My Guest Blogger, Evan Deley.

 Tai Chi changed my life

A little over three months ago, I was dealing with some health issues. I have always been somewhat healthy but life got in the way and I was having trouble dealing with things. I went to my doctor and was told my blood pressure was extremely high 177/88 and my cholesterol was high as well. My doctor told me I needed to make some life changes or it was going to get a lot worse for me.

I decided to make some life changes and one of them was beginning a journey with Tai Chi. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada and I was finding it very difficult to find a teacher who taught the form I wanted to learn.

My mother was a student of Ray Hayward a long time ago and she was certified by him to teach the Yang Style 150 posture long form. I am lucky enough to know Ray so I reached out to him and he took the time to talk to me and encourage me that Tai Chi and Meditation would help me. I know he is semi retired now, so I decided to ask my mom. She has not taught Tai Chi for a long time but she decided to teach me.

I started taking private lessons from her once a week and I was hooked. I was totally addicted, I cannot get enough of it. I have been reading every book I can get my hands on, following Ray Haywards Inspired Teacher blog, Patreon, and YouTube channel and I practice every single day. I am into the second section now, and I practice the form numerous times a day, and practice Qi Gong, and Standing Meditation. This has made a massive change in my life.

I had an appointment today for a three month check up on my progress, my doctor almost fell off her chair when she took my blood pressure and it was 118/72. Then she checked my blood work and was amazed to see that every single indicator had dropped, my cholesterol had dropped, my sugars had dropped, literally every single thing she tested for had dropped. She asked me what I have been doing to get such great results and I told her I do Tai Chi every single day and I feel better than I can ever remember. I have no stress, I don't worry about things anymore, I don't get nervous, and my heart rate is under 70. My body always feels calm and relaxed.

She told me she was amazed and quite frankly she was speechless when I told her it was due to Tai Chi practice.

Tai Chi has changed my life and it can change yours too, I am so excited to continue learning and growing in my practice.

Thank you Ray for letting me share this story with you and for supporting me in my journey.

Evan Deley

MMTCA May Newsletter 2026

 

So many masters from my lineage, including my teacher, Master T.T. Liang, sitting lower left. Three of his teachers are in the very center, Prof Zheng Manqing, Master Li Shoujian, and Master Chen Panling. So many others, can you spot them?

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.”

~ Oliver Wendall Holmes Sr

(The above is my new favorite quote, summing up for me learning, practicing, and teaching.)

May is here, blessed May! What a glorious month to be alive and in Minnesota! It’s our reward for Winter, ha-ha!

May is when I hope to start outside classes, weather permitting. I’m shooting for Tuesday, May 19^th, outside at the St Sahag backyard. If it’s cold or raining, we can easily go inside. If we successfully hold class outside, then I’d like to start our outside season. Here are our locations for class outside.

Tuesdays- St Sahag Backyard

Thursdays-East River Flats Park

Saturdays- East River Flats Park

I’ll keep you updated as it gets closer. Thursday Hybrid classes will stop when we go out, and resume in the Fall when we go in again.

I’ve scheduled a Spring cleanup for the church on May 16^th, 100-300 PM. Members of the church may help out and I’d appreciate any volunteers to help pick up branches, rake the last of the leaves, and just tidy up and make the yard ready for me to start the mowing season. It shouldn’t take too long. Let me know if you can help me.

Monthly book club will be Monday, May 11^th, 630-730PM. I’d like to read both Brennan’s translation of the Thirteen Postures Classic in Huang's book, and Master Liang’s translation side by side, for a lively discussion. And we’ll continue with the book. I’ll send out a zoom invite for that.

Because of Memorial Day, I’ll do the monthly Pushing Hands zoom class Monday, May 18^th 630-730PM, instead of the fourth Monday. I’m going to review footwork and Rooting in Willow # 3. I’ll send an invite for that also.

I was in Delaware for a big part of April, conducting seminars and workshops at Sifu Bryan Davis’s Twin Willows Tai Chi Studio and Simu Diane Cannon’s Ming Tao Tai Chi. Lots of classes, subjects, awesome students, and great work! And hours spent on the final work for my Pushing Hands book, including more photos and editing. Thank you Artimus and Jenn! Stay tuned!

In Delaware, doing what I always do on World Taiji Day...

While I was in Delaware, my substitute teacher was Margo Bock. She took over all my classes and people were treated to her insights and teachings for the whole time I was away. Thank you Margo!

One of Margo's lessons on the white board.

