“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
May 25, 2020, I finished writing the 25-year history of Embrace The Moon and uploaded it to a dedicated blog. I had planned on having a party to celebrate the milestone, but we all know what happened. So in lieu of that party I decided to write daily blog posts to lay down the story of the Moon “from the beginning.” It was a labor to excavate memory in that way and I’m glad I did it. After, I thought it would be a great idea to keep writing the school’s history as it unfolded. I did not. To be honest, five years later at this next milestone, I meet with fierce resistance to doing it again. While 30 years of creating and holding a container for Practice is a worthy milestone to acknowledge, while much shifted and happened, these past 5 years have been such that I don’t really want to revisit their details for this purpose.
I was thinking about this conundrum - how to mark without excavating memory - while preparing for class a couple weeks ago. The students began to arrive. One in particular, a young man, a father, a very creative and sparky person who is fit, energetic and active got me curious. He’s been coming for around 3 years. When I saw him I thought, why is he practicing Qigong on a Monday morning at 9:00 am? So I asked him. Without hesitation he answered, “I want to practice Wisdom Traditions.” I understood exactly what he meant and his answer really sparked me.
Instantly I knew how I wanted to mark the Moon’s 30 years. I didn’t want to think about the past, I wanted to think about now. I wanted to better understand the place practice has in these students’ lives now. Many times, especially over these past 5 years, I think about all it takes to get from dawn to pillow, every day. We are pummeled by too many things; it is hard to stay balanced. I honestly have no idea how people manage their lives without the grounding root of some sort of practice. These people have one. I needed to know more.
A few days later I sent out an email to other students asking the same question, “why do you practice?” For the most part I asked students I know fairly well, those who have been with the Moon for around 5 to 30 years. I also included some folks who are newer and appear to me to be in it for the long run. These students are in their mid-thirties to mid-eighties, come to a variety of classes, are of a variety of gender identities, and live with a broad range of health and life circumstances. I didn’t set out to ask everyone, rather ask enough people to begin the dialogue. I received back more responses than I expected, many very personal. This 30 year blog then, are those responses.
In all fairness, I should answer the question first.
As with all of us, my reasons for practicing are very layered. Though I have been teaching professionally for 30 years, I have been devoted to Practice for 48. In those decades I have found my friendships, my community, and my purpose in this life. I don’t think I could have guessed it back then, but closing in on 68 years old, I see clearly my practice has had an amazing effect on my health. It is keeping me healthy and affords me the path and the resiliency to recover from or live with unexpected health challenges. All along I have had and continue to have a profound view of the aging process: others and my own, and what that means for our overall quality of life. My practices give me awareness, perspective, an understanding of my consciousness, a way of prayer and so much more. It makes me sturdy, inside and out. It keeps me showing up and listening, not just to my body but to my intuition. Practice keeps me present and on track with the reality that everything changes. To be honest though, the primary reason I continue to practice is this: it is so much fun. I absolutely love moving through time and space, with myself and with others, in this way. For me, Practice is Joy.
Now, I invite you to take a cup of tea and listen to other voices. I promised anonymity so I just used initials. I also approximated time in practice with the Moon, which I likely under or over estimated because after a while, time as it relates to practice sort of stops mattering. Please keep in mind many of these people have been practicing a variety of methods: meditation, yoga, other Tai Chi/Qigong, martial arts, before they joined the school and continue to share their personal practice time with those other arts. I did do some editing for brevity, but for those who replied, please know I heard every word you said and take them all to heart. Though I edited them out, thank you for your words to me personally. I have them all in their own saved file where they will safely remain for me to revisit. If I missed your email or you wish I would have asked you, please share your comment in the comments section.
As you who read do so, I trust these insights and all the sharing will inspire you. I trust you will better understand that this question of why is a living question whose answer changes and deepens with time. If you are so inspired, please wish the Moon a happy 30 by leaving your own thoughts in the comments. I’d love that!
Happy Birthday Embrace The Moon School for Taijiquan and Qigong. Est. May 25, 1995. Respect, salute, 10,000 thank you’s.
Onward we go!
See you on the floor,
Kim
“Why do you practice? ”
It’s a hard question to answer, I just knew I had to walk in the door.
