One of the reasons I love these China trips is the simplicity of it all. Sleep, eat, do taiji, eat, nap, do taiji, eat, sleep and it starts all over again. I love the exercise. This year has been a rough one for me in that I have allowed my job to take away from my taiji practice. I am probably the weakest I’ve been in years in my taiji form. Now, after only 3 days of the seminar, I have more bounce in my step, more strength in my legs, and I can feel myself starting to crave that lost feeling of my taiji body. My postures are lower, and best of all, doing taiji feels great again. For this I am thankful to Grandmaster Chen for his ability to remind me that I love taiji, and that I need to give it a more important place in my life.

There are a few more things happening here in the village other than taiji. There is shopping – many stores now carry taiji clothing, weapons, books and dvds. We have all wandered in and out of each store, everyone finding something to bring home. I bought 2 uniforms today (couldn’t decide between them and the storekeeper convinced me to get both, of course). There is a night life here in Chenjiagou. Craig celebrated his birthday last night with a few students by going to the tea house and having a beer. Yesterday some VIPs showed up to the seminar and Grandmaster did a rousing demonstration that had everyone on their feet cheering and whistling. Tonight there is a big demonstration in which we will take part with the Brazilians, Germans, English and Irish, representing the United Nations of Taijiquan. Tomorrow we will tour the Taiji temple, the museum, and the house where Yang Lu Chan learned Taijiquan. We are hoping for Market Day, where the locals set up stalls to sell their wares. We went last year, and it was a hoot looking at all the offerings.

Taiji is the central core of the village. Everywhere you look people of all ages are practicing taiji, before sunrise, after dark when there is no light to see, and all day long the students complete their taiji drills. I’m sure it isn’t an easy life, but the value is in the opportunity to focus energy in one direction, reconnect with the ancestors’ qi, and do what people have done on this ground for 20 generations. Right now, this is just what I need.

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