You are Invited
TAI CHI WINTER TRAINING - JANUARY 2017
AMSTERDAM
8th level days: Thursday January 5th and Friday 6 January
(Please note: this is prior to the main WT).
All apprentices Winter Training: January Friday 6th - Friday 13th.
All Apprentice arrival: Friday, January 6th. Registration 2-4 pm and WFW sessions.
Friday the 13th we'll conclude the training with a party in the evening.
8th level only arrival: Thursday morning January 5th.
8th level work starts Thursday afternoon 1-1.30 pm with a gateway introduction for invitees,
so please arrive on time (all 8th level invitees will receive a separate e-mail.).
Dear Apprentices,
Make a fresh start in 2017 and come to the Tai Chi Winter Training in Amsterdam. Tai Chi is practiced for a lot of reasons: in our tradition the key aspects are to reduce stress, attain deep relaxation and restore and maintain health. With rising tension in our society and feelings of insecurity growing, we feel that this year's training our focus should truly be on how we to decrease tension in ourselves and in the world.
The world we live in is challenging in many different ways and it is sometimes hard to forget that the key to deal with tension is to relax. Many of us are able to relax while doing Tai Chi. Staying relaxed, being in principle, in our daily life is a different challenge all together. For that we need to reach a level of relaxation and trust, where we find complete security inside and outside of our Form. Let see what happens if we tap into our reserves and submerge ourselves in our Sea of Chi.
The season of winter will help us to accomplish this. Winter is about finding, protecting and reconnecting with our reserves. When we come together this winter and practice in safety with each other, we help each other to reconnect and restore our reserves. Working with each other is challenging and fun at the same time. We speed up our process and through feedback and play we trigger each other to take it just one gentle step further. Finding strength within softness, you may find a new level of relaxation, one that bring vitality and inner security that spills into the world.
We look forward to work and play with you all in Amsterdam this winter.
With love and dedication,
Sherry, Gerrie and Greg
Legacy holders Sherry, Gerrie and Greg will be heading the program and lead the teaching this winter in Amsterdam. Also, we are happy to confirm that Jonathan Stow will join us. He will take up a senior teaching role, just as he did in Lancaster in 2016 and in Amsterdam in 2015.
THE PROGRAM
At the moment we are working on a schedule that will suit all needs. Practicing the various Push Hands as well as developing further together as a whole group. The training runs from Friday 6th till Friday 13th of January. Seven full days means that, compared to 2015 we have one extra day of training! There will be more time for classes and to experience the energy of being together and to learn from each other, to further inspiration and knowledge.
As usual, apprenticeships will be available according to need and registration numbers. Reach out to your Tai Chi friends and see if you can sign up for a special apprenticeship together. Connect with your local community and find out what is needed or possible.
Also it looks like there will be a B1 Apprenticeship happening this Winter Training. Please let us know if you have apprentices in your community that would like to take the B1 apprenticeship and are ready to do so. Talk to your closest senior teacher to see which students might be apprenticeship-ready.
SPECIAL OFFER: Roots & Branches Experienceship OR the 8 Ways of Tai Chi Chuan.
Depending on the requests we get from all participants, we are going to schedule a Roots & Branches Experienceship OR the 8 Ways of Tai Chi Chuan.
Please let us know your preference on the registration sheet.
REGISTRATION
If you decide to join us at the winter retreat, please fill in the registration form
and send it to Peter Streef at [email protected]
COST
The prices for the training are in the table (click here).
For the Early Bird discount please pay your deposit of at least 25%
of the total by December 1st in euro, to STCC Amsterdam.
For Dutch residents make your payment through IBAN: IBAN: NL43INGB0000285299
For international payments pay to:
IBAN: NL43INGB0000285299
BIC: INGBNL2A
UK apprentices are asked to pay their deposits to LSTCC. Please send your cheque to LSTCC, 30 Arundel Gardens, London W11 2LB. Or do a direct Bank Transfer - for details about this method of payment contact Barbara Carlisle at
[email protected].
The remaining costs can be paid with your debit card or cash payment.