T - 3 years
***
There is no rushing Tai Chi; in a sense, that with practice, it will still take as long as it needs to take. I had long thought about studying it (I was introduced to it in high school of all places); it dawned on me that doing Tai Chi would be a way to integrate myself into a different ancient wisdom tradition, though different from my own Jewish one. I very much enjoy the depth that the practice has brought into my life.
Y - 3 years
***
To complement zen meditation and provide a movement-based form that my mind and body can age gracefully with.
D – 18 years
***
I am a very boring person. I live a life of habits, which can also be called practices. My ideal habits are ones that benefit me physically and mentally. The very first time I took a tai chi class I realized tai chi would become one of my cornerstone life habits. It's beautiful, improves my strength and balance, and takes me away from thoughts and into my body. It also provides me with a source of continuous growth and learning.
C - 20 years
***
My practice and reasons for practicing have undergone so many iterations. Here’s where I landed: I now practice creating a space where patience resides. A practice to learn patience with myself, patience with my ability to slow down, and patience with my desire for perfection. There hasn't been a class where I haven’t learned something, and I think the biggest lesson I learned is to keep showing up, (and to practice. ... ).
F – 15 years
***
I love that I've learned a series of steps to go through and the feeling of flow when doing these steps. I never learned to dance, and I imagine it's a bit like that. My balance has improved, and I rarely fall. I used to fall frequently before I started Tai Chi. It makes me feel calm and centered and it's one of very few types of exercise that I can still do. And class - i like the routine and structure of having class every Sunday evening.
M - 18 years
***
The reason I practice has evolved for me - from getting the choreography down and a sense of the physical aspects of the form, to complimenting the physical movements with the breath. NOW, my practice is to deeply root myself in the moment and use my practice to center my mind, body, and spirit in order to then move outside myself. Moving outward provides comfort and perspective for me. I am a very, very small being in this vast place.
LA – 15 years
***
Qigong enables me to move with nature and the powerful visualizations have a connection to the natural world that I crave. Yes, indeed, each unit is a poem guiding movement. It is a beautiful world, and Qigong opens the doors to it.
R - 28 years
***
Qigong has been one of the few constants in my life for the past 30 years. Through moves, career changes, and global pandemics, the practices have been the one thing I've managed to maintain. The day-to-day practice has ebbed and flowed over the years, but it has always been there. Given my chosen profession which requires a lot of time away from home, any kind of routine has been elusive, but the practices are adaptable enough to be portable. To paraphrase Crowded House, "Everywhere you go, always take your Qigong with you!" No matter how hectic the days get, it's usually possible to manage 10 minutes of standing meditation, one or two Soaring Crane routines, or a few of the Eight Treasures.
A - 30 years
***
Even though it's the "same form" time after time, seeing how my body and mind find and fit into the form's shape a little differently as time goes on has been fascinating and compelling! The presence and groundedness from that sticks around and is becoming more and more available as time goes on, even off the floor.
M – 4 years
***
If I made a word map it would be joy, grounding, self-discovery, balance. Every "one more time" paves the way for the unpredictable moment of a new or deeper feeling, a path opening, an improved connection. I stay because of the magic.
K - 20 years
***
I practice qigong because it feels good. Practicing qigong is nourishment, it's connectedness, it’s balance, it’s most of all loving myself.
D – 15 years
***
The reasons I practice are similar to the practice. They are changing and contradictory, but at the same time grounded in presence: how to move your qi around your body to heal yourself. What keeps me practicing is the layers upon layers that become transparent or flicker like little lights in the distance. Through my practices I find that I am more confident, less defensive, and heal more quickly. I'm just barely scratching the surface.
X - 1 year
***
Initially, I practiced for physical health and to improve balance. When I found a community, it became about that as well. Now it's also about mental, emotional and spiritual health, getting grounded and finding some inner quiet. So, "one more time"!
M - 18 years
***
Tai Chi is probably my last physical activity passion. There was basketball, and tennis and bicycling. There was always walking (hikes) and running distance and skiing. Each has had to be given up as my body parts aged. And now there is Tai Chi and Qigong. Together, the two are restorative. I would have been better at the other passions if I had discovered Tai Chi sooner. I saw the beauty of it in my first trip to China in the early 1980’s, with people performing it in the parks and on the rooftops of Canton (now Guangzhou). But I did not pursue it until much later. It affects both the body and the spirit in a positive way.
