The Inspired Teacher

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

MMTCA October Newsletter 2024

“I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So, I like best of all autumn, because its leaves are a little yellow, its tone mellower, its colors richer, and it s tinged a little with sorrow and a premonition of death. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor of the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and is content.”

-Lin Yutang

Glorious October! What an amazing Fall we are having! Although the weather is still lovely, we are taking classes back inside at St Sahag’s beginning this month. Times and place are the same as last year:

Tuesday 6-8 St Sahag

Wednesday 630-730 Zoom

Thursday 6-8 St Sahag/Zoom

Saturday 9-11 St Sahag

We’ll be continuing with learning and refining the 3^rd Section of the Long Form, finish the 4^th Section of Sanshou and start the 5^th section (the longest!), and work on Saber Fencing. For pushing hands we’ll review the 8 Basic Methods, 5 Advanced Drills, and get prepared for Willow #4! Bagua will be continuing with the 8 Palms, sword, deer horns, and some sensitivities. Xingyi will be learning more of the spear, stationary 5 Elements and Lightning Hands. And Chinese New Year is coming…

The 40^th Anniversary book and my pushing hands book are both coming closer to publication. I’ll keep you posted and will hold a book signing party when we they are available.

Speaking of party, I’m asking for volunteers to come and help paint the Dance studio at St Sahag some Sunday afternoon in November. Let me know if you can help and what dates work best for you.

Book suggestion and Brennan translation this month are Yiquan themed.

Book suggestion= The Complete Book of Yiquan by C.S. Tang

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Yiquan-C-Tang/dp/1848192258

Paul Brennan= https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/the-correct-path-of-yiquan/

The Hybrid class starts the 3^rd of this month. The monthly pushing hands and the book club will start up again in November.

FYI my Patreon page has a free membership option, please consider supporting by simply being a member.

A glorious and fun-filled Autumn to you all!

-Sifu Ray

“Releasing what no longer serves you is an act of courage and self-respect.”

-Brene 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

Twitter- Ray Hayward 1988

my books at Lulu= lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward

my books on Amazon= amazon.com/author/rayhayward

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

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

MMTCA September 2024 Newsletter

“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”

― Marcus Aurelius

A warm and glorious September to you! Outside classes and practices are continuing to deliver pure joy! Not to mention eagles, hawks, bluejays, cardinals, etc.etc.etc.

Our schedule stays the same for September, we will be outside at Bohemian Flats, until October. Speaking of October, we will resume the monthly online pushing hands classes, and, we will be offering a book club, more like a verse/passage/paragraph club, lead by Rondi Atkin. We will explore and discuss readings from the Art of War, Tao Te Ching, Taiji Classics, and select Taiji books. Invites and more next month.

This month’s Paul Brennan translation is the Taiji Saber book by Fu Zhongwen. Master Liang relied heavily on the book, as well as his Wudang sword training, to teach us this short but amazing saber fencing set.

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/yang-style-taiji-saber-according-to-fu-zhongwen/

Speaking of books, it’s been a book year. I made a small contribution to my teacher Master BP Chan’s legacy book, my 40^th Anniversary book should be out soon, and my Pushing Hands books is finishing a huge round of edits. Stay tuned!

John Myerson, Dr Leung Kay-chi, and myself 1980.

And more books! My dear friend, esteemed brother, and most excellent training partner, Master John Myerson has been writing for years about his experiences with healing, shamanism, martial arts, and life challenges. The founder of New England School of Acupuncture, Harvard Kung-Fu Club instructor, martial arts extraordinaire, John is the middle brother with myself as younger brother (my first Chinese name was Shao Di, little brother) and Paul Gallagher as elder brother. Check out John’s books:

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AJohn+G.+Myerson&s=relevancerank&text=John+G.+Myerson&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

9/9 marks the 4^th anniversary of the launching of my Patreon page. I have lessons and posts planned to include beginning the Advanced Pushing Hands drills, Taiji Classics, and Bagua to name a few. I’m also expanding my horizons and am going to try my hand at Vlogging!

https://www.patreon.com/rayhayward

Thank you all for your support and attendance.

(Shameless plug, go to the Renaissance Festival if you get a chance, tell the Feastmaster I sent you! https://renaissancefest.com/)

-Sifu Ray

“People are often surprised when I tell them the most important thing I learned in the CIA is situational awareness.”

-Jason Hanson

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

my books on Amazon= amazon.com/author/rayhayward

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

“

4th Anniversary at Patreon

September 9th is the Four Year Anniversary of the opening of my Patreon page. Paul Gallagher help me with the date, choosing an auspicious day and deity to help with my beginnings. It began as a way to stay connected, and be supported, after my school was closed due to the Covid19 lockdown, and the George Floyd riots. It was also a major learning curve and additional facet to my various teaching methods and modes. Now after four years, my page stands as a valuable addition and medium for sharing the arts we so dearly love and practice.

My current plans for the page are to begin offering advanced pushing hands drills and material, finish the Bagua 8 Palms, and share two Taiji Classics with some explanation and demonstration:

"To withdraw is to attack; to attack is to withdraw..."

and

"If you pay full attention to your spirit and ignore your breathing, your striking force will be as string as pure steel..."

I have filmed my Solo Form for both demo and instruction, and have started to share those already. I've also filmed my 37 Posture Short Form, and my 72 Movement Fast Form and they will be offered as well. And I'm exploring Vlogs and will share some short lessons and thoughts with you starting in October.

I want to thank you all for supporting my art and my teaching of the art. To see you make a breakthrough, to see a lightbulb go on over your head, to get one of those questions from your deep dive into personal practice, to watch you fend off multiple pushes and attacks in Willow #3, all makes my heart soar! Again, thank you for your support and appreciation. I leave you with this line from the Taiji Classics:

"Carefully examine what the ultimate purpose is- the enhancement of longevity, rejuvenation, and immortality."