YinYang U

05/03/2026

Is It Martial Arts? What Level of Skill is Attained?

The goal for Taiji for Couples is simple: resonance and sustained cohesion. The path to that goal consists of connection, communication, harmony.

Each drill aims to reinforce the goal. Each session is an opportunity to practice each of these things. And each person offers themselves as a partner in bringing these principles to life.

This is seemingly different from the goals of martial arts, but in Taijiquan this is not the case due to the nature of the style, based on the philosophical idea of Taiji. The idea is to harmonize energies. In order to avoid harm and to redirect an incoming force, a Taijiquan practitioner trains to first connect, listen and understand. This requires attention, awareness, staying in the moment, calmness and softness. Only then can the practitioner finally redirect force in a harmonious way. The final lofty goal is that of the "Fight of No Fight."

In the face of conflict, how can we redirect harmoniously and co-create? How can we prevent, mitigate, and dispel conflicts skillfully? This martial Taijiquan trinity of connecting, listening and understanding, become transferable skills, or even transferable ways of being, for cultivating resilient relationship.

. What Level of Martial Arts will I Attain?

05/02/2026

What are the Benefits of ?

Informs Self Growth and Connection.

*Reinforces a solo practice (self-awarenessand self-knowing). Feedback within CouplesTaiji shows us what we need to work on in our solo practice whether it be restoration,recovery, emotional regulation, physical posture, or mental balancing.

*Embody Abstract Concepts and Principles Knowing principles with the whole-self translates to skill.

It helps us to engage with some of the intangible concepts, principles, and philosophies (such as energy efficiency,knowing when to lead and follow, showing up and staying connected, centering and balancing, regulating emotional mind,embracing elements of nature, breath practice, etc.) which we know in our minds and intellects, but have not yet applied or had the opportunity to practice in a visceral and organized way.

*Fosters Gratitude and Supports Spirituality
From intentionally coming together to facilitate and foster understanding, learning and harmony, and nurture one another, we create a foundational alignment. As we offer ourselves as a partner, we are partners in training.

What Are The Benefits of ?

05/02/2026

📜🌻This week in the Martial Mystic Calendar Series, we transitioned from April to May with Spring and Liver discussion.

🎭We dropped the mask to embrace Anger: The Dark Side of Spring.

: Chūn (春)
Spring offers us this opportunity to drop our mask and for health’s sake, look at our anger and get to the Liver (not heart) of the matter.

The Element: Wood. Like a tree in spring, the Liver’s energy is characterized by expansion, upward movement, and flexibility.

🗿The Function: The is often called “The General” of the body. Just as Spring is the time to plan the year’s crops, the Liver is responsible for the “smooth flow of Qi” and strategic planning within the body.

🌱The Components: It combines 艸 (grass/plants), 屯 (a sprouting seed struggling to break through the soil), and 日 (the sun).

🌞The Meaning: The character literally depicts the sun’s warmth acting upon a seed until it bursts through the resistance of the earth. This is exactly how “Liver Qi” feels—it is a pressurized, upward force. If that pressure is blocked, it turns into “Liver Fire” (anger/irritability).

Shū Gān (疏肝) “dredging the Liver”
🎼Acoustic Dredging: The Xū (嘘) sound. The vibration acts like a sonic “scrubber” that breaks up the silt in the Liver’s path

🧘Physical Dredging: Stretching the sides of the body (the ribs and flanks). This physically “squeezes” and “flushes” the Liver and Gallbladder area.

🎯Linguistic Dredging: Sometimes, simply naming the “blockage” (admitting you are angry or frustrated) acts as a dredge, clearing the mental path for a solution.

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05/02/2026

🌱Spring: Chūn (春)
Spring offers us this opportunity to drop our mask and for health's sake, look at our anger and get to the Liver (not heart) of the matter.

🪵The Element: Wood. Like a tree in spring, the Liver's energy is characterized by expansion, upward movement, and flexibility.

The Function: The Liver is often called "The General" of the body. Just as Spring is the time to plan the year’s crops, the Liver is responsible for the "smooth flow of Qi" and strategic planning within the body.

🌱The Components: It combines 艸 (grass/plants), 屯 (a sprouting seed struggling to break through the soil), and 日 (the sun).

📚The Meaning: The character literally depicts the sun’s warmth acting upon a seed until it bursts through the resistance of the earth. This is exactly how "Liver Qi" feels—it is a pressurized, upward force. If that pressure is blocked, it turns into "Liver Fire" (anger/irritability).

☯️Shū Gān (疏肝) "dredging the Liver"

🎶Acoustic Dredging: The Xū (嘘) sound we discussed. The vibration acts like a sonic "scrubber" that breaks up the silt in the Liver's path.

🕺🏻Physical Dredging: Stretching the sides of the body (the ribs and flanks). This physically "squeezes" and "flushes" the Liver and Gallbladder area.

🤓Linguistic Dredging: Sometimes, simply naming the "blockage" (admitting you are angry or frustrated) acts as a dredge, clearing the mental path for a solution.

The Dark Side of Spring. The Yin Side of

04/28/2026

Finishing off April with these movements.

1 like. "April Week 3 Review. Taijiquan Calendar Series."

