the perfection desired.”
~ Martha Graham
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| Professor Zheng Manqing, Bend Bow to Shoot the Tiger. |
Book Suggestion= Bong Bo by Paul Eng.
“Practice makes permanent, not perfect.”
~ Bobby Robson
Here is another option,
Secrets of Seven Star Praying Mantis by Lee Kam-wing
“Practice is how to turn knowledge into skill.”
~ Anders Ericsson
Our monthly Zoom Pushing Hands class will be Monday,
December 22nd 630-730PM.
“When you play, make sure you're honest enough to confront your own deficiencies. That's why practicing is a sign of morality in a musician. It means that you're willing to subject yourself to self-scrutiny of the highest order.”
~ Wynton Marsalis
Chinese New Year 2026 is February 17th, the Year
of the Horse. I’m looking at celebrating two days earlier on Sunday, February 15th.
If there be no objections, I’ll reserve the church and start making
preparations.
“In theory, there is no difference between theory and
practice. In practice, there is.”
~ Yogi Berra
Paul Brennan translation= Collected Mantis Boxing Articles
by Wong Hon-fun
https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/collected-mantis-boxing-articles/
"Habit is persistence in practice."
~Octavia E. Butler
I usually write some kind of year end report or thoughts
about the school at the close of the year. I’m doing that with this newsletter, I'm reporting on how I see your practice, both in class and on your own, shining
through your Taiji and other arts. I'm glad to see you are practicing outside of class, and that some of you are scheduling practices with partners on your own time, bravo! Keep going!
“The goal of practice is always to keep our beginner’s
mind.”
~ Jack Kornfield
I thank you all for your continuing support and appreciation. Thank you for a great 2025, let’s make 2026 even more
relaxed, sunken deeply, smooth, rooted, flowing, grounded, all in the spirit
and joy of learning ... and practicing!
I bow to the ground,
Sifu Ray
“Everything we do is practice for something greater than
where we currently are. Practice only makes for improvement.”
~ Les Brown
Contact
info
my
phone- 1-218-341-9894
email=
skrayhayward@gmail.com
my
Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward
blog=
rayhayward.com
website=
mindfulmotiontaichi.com
Facebook=
Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy
Ray Hayward Enterprises
YouTube=
Ray Hayward, the Inspired Teacher
Mindful Motion Tai-Chi
Academy
my
books at Lulu= lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward
Instagram=
Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking
School
shirts-
https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225
My
address,
5140
W. 102nd St
#307
Bloomington,
MN
55437
#rayhayward#taiji#taijiquan#taichichuan#bagua#xingyi#sword#qigong#yichuan#wudangsword#qinna#northernprayingmantis#southernprayingmantis#standingmeditation#taoistmeditation#taoistlove#semenretention#masterttliang#wailunchoi#mindfulmotiontaichiacademy#rayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#rayhaywardblog#sanshou#tuishou#pushinghands#karambit##pushinghands#fajing#imsak#rosslynchapel#druidry#knightstemplar#freemasonry#lulubooksrayhaywardauthor#patreonrayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#youtubetheinspiredteacher
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| My first Xingyi and Bagua teacher, Master BP Chan, showing perfect balance. |
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