In Delaware, an old-time student of Sifu Bryan Davis, Charley Parker, looked over my various social media and gave me great ideas and insights for updates. Then he came over and did most of the work himself! Check out the new look of my blog, and Charley’s wonderful artistic eye for detail. Thank you Charley, I love it! Here are links to Charley Parker’s work.

Web design- www.cparkerdesign.com

Art- www.charleyparker.com

Online comics- www.zark.com

 

Take a look at my blog, and read about an early demonstration by Professor Zheng and Master Liang in the mid-1960s.

http://www.rayhayward.com/2020/09/prof-cheng-man-ching-1966-demonstration.html

 

Also while in Delaware I got to see my old friend Don Franklin. Don is a poet, artist, writer, painter, historian, and a fabulous guitar player! And he has a great voice. I got to pick his brain about guitar chords and hear him play and sing. And he gifted me a poem which I use here with permission.

 

I roamed under life

“I roamed under it as a tired, nude Māori;

everything I said could translate

backward as well as forward.

 

A paladin in the alkalai,

I roamed under it;

in an aboriginal direction;

whistling, cool, when I’d see

an awesome sound, or

“Jeez” under my breath if

someone danced by, living.

 

If you ask where I come from

I’d say, I’m a student

and have no definite roots;

embryo in art class,

a native of colorful, whispered ideas,

 

draw pupil’s lip upward.”

~Don Franklin

Don playing my Gibson Les Paul, "Smokestack!"

Check out Don's music on YouTube-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-In2eWUrCuY

 

Let’s have an amazing May, an amazing Spring, enjoying the simple pleasures of walking outside, and practicing Taiji in the fresh air.

~Sifu Ray

 

“Magic always moves towards souls who are no longer negotiating fear.”

~Matt Cooke

 

Contact Info:

My Blog- http://www.rayhayward.com

My Patreon Page- https://www.patreon.com/c/rayhayward

My YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@rayhaywardtheinspiredteach8246

Call/Text- 218-341-9894

#taiji#pushinghands#rayhayward

MMTCA April Newsletter 2026

Dong Haiquan, Founder of Bagua Zhang.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” 

~Mary Anne Radmacher

 

April greetings! The sun is getting stronger, the days get longer, and the trees are budding, what great signs of Spring in Minnesota!

Our classes and schedule stay the same now until Fall, with the exception of moving outside as soon as weather permits.

Monthly Book Club is on April 6^th; I’ll send an invite. We are still reading Huang’s book, with no hurry to finish. You can join or miss and still be in the club. On Patreon I’ve added a surprise with the invite…

Check out my YouTube series on Willow # 3. How to develop your own personal Pushing Hands defense. I’ve added a bonus of introducing Sword Sensitivity and Fencing using Willow # 3 as a base.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-k19aS1zYs

 

Have you read my blog? I’ve been blogging and writing there since 2013. There are a lot of articles about Taiji, and a few on spirituality and other topics. Check this article out on “sinking the ch’i.”

http://www.rayhayward.com/2020/07/how-to-sink-chi-to-tan-tian.html

 

Monthly Zoom Pushing Hands is on Monday, April 20^th. I will be on the East Coast and you will be having a special Guest Teacher, continuing with Willow #3. You’ll be getting your invitation from Julie, not me or Patreon this month.

Speaking of out East, I’ll be gone from April 15^th to the 28^th, classes and Zoom will be taught by my qualified and excellent Subs. Enjoy!

 

Thank you all for your support and appreciation, it truly increases value and worth to my life’s work, Taiji!

-Sifu Ray

 

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

 

 

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. 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

 

 

 

 

 

MMTCA March Newsletter 2026

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

~Jimi Hendrix

 

Happy New Year of the Fire Horse! Hang on, we’re in for an interesting ride…

What an amazing Chinese New Year Demo and celebration this year! The demonstrations were spectacular and the energy was powerful! (I’m already planning for next year, my 50^th!) A huge thank you for the set-up crew: Margo, Mark, Paul I, Rondi, and John S. Programs by Julie and dinner reservations by Fred. Thank you to the demonstrators, some of the best forms and demos I’ve seen in a long time. I bow to all of you for your generosity and respect with gifts and red envelopes. I had a great time!

Now that the new year is behind us, it’s time for an update on the year’s curriculum. Here’s what I have planned, with some changes possible, and teacher's whim always an option.

Taiji-

Solo Form refinement and review

Left Taiji Sword

Sanshou section 3, then start with 1 again

Wudang Sword Fencing section1

Willow #4, and Willow #3 review

Taiji Saber with KERCHIEF!