04/25/2026

4 Seasons Qigong with Flurina

04/25/2026

Today 10-2.
🌏One world.
🎶One Breath.
🪷One Soul Family

04/19/2026

We explore the intersection of and , specifically focusing on and as partnered practices. We discuss if the training is purely exercise or a form of , somewhat concluding that it is both.

Key Takeaways:

-Fitness as a Foundation: The physical movements and structure of Taijiquan (such as rooting and holding load) build both physical strength and the mental/emotional capacity to handle life's stressors (0:22 - 1:09).

-The Role of Breath: The acts as a communication bridge between the physical and mental layers of the self. By manipulating the breath, practitioners can influence their nervous system and emotional state, moving the practice into a "moving meditation" format (1:43 - 2:38).

-Yin-Yang Exchange: The practice incorporates yin-yang dynamics not just through the roles each partner plays, but also through synchronized breathing, where partners cultivate and shared energy (2:41 - 3:18).

-Moving Beyond the Self: By drawing on ’s teachings on the mind, we propose that the practice aims to transcend the boundaries of the physical body. We strive to explore the "unknown"—or the yin dimension—to reach a deeper sense of reality and mental, spiritual fitness (3:23 - 4:30).

Let us know your thoughts.

Is It Fitness? Meditation?

04/18/2026

What is Push Hands Trying to Tell Us??
I don't say this often but I'm concerned that we have utilized pushing hands practice for something that is off target and askew in some way.

Let's face it, the world is challenged with connection, relationship, co-existence, and essentially sharing the planet and living together.

In addition to offering a summary of the video, also provided are the time stamps. Let me know if they are helpful.

The video explores the practice of Push Hands (also known as sensing or hands) in Taijiquan and its application as both a skill and, I propose, a tool for personal and relationship growth.

Key Concepts of Push Hands
- Skillful Interaction: Rather than meeting force with force, practitioners learn to receive, neutralize, and redirect incoming energy (1:13-1:29). This teaches the strategy of yielding rather than reacting (7:06-7:20).

- Building : By applying pressure in a controlled environment, practitioners test their structure and strengthen their internal systems, making them better equipped to handle stress and conflict in daily life (1:42-2:22).

- Restoring : The practice helps individuals recognize when they are destabilized (physically or emotionally) and teaches them how to "sink and twist"—a metaphor for finding one's root or center during difficult times (3:18-4:59).

- Communication in : In the context of Couples Taiji, the practice serves as a training ground for managing different ideas, intentions, and energies within an intimate relationship. It emphasizes responding to conflict while maintaining integrity and (5:59-6:52).

Mental Health Benefits
- Bottom-Up Regulation: We highlight that Taiji is a "bottom-up" approach to mental health, where regulating the body helps improve mental and brain state (8:40-9:07).

- Training Relaxation: A core benefit is the ability to embody relaxation even when experiencing pressure, which builds a sustainable, calm state of being (9:11-9:36).

What Is Pushing Hands?

04/12/2026

Interpersonal Meditation??
“From these disciplines we are given tools to interact with others harmoniously. Mental, emotional, and energetic awareness is cultivated with a life partner via the physical body.

From the skin, to the tissues, nervous system, spine and brain, and viscera, a full-body experience transfers to the psycho-emotional body in which the partners can embody the intellectual and philosophical ideals - deep listening, centering and balancing, regulating the emotional-mind, responding appropriately to each situation, using one’s energy efficiently, engaging and communing with nature and other beings.

This is described as external to internal, a learning and training approach known in traditional Gongfu ( ) discipline.”

“A practice where two people who are invested in a long term relationship can engage with each other.
•Physically
•Mentally/emotionally
•Energetically
•Subtly/ in a nuanced way
•Through touch-communication

An exercise where you can take your meditative practice to a dynamic, level.”

Excerpt From
Taiji for Couples Book 2026
Javier Rodriguez, Nona Ikeda
Get the book and sign up for the next workshop here: https://www.yinyangtaiji.org/valentines-weekend
https://youtu.be/p0AgDQXFk9c

Get the book and sign up for the next workshop here: https://www.yinyangtaiji.org/valentines-weekendSupport our efforts at www.patreon.com/watchjaviGet your ...

04/12/2026

“ pervades our world and so what can we do when it arises in the relationship? With Taiji for Couples the interest is in moving through the relationship to see conflict as not something to be avoided, but something to be engaged as an opportunity for growth and understanding of self in ”

“Are we solely working with intimate relationships? The techniques taught in this course are not limited to the romantic couple. It can be between father and daughter, two sisters, etc., because we work with the same foundational principles and values. This said, intimate relationships offer us a special opportunity because are working to build a life together as one, and are planting seeds for future generations. If they can embody Taiji for Couples, so can their children. And hopefully it ripples out to other , to friends and family.”

Excerpt From
Taiji for Couples Book 2026
Javier Rodriguez, Nona Ikeda

Get the book and sign up for the next workshop here: https://lnkd.in/gaH4eNmE...
https://youtu.be/s76NcHdh9xY?si=-HmOzi3IuUQFrGgX

Get the book and sign up for the next workshop here: https://www.yinyangtaiji.org/valentines-weekendSupport our efforts at www.patreon.com/watchjaviGet your ...