The Inspired Teacher

Sunday, June 1, 2025

MMTCA June Newsletter 2025

“Don’t obey in advance.”

~Tim Snyder

It’s weather like this that makes me smile and say I’m glad I live in Minnesota! My Carleton College class has been going outside for a few weeks now, and as of June 3^rd we are officially having classes outside. We’ll use the church as our rainy-day back-up space, but for now, class outside unless you get an email or notice.

Tuesday 6-8PM = St Sahag back yard

Wednesday Zoom 630-730PM = your choice!

Thursday 6-8PM = East River Flats Park

Saturday 9-11AM= East River Flats Park

We will be doing much more weapons work including review of weapons forms and Wudang Sword, continue learning Section 5 of Sanshou, and do some work on the Right Side of the Solo Form.

We will also be doing the basics of Double Saber, both solo and two-person. You will need two 24-inch rattan sticks. Let me know if you need a pair and want to make a group order. Otherwise, you can either go to Rising Sun (Tell Lynn I said Hi!) or go online.

In Bagua we will continue with Sensitivity and Sword, and we’ll be doing a Qinna study. In Xingyi we will work on the 5 Elements and Spear, and add some two-person practice, either the Cover Form or 5 Elements Sticking. Any questions or requests, feel free to reach out.

The last monthly Zoom Pushing Hands class will be Monday, June 30^th. We’ll resume in the Fall.

Book suggestion= I’ve made this suggestion many times before, and I’m happy to introduce people again to the BEST martial arts periodical I’ve ever read... The Pa Kua Chang Journal!!

https://www.plumpub.com/sales/bagua/paguajournal.htm

I’ve gotten a few inquiries about private classes. I have limited time and space, but with the nice weather I can accommodate a few more during the Summer months. If you are interested, contact me and make me an offer, we’ll see what we can do.

Great Grandmaster William C.C. Chen

Paul Brennan Translation= Chen Yanlin’s Sanshou chapter

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/taiji-two-person-sparring-set-taiji-san-shou-dui-da/

Let’s have a great outside season of classes, practice, learning, and fun!

~ Sifu Ray

“The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”

~ Hannah Arendt

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

Twitter- Ray Hayward 1988

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. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437

#rayhayward#taiji#taijiquan#taichichuan#bagua#xingyi#sword#qigong#yichuan#wudangsword#qinna#standingmeditation#taoistmeditation#taoistlove#semenretention#masterttliang#wailunchoi#mindfulmotiontaichiacademy#rayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#rayhaywardblog#sanshou#prayingmantis#karambit##pushinghands#fajing#imsak#rosslynchapel#druidry#lulubooksrayhaywardauthor#patreonrayhaywardtheinspiredteacher

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Book Review by Rondi Atkin

Dear Sifu, Julie, and Margo,

I just received my copy of Harmony in Motion and am blown away. It’s brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed.

I am honored to have been part of it and happy to add it to my collection of Taiji books as testimony to this great art, to our deep lineage, to the breadth of students whose lives have been changed, and to you, Sir, our amazing teacher.

Love you all.

Rondi

Thank You Rondi, for All you do for Taiji! ~ Ray

MMTCA May Newsletter 2025

World Taiji Day, 2025.

“Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place then come down and shoot the survivors.”

~Ernest Hemingway

Blessed May! I forgot the April newsletter, but I’ll make it up to you with this weather! I think we’ll be going outside for classes soon, and I’ll reach out and give notice when we do.

Our schedule stays the same until we go outside. Don’t worry, we’ll keep working on the vertical methods!

Monthly Zoom Pushing Hands class, Monday, May 19^th. I ‘ll send out the invite closer to the date.

Striking Heaven, Piercing earth, from Bagua 8 Inner Palms.

I’ll be back to filming and creating content this month. My Pushing Hands book has taken my time and attention, but now I can get back to filming and writing. I have an idea for some more vlogs, and I have some Taiji classics to talk about and show. Stay tuned!

Book suggestion- Taoist Mysteries and Magic by John Blofeld

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32065381925&dest=usa&ref_=ps_ggl_17721428148&cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade_20to50-_-product_id=COM9780394712352USED-_-keyword=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16999850877&gbraid=0AAAAAD3Y6gtEppO6uhHU3N-SDtCJSexw7&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ubABhDIARIsAHMighZyO__hY1stQGmA2oFg9mTKEX35TwQKeW7Wa8d7HkByptapvI-313YaAoVhEALw_wcB

Brennan Translation- https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-taiji-classics/

Thank you all for your support and appreciation for Taiji and my teachers!

-Sifu Ray

“The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge.”

~ Aristotle