Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
INTRODUCING "STRENGTH - 30 DAYS OF TAI CHI"
Prepare yourself for a transformative 30-day journey into the art of Tai Chi. This program is designed to help you build physical and mental strength, reduce stress, and enhance your overall well-being.
Learn more about the experience and sign up here!
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-strength
STRENGTH is a free 30-day journey into Tai Chi and mindfulness. This program will guide you in developing physical and mental resilience through Tai Chi practice.
STRENGTH officially starts on January 1, 2025 but enroll today so you don't miss out!
Please invite 1-5 people to join you by sharing the following linkā¦
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-strength
Get ready to build strength in your body and mind.
Letās create STRENGTH together.
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-strength
GRATITUDE to our āOnline Studio Membersā for making this program possible!
https://youtu.be/_kuZen2KgkA
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REVITALIZING TAI CHI FOR YEAR OF THE DRAGON
Join us for a special Tai Chi session, "Revitalizing Tai Chi for Year of the Dragon," a unique blend of mindfulness and movement to celebrate the energy and symbolism of the Year of the Dragon.
We'll go LIVE here on YouTube Saturday, February 10, 2024 @3pm ET.
š About This Session:
Join us for a rejuvenating 30-minute Tai Chi flow, specially curated to embrace the strength and wisdom of the dragon. This session is designed to cater to all levels, focusing on gentle movements that improve balance, flexibility, and mental clarity.
šæ Why This Session?
Ideal for individuals with limited mobility, balance issues, or seeking stress relief.
A great opportunity to engage in a mindful, low-impact activity that promotes physical and mental well-being.
Connect with a community of like-minded individuals passionate about health and Tai Chi.
š” Upcoming Online Course:
Interested in diving deeper into the world of Tai Chi? Stay tuned till the end of the session for details about our next online course where you can learn the globally popular "Tai Chi 24 Form." This course is tailored to enhance your Tai Chi practice and deepen your understanding of its principles.
Click the link below to watch...
youtube.com/live/BBeSzcP2-ZU
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DOWNLOADABLE VERSION - NOW AVAILABLE! FLEXIBILITY - 30 DAYS OF TAI CHI
Based on requests from the community, we are excited to announce a downloadable version of FLEXIBILITY - 30 Days of Tai Chi!
Watch these videos on your phone, tablet, or laptop. Take them with you without needing the internet! This way you can practice anywhere and make sure you get your tai chi in every day!
This Downloadable version was created as a response to requests from the community so you can choose how much you wish to pay (minimum $1).
The standard price is set to $20 at checkout but simply enter the exact amount you wish to pay right underneath that, and then click "Apply."
So... simply pay what you wish š
Click the link below to get your downloadable version todayā¦
begin-with-breath-connect.heymarvelous.com/buy/proā¦
Thanks again for practicing with us and committing to your mind and body health.
It makes the world a better place š
Warmly,
Adam Potts and the Begin with Breath team
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Day 00 - Introducing FLEXIBILITY - 30 Days of Tai Chi
Get ready for a 30-day immersion into tai chi the fun and easy way. This program is an invitation to reduce your stress while building strength, flexibility, and balance of body and mind.
Learn more about the experience and sign up here!
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-flexibility
FLEXIBILITY is a free 30-day transformational journey into the world of Tai Chi and Mindfulness.
This program will help you create a life of FLEXIBILITY and balance through the lens of tai chi and mindfulness.
FLEXIBILITY officially starts on January 1 but you can enroll anytime! You'll also get a Welcome Video on December 31st if you're with us for the LIVE roll-out.
Please invite 1-5 people to do this with you NOW by sharing the following linkā¦
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-flexibility
Get ready to create flexibility and balance in your body and mind.
Letās create FLEXIBILITY together.
www.beginwithbreathtc.com/join-flexibility
GRATITUDE to our āBegin with Breath Connectā Online Studio Members and students enrolled in our Teacher Training Program for making this program possible!
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BEGIN - 30 DAYS OF TAI CHI: DOWNLOADABLE VERSION - NOW AVAILABLE!
Based on requests from the community, we are excited to announce a downloadable version of BEGIN - 30 Days of Tai Chi!
Watch these videos on your phone, tablet, or laptop with no ads! Take them with you without needing the internet! This way you can practice anywhere and make sure you get your tai chi in every day!
This Downloadable version was created as a response to requests from the community so you can choose how much you wish to pay (minimum $1).
The standard price is set to $20 but simply enter the exact amount you wish to pay right underneath that, and then click "Apply."
So... simply pay what you wish
Click the link below to get your downloadable version todayā¦
begin-with-breath-connect.heymarvelous.com/buy/proā¦
Warmly,
Ada,
8 - 0
MEANT FOR MORE
What is it youāre meant for
Why is it youāre here
Could you recognize the future
When time is drawing near
Are you reaching your potential
By overcoming fears
Are you ready for a victory
That may not always receive cheers
Itās not about the glory
Itās what you feel inside
This is about potential
And futures open wide
We cannot know the future
Or predict what is in store
We can only know for certain
That we all are meant for more
By: Robert Longley
I like how this poem begins with a question.