L - 6 years
***
I've studied energy healing in various forms for a long time. Applied it mostly from a mind first, body second perspective. Then came retirement, covid, and a major surgery it took a year to recover from. Like most of us, all my plans got turned upside down. As I allowed myself to just sit with it and observe, I realized that what I needed (wanted?) to do was to reconnect with my heart, and allow myself to become more consciously grounded in the earth. Then one day the thought came...what about Tai Chi?
S - 2 years
***
For me, it provides a way to check in with my body. Whether I may be distracted, low-energy, or dealing with minor injuries going in, I always come out ready for the rest of the week and any challenges that may be in my way. The gentle movement of qi definitely keeps the body humming while cultuvating mental and physical resilience alongside a great community of students.
I – 15 years
***
I practice because it feels good, because of the people I learn with and from and because it's wonderful to be part of this ancient discipline. And because it brings me joy.
A – 2 years
***
Why do I practice? Because it's in my bones and it helps me to feel more fully alive. Over the years my practice has taught me that I am part of nature and it helps me to deepen my connection to our beautiful Mother Earth day by day.
N – 5 years
***
I came to practice because of my poor posture, which has been a chronic problem, and a deep need to set aside some time for calm and self-care. Why I will continue to practice qigong for the rest of ever is because coming to class and doing it at home both anchors and elevates me. It calms me mentally and physically. It is helping me find and wake up my inner child: the whole body learner with a naturally erect posture. It helps me find flexibility and strength in both my body and mind. It is also nourishing to practice with a community.
L – 3 years
***
When I started Qigong I was hoping for physical improvements - greater flexibility, better balance, and more awareness of my physical body. Qigong has certainly improved these aspects of my health. But over time, the real benefits have been an awareness of a deep connection to the earth. Consistent practice gives me the sense that I am no different from wild birds flying and fish leaping - at one with nature.
C – 13 years
***
At 83, with multiple health issues, it has been years since I have been in a class or workshop, but I have continued practicing with Kim in private home visits. I just saw Kim this week for the first time in many months, as I had been sidelined by cardiac surgery. Then I recalled telling her why it was important to restart our private sessions. I have been struggling to regain the sense of solid balance that had been in place for years. We did slow silk reeling; mine was very wobbly, but as we continued, I began to feel the flow and was a bit steadier. Our bodies remember, even when practice has lapsed. Those years of regular class and practice are paying off now!
B - 15 years
***
Louhan makes me feel deeply human--while practicing, I'm connected to 1500 years worth of humanity, group movement, and martial arts. I like thinking about the oral history and tradition of Luohan, and the generations of people before me doing this form feeling enervated and energized during and after practicing. I like thinking about those Shaolin monks and how I am a part of that tradition. I also really love that it feels like an original source document, a first text so to speak, that we are examining and exploring together in class.
G – 10 years
***
It’s medicine. It’s endlessly deep. It’s “a training in the nonduality of body and mind” according to a wisdom lineage teacher. The punches and kicks are cool.
C – 15 years
***
My Qigong practice has become—as Gunther Weil teaches—a portal to presence. I found my practice, late in the night, to bring me calm, in the turmoil of a life threatening crisis. With practice, I simply feel more alive.
K - 22 years
***
Qigong falls into the rare category of “things I didn’t have to ponder”. It felt like a great fit right from the start. When I practice Qigong I feel like a puzzle, made up mostly of body parts but connected by spirit and mind on a less conscious level - As I move, I can feel the pieces working their way into place, slowly coming together simultaneously fitting into place. (I don’t expect this puzzle to be complete!) When the pieces seem in place all I need is a closer look to see a lot of space between them.
M – 3 years
***
Tai Chi got me through the pandemic. It focused, engaged, and settled my mind and my body at the same time it challenged me to get deeper into the practice of Tai Chi. It continues to do all those things as we deal with new challenges. Irrespective of escape, tai chi gives me a sense of strength, wholeness, and well-being.
C – 7 years
***
It's the thing that reminds me daily that this body is my home, and a temple to be defended. I like the image of 100 Eyes (from Marco Polo) defending the Taoist temple as metaphor: “I will defend the temple of my body against: laziness, illness, weakness, forgetfulness!” I actually don't think about it that seriously. Most days, it's just like the guitar; I try to get the guitar in my hands every day, even if only for a few minutes. It reminds me of who I am, and that it's a lifetime part of me. I nurture and feed it; it nurtures and feeds me.
