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Knowing What We Don’t Know

July 12, 2015 By Arlene Faulk Leave a Comment

ward off left tai chi move

How can we know what we don’t know? That question sounds like some kind of puzzle. One thing I do know is that what I know is a much smaller amount than what I don’t know.

One scenario is that we don’t know something and don’t know we don’t know. Another scenario is that we don’t know something and do know that we don’t know it. The second scenario is important because learning is taking place.

Case in point – This week in one of my beginning Tai Chi classes, we were repeating our ward-off left to ward-off right, then roll back (grasp the sparrow’s tail). Repetition is key to learning in Tai Chi and often, even when our minds don’t remember, our bodies do. We flowed through those moves, first in silence, the second time with my calling out weight-shifting. We did the moves again. And again.

Then I asked the students: “Are you relaxing? Are you feeling where your weight is shifting? Are there any particular moves you would like to focus on?”

“A-ha”, the red-headed woman said, “Now I remember what I didn’t think I knew. At home this week, I got stuck and didn’t know how to transition to ward-off right. Do I shift my weight left? Right? I just was standing there stuck. I didn’t think I knew. But, I did know. I just forgot.”

An important moment for the class. I mentioned that it’s a big step forward in learning to know what you don’t know. Or forgot. In this case, the student remembered in her body, not in her mind.

tai chi clip art

Our bodies are powerful. They remember and store information, They like repetition. They like reinforcement. In our next class, my hunch is that the red-headed woman and others in the class will know that transition move and know that they know it.

Filed Under: Arlene Faulk, Energy, Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Tai Chi in China Tagged With: body wisdom, knowing, learning

Learn Something New

January 24, 2015 By Arlene Faulk 1 Comment

2013 December Des Moines

While sorting through papers this week, I was listening to the radio, as I often do. Recalling this particular situation reminds me that doing more than one thing at a time can improve efficiency(maybe), but we can’t have our full attention on any one thing.

The discussion on the radio was about a new study recently published on memory as people age. I didn’t catch details about the study, nor the researcher, because I didn’t fully devote my attention to what was being said. What triggered my stopping to bring full attention to the discussion was this: we can keep our memory stronger by learning something brand new. Yes, it can be helpful to continue with crossword puzzles, Sudoku, chess, etc., but even better to challenge ourselves to something we know nothing about. Sounds like good advice for adults of any age, doesn’t it?

This point came alive in my new tai chi class series this week. In this second week (so just two hours of class), a student said she couldn’t remember anything we had done the first week.

“That’s not unusual,” I said. “The movements you are learning are not familiar. With repetition and time, your mind and body will start to remember. We’re learning patience.”

I added,”That’s the good and bad news about tai chi. The good news is that the movements are not familiar so everybody is in the same boat and doesn’t know anything. The bad news in our culture is we want to ‘get it’ now. We are impatient.”

Faulk Tai Chi Heartwood

Good lessons. Learn something brand new to stimulate our brains and keep our memories strong. The brand new something may and will take time. Learning to be patient and kind to ourselves takes time. Tai Chi helps us do both.

Filed Under: Inner Balance, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Tai Chi, YinYang Tagged With: kindness, learning, memory, patience

The Qi of High School Kids

March 19, 2014 By Arlene Faulk 2 Comments

The sophomores and juniors in my high school Tai Chi class like to move around. They like variety. They like saying the new terms they’re learning — lagong, bahui, tan t’ien, Qi. Now they regularly refer to their energy as Qi.

It seems they come into class, either bouncing off the wall or dragging and yawning.  There are so many pressures on these students, to excel academically, to participate in extracurricular activities, to be involved in civic activities. Those pressures seem to be on many, if not most, high school students today.

So, it’s a challenge for them to slow down, to breathe and move through Tai Chi. We’re now about mid-semester and they are doing it! We practice walking — forward, backward, into bow and arrow stance. They love to practice walking and some are already commenting that their posture is better as is their balance. I see it — more awareness of standing straight, hands out of pockets, looking straight ahead rather than down.

tai chi clip art

This week they asked if I would talk to the head of the Upper School and ask if they could show their classmates the Tai Chi form they’re learning. I felt so warmed that they feel invested and want to share their Tai Chi experience with their friends. I always feel that if we reach a student or two or three, it’s worth the effort. How wonderful to hear that it’s happening.

Filed Under: Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi Classes Tagged With: learning, Qi, tai chi in high school, teenage energy

Like-Minded People

June 30, 2013 By Arlene Faulk 1 Comment

tai chi workshop

How wonderful it is to be around like-minded people, who desire to have strong bodies and minds, who work towards a balance between ‘doing’ and ‘being’ everyday, who insure they have some quiet amidst the noise, who enjoy and live peacefully with nature, who nurture cooperation and acceptance of others.

Such was that experience at the week-long Tai Chi workshop in Connecticut three weeks ago. Master Trainers taught, students learned and together we questioned, gained finesse and laughed at ourselves sometimes. If there was any competition it seemed to be individual, within ourselves. Why can’t I get this move better? Why do I seem to be slower at learning than my classmates? In our culture, we not only want to ‘get it’, but we want to get it ‘right now’. A reassuring principle of Tai Chi is allowing and letting go. Gaining patience. We try to let go of tension, expectations, perfection, comparing with others. It’s a process. It takes time. It takes committing to a discipline of a new way of thinking and new ways of moving — slowly and with intention.

That commitment to a new way of thinking and moving may require a change of our patterns and habits. Taking the first step towards change is critical. Sticking with it is the challenge.

Filed Under: Arlene Faulk, Change, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi Classes Tagged With: balance between doing and being, learning, letting go, like-minded, patience

Something to Ponder

April 4, 2013 By Arlene Faulk 1 Comment

“In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired

In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less is done.