Double Saber

 

Bagua-

Swimming Dragon (Yao Long) Form and applications

Two Person sets and Sensitivity

Bagua Sword

 

XingYi-

5 Elements

Spear

Sensitivity

8 Styles

5 Element Linking Form

 

The Book Club will be meeting on Zoom Monday, March 9^th, 630-730PM. We are reading The Skills of Yang Style Taiji Boxing by Huang Yuanxiu. You can join this discussion whether you have read the book or not, the discussions are where the fun is! Here is a link to the Paul Brennan translation,

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/martial-arts-discussions-by-huang-yuanxiu/

 

There is a version on my Patreon page with no ads or Chinese characters,

https://www.patreon.com/posts/book-club-gift-151730656

 

Speaking of Patreon, check out both my Patreon and YouTube pages for new posts, I’m filming and writing again!

 

The Monthly Zoom Pushing Hands class will be Monday, March 23^rd, 630-730 PM. We are going to cover Willow #3 and developing your personal defense techniques.

 

You can get school t-shirts and hoodies at Zazzle.

https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

 

My books are available at Lulu, and where you’ll see my new Pushing Hands Book soon…

https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Ray+Hayward&page=1&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00&sortBy=PRODUCT_SALES_90_DAYS

 Thank you all for your continued support and appreciation, I’m the luckiest guy in the world!

-Sifu Ray

 

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

~ Anne Bradstreet

 

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. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MMTCA February Newsletter 2026

 

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.”

~ Bruce Lee

 

February brings with it the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse, on the 17^th. We will be celebrating Sunday, February 15^th at 100PM at the church. Our demo, altar ceremony, and ritual will be at the church, and a banquet at Yangtze restaurant in St Louis Park after. I’ll send out a finalized email for you to RSVP for the banquet. May the Horse be a great year for us all!

New curriculum will start after the demo, but we are also beginning our Willow # 4 journey and Wudang Sword 1^st section now. More to come!

The monthly zoom Pushing Hands will be Monday February 2^nd, 630-730. An email invite is on the way.

I also want to invite you for a zoom book discussion of the chapters from last month’s newsletter. You don’t need to be current to join the discussion. I’m thinking the 16^th, who’s in?

One of my Northern Praying Mantis teachers, Sifu Tony Chuy has died. And on the same day, one of my oldest friends and students, Craig Dawson, also passed to the celestial dojo above. Rest in peace…

Goodbye Snake, welcome, Horse! Peace, blessings, health, wealth, joy, and calm to us all.

-Sifu Ray

“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

 

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. 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

 

 

MMTCA January Newsletter 2026

 

Splitrock Lighthouse, North Shore, LK Superior

 “I am a lighthouse rather than a lifeboat. I do not rescue, but instead help others to find their way to shore.”

~ Anne Lamott

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 is a spectacular year for us all! Speaking of new year, Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, falls on a Tuesday, February 17^th. I’m planning on celebrating two days earlier on Sunday the 15^th. I’ll have more info for you in the next newsletter, but mark down the 15^th for our annual demo, ceremony, and banquet.

Our curriculum stays the same until after Chinese New Year, then we will be changing a few things. We will continue with section 3 of Sanshou, and then teach/review sections 1 and 2. Our Pushing Hands will focus on Willow #4, bring your notebooks! We’ll start Wudang Fencing, and continue with Double Saber drills until we go outside where we will learn the Double Saber form. Taiji Knife (Saber) with Kerchief, and Left Side Taiji Sword are on the docket. Xingyi will continue with 5 Elements and the Spear, plus Master Choi’s two person sensitivities. Bagua will continue with Swimming Dragon, Bagua sword, and begin two person sensitivities. That should keep us all busy!

Check your Patreon subscription, I’ve changed some of the Tiers. Let me know if you are in any financial hardship, I can always accommodate.

Book Suggestion= Something new! For 2026 I’d like to do something different for books, I’d like us all to read the SAME book, all year long. This year I’d like us to read The Skills & Essence of Yang Style Boxing/Martial Discussions by Huang Wenshu. You can get this from the Paul Brennan website. https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/martial-arts-discussions-by-huang-yuanxiu/

Let’s read from the beginning up to chapter 3, “Understanding How to Practice the Thirteen Dynamics.” As we read, let’s look for new information, confirm past information, look for something we can use in our practice, and what is the takeaway from this part of the book. Let’s see how it goes and try to do a zoom book club next month to discuss.

Li Jinglin, Wudang Sword Grandmaster.

I’m hopeful for another year filled with great health, new skills, deeper understanding, and outside classes! Thank you all!

 

-Sifu Ray

“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.”

~ Mary Davis

 

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. 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