G – 15 years
***
I practice to allow harmony to live in my mind heart body...My practice is spiritual in nature, as it helps me become connected and aware of connection, inside and out. Lucky me!!! I tell everyone in my circle, try Taiji, the benefit is the effort.
J – 3 years
***
I’ve told my friends that practicing Qigong feels like finding the fountain of youth. And I’m not kidding. The way it lives in my body and spirit, though I’m only seven months in, is transformative. I’m just drawn forward by it; it doesn’t even feel like a choice at this point.
C – 7 mos.
***
I started because I needed some sort of gentle movement in my life. But it soon became apparent that there was much more to the practice. It helps keep me sane when the world is in chaos. Being in a group of people moving with intent and mindfulness is a very powerful and life affirming experience.
E – 15 years
***
I practice because I've never thought of myself as athletic, but this movement is so beautiful and engaging it has drawn me in.
B - 15 years
***
I practice Tai Chi because it summons my exiled body and mind to the mothership.
S – 7 years
***
When I reflect all that I’ve been through over the past 15 years or so, my practice has been one of the constant anchors. Rather than fade, during the past 5 years as we moved through the pandemic and I dealt with personal health issues, I shifted from 1 week to several times a week, attending class to facilitate both my mental and physical well-being. The friends I have made have only added to the richness of the experience.
S – 15 years
***
I enjoy it. Every time I practice intentionally, it just feels good. Tai Chi is still mysterious to me, and there is so much to learn. I'm enjoying the learning process. I want an exercise that I can do for a long time. As I get older, I know that I need to "use it or lose it". Tai Chi is something I can enjoy now and for a long, long time. Sometimes I like to imagine that I'm a little bit like Jackie Chan. Maybe this sounds silly, but he's just so darn cool, and a part of me wishes I was cool like him.
A - 2 years
***
I practice because it makes me feel connected to a community. In these challenging times (and even back during covid), having constant connection with a diverse group of people, who all share a common activity and desire to learn more about themselves is comforting and supportive. We are all in different places in our journey as it relates to tai chi practice, and that alone is a motivational factor. Each of us brings something different to our practice and each of us can learn from watching others' progression. I also think of our shared practice as a safe space where each of us can take a break from the trials and challenges of our lives and come together for shared support. I also enjoy the physical activity and work with mind/body coordination.
K – 6 years
***
This is always an interesting question: why have I been practicing for 31 years? There have been a couple of times when going on the floor was an absolutely necessary respite from mental and emotional turmoil, the three years after my wife died and the pandemic lockdown. I’m currently finding that the years of practice have helped me become more and more aware of my body. My focus now is bringing my improved posture into the form where I find it improves my balance. Ultimately I think the reason I keep at it is because of the revelation: it just feels really good and I keep chasing that feeling.
K - 15 years
***
For my mind, my body, a sense of community and a way to escape to another world.
S – 7 years
***
I used to have a very structured way of what I practice, but now I practice so I can better feel and know what I am teaching. I don’t practice the whole form more than 1x a week, rather practice snippets throughout my day.
D – 18 years
***
Why do I practice? What day is it?
S – 18 years
***
The question itself is a trick. I barely “practice” anything, except reading and lying around, thus I have a love-hate relationship with Qigong. The “hate” part is obvious, but the “love” part is far more complicated. I guess the initial part of love was the friendly diverse group: men, women, old, young, large & small, newbies and old hands. The teaching environment with its humor, humility and expertise. Then, there is spiritual part. It helps to fill a hunger I always feel. Thus, the fact that I’m extremely challenged physically by Qigong is not enough to make me quit. As I confront old age (80 next January) I look forward to Qigong continuing to help me live my life more fully.
T – 3 years
***
Originally it was to learn something new and find a way to be grounded during the pandemic. But it evolved from there in ways I did not expect. I did obviously learn something new, and found that I recognized Tai Chi as something fundamental to my soul. I also found I really loved the diverse community that is the Moon. We all come from different backgrounds, etc. but we show up to practice together without ego, without "titles" and learn with and from each other. Over the years (gasp!), it has been a practice that has taught me humility, inner peace and groundedness. Tai Chi is a solid rock in uncertain times I can always come back to. K – 5 years
***
In practice, I find myself.
J – 30 years