After a bit of digging on the government website and some discussion with the responsible people on the Community Hall committee we have agreed that Tai Chi classes in the hall come under one of the many exemptions to the rule of six.
Classes will therefore restart on Sunday 20th Sept at 6.30pm and Monday 21st Sept at 1.00pm – I look forward to seeing you there. The kitchen will not be available so please bring your own refreshment and snacks.
I would be happy to run classes with only five students but have 7 or 8 regular students who might like to come and at the moment I cannot see a practical way to regulate the class size – so reluctantly I am cancelling the class at Shefford Community Hall on Monday 14 Sept and will seek to clarify the situation for further classes – please watch this space for details.
Do come to the park on Sunday for our extended session 11.00 to 1.00 and I may have more news then.
I am delighted to have been informed we can re-start Tai Chi classes at Shefford Community Hall – regular weekly classes will re-commence after lunch on Monday 14 Sept from 1.00 to 2.30pm and on Sunday 20 in the evening at 6.30 to 9.00pm.
Covid security will be required which includes wearing of face coverings when you enter the hall, the kitchen will not be available to us so please bring your own snacks or water/refreshments. Tables and chairs will be available on Mondays. We will go through other precautions once the class starts.
Free classes at Digswell – once the community hall classes have restarted I will not be running the open air sessions on Digswell field adjacent to the STMA – so there will be no more Thursday sessions now and the last Sunday class will be on the 13th from 11.00 to 1.00 – excellent timing really as the weather has turned against us somewhat!
Good luck and I look forward to seeing you.
Some years ago my teacher Karel Koskuba told me to practice slowly and to notice the feelings in my body – needless to say I understood the words – but crucially not the meaning – I did not truly understand.
So I am delighted that now I think I do – in a sort of “ah so that is what he meant” sort of way.
Consequently I am encouraging my students to look for opportunities to sink and to stretch in a slow and very relaxed way.
Class update re the STMA – I will be there this Sunday 19 but not next Thurs 23.
Then I will be there Sunday 26th and Thurs 30th.
I am awaiting confirmation that we can hold a class at the Community Hall on the evening of Aug 2nd – if not then I will be at the STMA as usual
I will be teaching at the Swiss Garden on Thurs 6th from 9.00 to 10.00 am – all welcome to come – please contact the Swiss Garden to book – so I will not be at the STMA
It occurs to me that the learning which takes place in a class is very different to that which we experience practicing alone – both are important but we tend to prioritise the class or one to one tutorial because we see that as a “proper learning” environment – after all if we are being taught then that means we must be learning – right?
Not necessarily – practising alone for long periods – that is the “in the wilderness” part – is vital to allow our subconscious body/mind to sort out the pieces and to develop new patterns in a kind of meditation – making sense of what we already know without the confusion of taking in new material all the time. It allows us to consolidate everything we have learned to date and understand the truth of that old saying that ” the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”
This lockdown has enforced a period in the wilderness for all of us – and I for one have found it beneficial – so please embrace the alone time and be at ease with the wilderness.
I am hopeful that our annual September residential will still be able to go ahead – it is still three months away and a lot can yet change. Unfortunately in the rapid lock down I was unable to get all necessary contact information so would Steve and Judith please message me directly – you have paid me money so you know who you are!
01462 621970 or [email protected]
Now that we are allowed to meet as groups of six people I am opening up a couple of free sessions a week at the STMA in Shefford for all existing students of Shefford and Letchworth classes.
These free sessions will be on Sunday at 11.00 am and Thursday at 9.00 am each week – participant numbers will be self regulating according to Covid guidelines on the day. Please take care of yourselves by considering your sun exposure, need for fluids etc.
There will be no session on Thurs 11 June
I really look forward to seeing you on the park area adjacent to the STMA – there is plenty of parking by the hall.
