AboutJonathan Gaines Expertise T`ai Chi and meditation. I am a 30+ year student and teacher of T`ai Chi Ch`uan. My teacher was the late Grand Master Cheng Man-ching with whom I studied for seven years. I am knowledgeable about the principals, practices and the applications of Tai Chi as well as the many benefits and some of the pit falls of practice. I am also knowledgeable about Chi Kung and have developed my own `simple and easy` method. The benefits of T`ai chi Ch`uan and Chi Kung include health and wellness as well as self defense based on principles of yielding rather than resisting. Fascinating! As a life long spiritual seeker I am also knowledgeable about meditation and contemplation. My principle practice is Dzog Chen which I am learning from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. The benefits of Dzog Chen are the potential to discover your own mind stream and master it. The point is to enter into the non dualistic state of `no thought` and then learn to be aware of this state while entering into thought. Self liberation from samara and for the sake of all sentient beings is the purpose of Dzog Chen practice.
Question Hello, I am interested in doing tai chi. I am also trying to lose weight. I have already lost 45 pounds on my own, and still have a lot more to go. Will tai chi help my lose more weight?
Answer Aloha Brittney.
Ho, That 45 lost is a good start.
Frankly I recommend lot's of walking....lots and lots. Tai Chi is very difficult to learn as a worthwhile practice, and finding a good teacher who comes from a authentic and strong tradition is not easy to find. However if you do begin to learn and practice diligently it will pay big dividends on your effort. It is a life time practice and a great support for the latter years.
Also, my teacher, Cheng Man-ching, (See him in action on YouTube) said when eating, leave your stomach 1/3 empty so your chi can fully digest the food.