I found that the most helpful advice has actually been when someone posed specific questions to me instead of just trying to give me all the answers.
We're trained in school to get all the answers correct so that we can get good grades, a good "secure" job, and then we'll be happy.
I found that I did really well in school because I could remember a lot of the answers.
However, I never really focused on what it was that I truly wanted.
It sent me up a ladder of achievement.
When I got to the top of the ladder, I realized that I was on the wrong ladder.
I was able to use my experience to benefit myself and others but I might have saved myself a lot of time and suffering if I had asked myself from the beginning what it was that I really wanted.
What are my deepest values?
What actually makes me not just happy, but fulfilled?
I wish someone had trained me to focus on these questions a long time ago.
As I focus more and more on the questions and not trying to be perfect with answers, I find that my path is one of much more fulfillment and a lot less suffering.
I am able to stay connected to my deeper values and what is most important to me in life š
What is most important to you in life?
What brings you fulfillment, not just temporary happiness?
What are you meant for?
Please let me know in the comments below š
Warmly,
Adam Potts
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UNCONDITIONAL
Willing to experience aloneness,
I discover connection everywhere;
Turning to face my fear,
I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss,
I gain the embrace of the universe;
Surrendering into emptiness,
I find fullness without end.
Each condition I flee from pursues me,
Each condition I welcome transforms me
And becomes itself transformed
Into its radiant jewel-like essence.
I bow to the one who has made it so,
Who has crafted this Master Game;
To play it is purest delight -
To honor its form, true devotion.
By: Jennifer Paine Welwood
Fear.
I always thought that this emotion was a weakness.
I tried to ignore it or push it away.
Then when I joined the Marine Corps, denying fear was part of the training.
In fact, we were told that we did not have fear, only "concern" at times.
I guess this was helpful when going to war, but...
...it reinforced this tendency of mine to turn away from a part of me that made me whole.
It helped me justify my unwillingness to be with the difficult emotions.
I would see any unpleasant emotions arising and then pick them off one by one like a sniper.
I saw them as a threat to my health and they were to be destroyed on the spot so that they couldn't touch me.
This also prevented me from experiencing a certain level of joy in life as well.
I became aware of this limitation at one point but it didn't matter.
I was actually willing to sacrifice joy just so that I didn't have to experience fear, sadness, vulnerability, and other painful emotions.
I think it was mostly because I knew I didn't have the tools to deal with these emotions.
Then the practices of mindfulness and mindful movement entered my life. Its as if they were swooping in to rescue me from a life only half-lived.
My wife Laura played a huge role in this. She would express her emotions to me at times and I would try to "fix" her so that she wouldn't have to feel anxious, depressed or worried.
The truth was that it was me who really didn't want to experience these emotions. I am quite empathetic at heart and am greatly affected by others' emotions at times.
I thought I was the smart one who knew how to avoid these things. However, she was the brave one who helped me learn that it was ok to feel them, process them, and then release them.
I learned to be brave tooā¦ most of the time :)
However, it had been more of a gradual process that I still see unfolding everyday. It takes a daily effort to undo years of conditioning.
Even with all the accomplishments that I made, I was still not feeling fulfilled. Success and fulfillment do not always go hand in hand. I learned that all the successes in the world won't necessarily make me feel fulfilled.
But, when I do things that make me feel fulfilled, that is a success!
So, what makes me feel fulfilled?
Connection.
Connection with others and connection with myself.
When I learned to turn towards my difficult emotions with skillfulness using mindfulness techniques, I began to connect with the deepest parts of myself. In turn, it allowed me to deeply connect with others as well!
Although it is one of the hardest things to stick with, it has been the most rewarding.
It's hard to experience the pains of life but it is worth it if it means I can also fully experience the joy, connection, and aliveness of life as well.
I'm feeling more and more like a human everyday
Type "Connection" in the comments below if you want to connect more with yourself and others, even if itās difficult at times...
Warmly,
Adam Potts
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RESILIENT SPIRIT
āAs people become more whole and are freed from certain basic fears (of abandonment, of unworthiness, of engulfment), new possibilities may open up for the expression of embodied loveā¦ In short, once jealousy loosens its grip on the self, human love can attain a wider dimension of embodiment in our lives that may naturally lead to the mindful cultivation of more inclusive intimate connections.ā
- Jorge Ferrer
This quote reminds me of when I first embarked on my spiritual journey.
I learned the language of "ego and spirit."
Ego always asks, "what's in it for me?" and uses the words "me, my, and mine."
Spirit uses a different language.
Spirit asks, "How can I serve?" and "How can I connect?"
