moving energy... { bay area event photography }

so we (my kids, my husband and myself) study martial arts.   We all do Kung fu and I also do tai chi and qi gong. Tai Chi Mantis Institute in Walnut Creek, CA It’s really cool to study something that you learn in layers.  When you begin in kungfu it’s really about learning the sets, conditioning, increasing your stamina, stregnth, agility.  You work from the outside - in.  But when you study tai chi or qi gong, it opens doors from the inside - out.  You actually learn how to move your energy from an energy center (core area) outward,  without use of the “normal” stregnth you might think.  I love this idea because it seems like it works with everything in my life… once I’ve thought I’m strong in an outward way and I think I can handle obvious things, I find that it’s really my inner stregnth that needs to be harnessed to get the job done….. maybe this is tooooo ummm…. spacey… let me try it this way…

Lets say I think I can demand my kids do something I want them to do.  Old school parenting taught me that I could expect that they listen to me and respect my wishes.  …. and I could get the job done by demanding things-   IF   - I’m willing to follow through with something that is harder for them to deal with than my request.   (outside - in)

I’m finding that I can move mountians if I work oppisite to this…. if i settle into myself (stillness) and listen to my dog Maya… she talks to me all the time…. sorry, i regress….

…If I settle into myself,   I remember the beautiful nature that my kids came with, I remember that they WANT to do what is good and right and that they were born with a beautiful mind, body and spirit more than capable of accomplishing this for themselves.  If I focus on that-  more than focusing on the struggle-   my frame of mind changes… then, i can talk to them, explain myself intelligently, give them the background that they need to make the right choice for themself.  When I let go of all expectations and respect their own abilities, i find things happen….      slowly… (kidding)

seriously, they happen, beautifully.  

I’ve been studying kungfu for years and it’s only recently that i’ve discovered this “place” inside.  This place that can move a 6 ft. tall man, it can throw someone off balance, it can incapacitate my attacker, so i can get away.  This place that requires stillness to access. It requires being in the moment, it requires attention, deep awareness and attention.  It’s a real thing that can’t be touched or forced.  I love energy, it moves in mysterious ways and when used from the inside - out can even illuminate difficult and dark places.