Until non-action is achieved.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.”

Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

Filed Under: Change, Mindfulness, Paying Attention Tagged With: flowing, learning, letting go, paradox, Tao

Arlene Faulk

Arlene Faulk

After a years-long struggle to understand and conceal debilitating symptoms while I ascended the corporate ladder, I found comfort and healing through Tai Chi and Chinese Medicine.

My new memoir, Walking on Pins and Needles, is the story about the power to control our lives and move in the direction of possibility. Read more...

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FROM TAI CHI STUDENTS

Tai Chi makes me feel calm, yet energized. Because of my practice, the small irritants of life affect me less.

Tai Chi student

I had back surgery, was in pain and had little range of motion. Tai Chi practice at Heartwood has helped me increase flexibility, my range of motion and my overall stamina.

Tai Chi student

Arlene teaches the Tai Chi form in such a gentle and connected way that many movements now feel utterly natural and healing.

Tai Chi student

I've even shared some of the exercises with my bike club to help reduce injuries. They really work!

Tai Chi student

I've always been a klutz and have regularly lost my balance and fallen when walking outside. Arlene taught me how to stand and walk properly through Tai Chi. I really can't believe it: I haven't fallen in four years since I've been taking Tai Chi with Arlene!

Tai Chi student

I love Arlene's Tai Chi classes. She helps us understand not only what we're doing, but also why we're doing it. That really helps me take what I learn in class and apply it to my daily life.

Tai Chi student

I'm really inspired by what Tai Chi has done for Arlene. She is a great teacher, who is calm and very patient. She has really helped me not to be so hard on myself.

Tai Chi student

I play golf and had a lesson after school, on the same day we had Tai Chi class. My coach commented, 'Your posture is amazing and all of the balance issues that we have been fighting for so long seem to have just taken a vacation.' I mentioned to him that I thought it was due to Tai Chi.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi relaxes your entire body and promotes peace and proper breathing. The more I manage to breathe properly while doing any activity in my life, I generally tend to do a lot better at it. I benefited from Tai Chi because it managed to help me with my breathing skills even more.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi really gives my body strength to put up with the pains of my breast cancer and back problems. Tai Chi is 'sneaky'. You don't think it's helping, but eventually you realize it's helping you.

Tai Chi student

For me, Tai Chi brings comfort and quiet amidst all the chaos and change.

Becky, Tai Chi student

In just a few months, the practice has become perhaps the most nurturing element in my life during COVID times, when sustaining a commitment to anything else has been challenging.

Barb, Tai Chi student

The community Tai Chi has provided has been a gift. With so much we can now do whenever we wish --- with an app, YouTube video, or streaming service --- meeting weekly (via zoom) in real time, live, to practice Tai Chi creates true community.

David, Tai Chi student

I really enjoy our time together and I've found Tai Chi a great way to "keep moving," not only during this pandemic but also as a regular practice with a wonderful integration of mind, body and spirit.

Martha, Tai Chi student

Tuning into the class and seeing familiar faces of the other students brings a nice sense of community and connection during this time of separation and isolation.

Julia, Tai Chi student

I love the walking practice because it helps me slow down and focus only on the moment.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi has made me aware of how I’m standing and where my weight is. My balance is improving.

Tai Chi student

I hear Arlene saying to listen to my body and only do what I can do. That helps me relax.

Tai Chi student

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Tai Chi Class Calendar

October 2023

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
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  • Tai Chi Level II
    Tai Chi Level II
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 2, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Tai Chi class for experienced students (3+ years)

    More details...
•
3
  • Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 3, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Beginner’s Class - no experience needed

    More details...
•
4
5
  • Tai Chi Beginners
    Tai Chi Beginners
    Starts: 5:15 pm
    Ends: October 5, 2023 - 6:15 pm

    Location: Gratz Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut Street, Chicago


    Description:

    Online class for continuing students

    More details...
•
6
7
8
9
  • Tai Chi Level II
    Tai Chi Level II
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 9, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Tai Chi class for experienced students (3+ years)

    More details...
•
10
  • Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 10, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Beginner’s Class - no experience needed

    More details...
•
11
12
  • Tai Chi Beginners
    Tai Chi Beginners
    Starts: 5:15 pm
    Ends: October 12, 2023 - 6:15 pm

    Location: Gratz Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut Street, Chicago


    Description:

    Online class for continuing students

    More details...
•
13
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15
16
  • Tai Chi Level II
    Tai Chi Level II
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 16, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Tai Chi class for experienced students (3+ years)

    More details...
•
17
  • Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 17, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Beginner’s Class - no experience needed

    More details...
•
18
19
  • Tai Chi Beginners
    Tai Chi Beginners
    Starts: 5:15 pm
    Ends: October 19, 2023 - 6:15 pm

    Location: Gratz Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut Street, Chicago


    Description:

    Online class for continuing students

    More details...
•
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23
  • Tai Chi Level II
    Tai Chi Level II
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 23, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Tai Chi class for experienced students (3+ years)

    More details...
•
24
  • Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 24, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Beginner’s Class - no experience needed

    More details...
•
25
26
  • Tai Chi Beginners
    Tai Chi Beginners
    Starts: 5:15 pm
    Ends: October 26, 2023 - 6:15 pm

    Location: Gratz Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut Street, Chicago


    Description:

    Online class for continuing students

    More details...
•
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30
  • Tai Chi Level II
    Tai Chi Level II
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 30, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Tai Chi class for experienced students (3+ years)

    More details...
•
31
  • Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Faulk Tai Chi Class
    Starts: 5:30 pm
    Ends: October 31, 2023 - 6:30 pm

    Location: Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA


    Description:

    Beginner’s Class - no experience needed

    More details...
•
20 Years Faulk Tai Chi

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