Welcome Nam Hoa students. This section of the website has been designed for you, our current students. Please remember that we alway enjoy hearing from you on what kinds of things you would like to see here in this section. Use the "Ask A Question" section to make suggestions.
Below is an overview of the student section. Below that is information that we hope is beneficial to your practice.
The Student Pages
The "Ask a Question" page allows you to put forth a question on any aspect of your practice. An answer may come from Teacher Jude or any one of the instructors. If you wish to ask a specific question of an instructor please say that in the beginning of your question. We hope you enjoy reading other student's questions and the answers.
The "Photo Gallery" page is where you might see yourself and fellow Qigong and Tai Chi artists as we all enjoy our practice and the fellowship of our Tai Chi buddies! Once you register as a Nam Hoa student, you can upload pictures to the Gallery as well. Because of website space concerns, please consider picking out a few pictures to share with others. Enjoy!
Aren't our instructors wonderful! They have shared their art with you and have gained so much insight for themselves. If you think you might want to share the art as well visit our "Instructor Training" page.
The "Service Opportunities" section allows you to see what opportunities there are to make a difference for others in the Nam Hoa tradition. We hope also to highlight some of the offerings of our volunteers in this section as well. If you know of a volunteer that you would like to recognize, please contact us.
The "Research Articles" page provides information on important research in the field of the internal arts and wellness issues. Please feel free to send us information on articles you have found that you feel other students might benefit from reading.
As well as the student pages you will find very interesting material on the other pages available at the top toolbar and the right toolbar. So go explore and enjoy!
How to enhance your practice
The Daily Practice
The benefits to the practice come not with the knowing of the movements but the doing of them. It is most beneficial for your practice to try to find time every day for some aspect of your practice. It is wonderful if you have an hour or half hour to practice but don't be concerned if you don't have that much time, just try for a few minutes and pick an aspect of your practice. Perhaps one day you stand Wu Chi for five minutes and the next day you pick one set of movements to do over and over again or in mirror form. The next day you might do the Healing Sounds with some of the movements or just practice the new movement several times. The following evening you might have more time so you decide to do an abbreviated version of the Energy Workout and the form. The following day you do your whole form three time, starting a little fast and moving to a very slow form. To develop a connection with your chi, be mindful in some aspect of your practice ever day.
Deepen Your Existing Practice
It can be challenging to resist the desire to constantly learn new things. We can be linear thinkers and we have, as a culture, been encouraged to constantly achieve. The ancient internal arts are most beneficial when we deepen our understanding of a small amount of movements or one form before learning new forms. So keep coming to your class and focus on the feeling of the movements. Attending workshops or special classes can be helpful in deepening your understanding of your practice. A private session with your instructor can be helpful. A private session with the Teacher or Master can also help you to deepen your practice.
The Knowledge of the Arts
While practicing is most beneficial for deepening your practice, your practice can also be aided by reading about the internal arts. There are thousands of books and magazines on the subject and many are really not appropriate for the beginner. We recommend you visit our "Recommended Reading List" page for more information on this subject.
Commitment
Nam Hoa instructors welcome all students in classes. You might note that class size varies from time to time. We all need to miss classes sometimes, it is the nature of our lives. Don't stress if you have to miss a class, just come back next week and relax and give yourself permission to learn the movement at your own rate. If you find you have had to miss more than one class, there are several options to enhance your practice. One would be to try to attend more than one class that week if available. Another would be to ask to have a private session with your instructor (or another instructor they may recommend). If that is not possible, just keep coming to class; you have the rest of your life to learn the movements. Try not to miss class- commit to keeping your chi time!
Use Training Aides
The DVD's and other chi products can be helpful in enhancing your practice away from your instructor. The DVD is well designed to give you several viewing options. Use the DVD to practice with but always go to class to allow your instructor to view your movements and give you the benefit of his knowledge and experience.
Questions and Answers
When will I be ready to take a second form?
If you are thinking about moving forward, consult your instructor, let your instructor guide you. This is our tradition. Students learn at different rates and practice in different ways. Don't be concerned if someone is moving to a new form and you are still having trouble flowing through your practice. Each of us in on our own path. Just enjoy your practice.
What are the supplementary practices?
There are many interesting practices that Master Jim has brought into the Nam Hoa tradition. Some are very ancient and some are newer. Examples of these practices are: Guiling Energy Walking, Zhan Zhuang, Seven Steps of Artful Living (progressive guided meditation), Healing Sounds, The Energy Workout, Mirror Forms, Sensing Hands (Push Hands), and more. You can learn some of these practices at workshops (such as the High Inner Chi workshop sponsored by Bending Tree) or in advanced classes or retreats.
More questions and answers are available on the "Ask a Question" page.
