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| Rachel's routine | ||
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Full time job
Rachel has worked a 37.5 hour week since
leaving university.
Every day she commutes for at least 16 miles.
As part of her job Rachel also has public speaking engagements, yet she
manages to fit in an extensive daily
training schedule.
Twice daily training
Every day Rachel practices her
taijiquan, baguazhang, qigong etc.
She follows the traditional model of training in
the morning when she wakes up, and then again after work.
The early session prepares Rachel's body and
mind for the day ahead.
The later practice is quite short and serves to release
tension accumulated through driving, standing and
sitting throughout the day.
Rachel feels composed and at ease after her day
of work.
Morning spa
Rachel rises at 6 AM and has finished training by
around 7:30 AM.
She spends 15 minutes doing 'constructive rest', followed by a few minutes
spent drinking pu erh tea whilst she reads The
Tai Chi Classics.
A protein shake, fresh fruit and an invigorating
shower finish things off nicely.
The morning has been productive, unhurried,
rejuvenating, fun and pleasant.
A lady of tai chi
Every morning Rachel arrives at work by 9 AM feeling refreshed,
clear-headed, exercised and relaxed.
We
learn by doing. If you desire to master the principles you are studying, do
something about them. Apply these rules at every opportunity. If you don't,
you will forget them quickly. Only knowledge that is used sticks in your
mind.
You are attempting to form new habits. You are attempting a new way of life.
That will require time and persistence and daily application.
(Dale Carnegie)
Monday - Friday (morning) - 90 minutes
Every day Rachel practices: balls, grips & massage,
ba duan jin/reeling
silk exercises/moving qigong or stretches & joint work,
leg stretches,
baguazhang palm changes (regular & mirrored)
and 3 tier wallbag.
Alternate days: small san sau or silk arms,
chin na applications or
shuai jiao applications.
Rachel staggers these across the week: double
pushing hands, da lu, penetrating
defences, knife drills, 2-person cane
drill (regular & mirrored), pushing
peng exercise, 8 directions stepping, mother palms, direction changes,
circle walking, figure of 8
and 9 palaces.
Monday (before class) - 30-40 minutes
On a Monday evening Rachel practices: standing
qigong, stick/sword
drills, sabre form (regular & mirrored), jian form (regular & mirrored),
Long Yang form (regular & mirrored), pao chui (regular & mirrored).
Tuesday - Friday (late afternoon) - 30-40 minutes
After work Rachel practices: standing qigong, Long Yang
form (regular & mirrored), pao chui (regular & mirrored), psoas
exercises, yoga or
core strength exercises,
constructive rest and sitting
meditation.
Saturday morning
Rachel practices: balls, grips & massage, reeling silk exercises, leg
stretches, Long Yang form (regular & mirrored), pao chui (regular &
mirrored), sabre form (regular & mirrored), walking
stick form (regular & mirrored), baguazhang palm changes (regular &
mirrored), 3 tier wallbag, silk arms, small stick drills, shuai jiao
applications, yoga, standing qigong, constructive rest, sitting
meditation and a long walk in the countryside.
Sunday morning
Rachel practices: balls, grips & massage, moving qigong, leg stretches, Long
Yang form (regular & mirrored), pao chui (regular & mirrored), walking stick
form (regular & mirrored), jian form (regular & mirrored), baguazhang palm
changes (regular & mirrored), 3 tier wallbag, pre-emptive measures, small
stick drills, shuai jiao applications, core strength exercises, standing
qigong, constructive rest, sitting
meditation and a long walk in the countryside.
Partner work
Rachel undertakes short partnered training
sessions with Sifu Waller on an evening and has her practice
corrected each
weekend.
Workshops and boot camp
Rachel attends Sifu Waller's workshops most weeks and the quarterly boot
camps.
Teaching commitment
For 2 hours every Monday night Rachel teaches
tai chi for health and
tai chi
for fitness.
Before bed
Rachel aims to read books from the recommended reading list for at least 30
minutes each night before going to bed.
She typically manages to get at least 8 hours sleep per night.
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
31 July 2018
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