When I started to meditate and connect with spirit, my awareness of spirit grew.
It was like building a muscle.
Eventually, it got to the point where my spirit overshadowed my ego.
My ego was still there. It just wasn't running the show as much anymore.
When I started to live from the level of spirit, I started to suffer less.
Some people may even call spirit our authentic self.
When I am connected with my authentic self, my judgments and criticisms tend to drift away. I start to live in "Flow."
Tai Chi is all about getting into the flow. We learn to move like nature, connected with spirit, and with an open heart.
I can be with the suffering of others and respond with compassion instead of trying to fix, dismiss, or avoid.
I feel more connected with all beings and am learning to live in harmony.
These are some of the experiences that I have had.
Itās not always easy to live from spirit because my ego always seems to want to take the wheel.
I tend to fall back into ego at certain times, especially if I havenāt had enough sleep.
It takes a daily practice of mindfulness meditation and mindful movement to keep my spirit strong and resilient.
This is the type of life I want to live...
A flexible body. A balanced mind. A compassionate heart. And a resilient spirit.
What do you do to connect with spirit?
Let me know in the comments below or type "Resilient Spirit" if you want to live with more spirit and less egoā¦
Warmly,
Adam Potts
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SHOULD WE PRACTICE WITH INTENSITY?
"Practice isnāt about being intense; itās about coming back to easeāletting the mind and body settle into an experience that holds the seeds of expansiveness."
āJustin von Bujdoss
This quote rings very true to me, especially as it relates to Tai Chi. The harder we 'try," the tenser we can become. Tai Chi is about learning how to move without tension, physically and mentally. There is a time and a place for intensity but overall, its usually better to have a general attitude of acceptance, allowing, and compassion, especially with ourselves.
That is why we end every class with:
1) Metta (Loving-Kindness)
May all beings be free from suffering
May we be happy
May we be healthy
May we live with ease.
2) Self-Compassion
May I be kind to myself
May I feel connected with all beings
May I love myself just as I am.
My family and I actually do the metta phrases every night at dinner time before we eat. It's our version of "grace." I invite you to try it out and see if it works for you. You can also make up your own phrases!
Please type "Loving-Kindness" in the comments below to remind us to be kind to ourselves...
Warmly,
Adam
5 - 3
ALLOW
"There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt,
containing a tornado. Dam a
stream and it will create a new
channel. Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground. The only
safety lies in letting it all in ā
the wild and the weak; fear,
fantasies, failures and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes."
by Danna Faulds
When I went to yoga school, I wanted to learn to teach in a way that helped people reach a state of bliss.
I also wanted to reach a state where I felt bliss all the time.
What I found while in my training was quite unexpected...
Prior to yoga school, I was in the habit of meditating and doing yoga twice per day. I also did a little qigong and tai chi but was focused more on yoga at the time due to the upcoming training.
When I meditated, I usually got to the point where I felt very blissful, even euphoric at times. It's actually what helped me finally quit drinking. It was like a high without the hangover :)
In order to feel blissful, I trained myself to block out anything stressful or unpleasant during my sessions. It helped me get sober but it also led to a habit in my daily life of blocking out stress and difficult emotions instead of managing them.
Then, when I was in my yoga and meditation training, we were encouraged to turn toward difficult emotions.
I thought I heard them wrong at first :)
"Why would I do that when I could get blissed out?!"
I eventually realized that I still had some recovery to do. I had found a new addiction.
As I became closer with my wife, I realized that she did not relate to emotions the same as I did. She expressed her difficult emotions to me often.
I found it so hard to listen at first. I just wanted to "fix" her way of thinking so we could both just be blissed out and happy.
This led to conflicts that were even more unpleasant than the initial emotions I was trying to avoid.
Then I started to turn toward my difficult emotions. I "Allowed" them to be as they were.
Eventually, they passed!
The result was a sense of release and connection instead of the struggle of trying to avoid and push away.
I was then able to be there more for my wife and her difficult emotions.
We were able to connect at a deeper level and get through the "storms" of emotions much better.
It is still a work in progress for me but I think Iām going in the right direction.
Allowing difficult emotions has helped me be more tolerant, forgiving, loving, and compassionate.
Do you have resistance to difficult emotions?
Please type "Allow" in the comments below if you wish to be more skillful with your emotions too :)
Warmly,
Adam
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This channel is for people who want to learn tai chi the fun and easy way while reducing stress and building strength, flexibility, and balance of body and mind.
We have a LIVE class every Tuesday, and we upload a recorded class every Saturday.
The best place to start is with "STRENGTH - 30 Days of Tai Chi" by clicking the link below.
We look forward to having you in class soon :)Ā
~Adam and the Begin with Breath team
Disclaimer: Please consult your primary healthcare provider before starting this or any other exercise program. The exercises demonstrated in this video are for informational and educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, and assume all risk of injury to yourself.