Please note we don't accept credit card payment.
Please contact Peter Streef at [email protected]
If you have any inquiries regarding your payment.
Deposits are not refundable after December 1.
POSSIBILITIES OF SUPPORT
We find it important that all apprentices feel that they are most welcome to join the training, even if there are financial issues. Just like previous trainings we are always looking for volunteers who want to help during the training in return for a discount. It can either be a small or bigger contribution. Please contact Anouk Krikhaar if you want to know more about.
Also we would like to remind all about the Bernie Dushman Scholarship Fund (BDSF). This Fund supports students/apprentices teachers in financially constrained circumstances to attend a training. Scholarship Applications are available
at the TCF website, www.taichifoundation.org/scholarship-information.
Please keep in mind that applications are due no later than October 30th for a winter program.
LOCATION
Tulips, the canals, museums, wooden shoes! Wooden shoes? You mean Tai Chi Shoes!
Amsterdam is a beautiful city and has lots to offer. We are very joyful that we can host the training at the renovated Amsterdam Tai Chi School at the Kerkstraat 441. Nicely located in the city and a lovely and friendly neighborhood. The School is easy to reach with public transport. From Schiphol Airport to Central Station it takes about 20 minutes by train. From there you can take tram 4 destination Station Rai and get off at stop Keizersgracht or Prinsengracht.
From there it's only a 5-minute walk.
For the training we have also arranged two extra venues:
Flex 427, Kerkstraat 427. Just beside the Tai Chi School.
Gemeente Gods, a.k.a. the Ballroom, Nieuwe Herengracht 103. 10-15 minutes walking from the Kerkstraat. You might want to consider renting a bicycle.
SCHEDULE
The schedule is still under construction and will be available at a later time.
For the 8th level apprentices the training starts: January Thursday 5th. In the afternoon at 1.00 pm with a gateway introduction for invitees. The 8th level work ends on Saturday the 7th in the evening.
For all other Apprentices the Winter Training starts Friday, January 6th. Registration will happen from 2-4 pm. We will have a closing party on Friday the 13th.
CATERING
We are looking for a catering service for lunch and dinner. We try to cater lunches from Saturday to Friday and for three times for a dinner (including party dinner). Detailed information will follow soon.
ACCOMMODATION
You are responsible for your own accommodation.
Instead of booking a hotel, you can also take a look at Airbnb, www.airbnb.com. You can rent apartments all around the city through this website. Contact your Tai Chi buddies and book a nice apartment together. Last Winter Training a couple of our apprentices had a good experience dealing with Airbnb. So talk to your friends and book online. At their website you can find more information.
Here is a list of hotels in the vicinity of the training location.
Hotel Prinsenhof, 1 star, Prinsengracht 810. About a 5-minute walk to the teaching locations. http://www.hotelprinsenhof.com
Hotel Armada, 2 stars, Keizersgracht 713-715, about a 5-minute walk to the teaching locations, http://www.amsterdamfinehotels.com/armada-hotel.
Nicolaas Witsen, 3 stars, Nicolaas Witsenstraat 4, a 10-minute walk to teachings locations, http://www.hotelnicolaaswitsen.nl/index.php?lang=en.
Hotel Atlanta, 3 stars, Rembrandtplein 8 - 10, about 10-minute walk to training locations, http://www.atlantahotelamsterdam.nl.
Hotel Asterisk, 2 stars, Den Texstraat 16, about 10-minute walk to teaching locations, http://www.asteriskhotel.nl/en/.
Prices vary widely, depending on market conditions and the number of stars of the hotel.
To get a competitive price we suggest you go to either www.booking.com and find the hotel you're interested in. Check the price for the room you want and then, instead of booking through either of these sites, contact the hotel directly, and ask for a 10-15% discount. As all hotels have to pay around 15% commission to these booking engine company's they will usually agree.
Amsterdam also has a lot of hostels. On http://www.hostelbookers.com you can find more information and a lot of options.
If you have any questions regarding the training and need more help, please contact Anouk Krikhaar ([email protected]) or Peter Streef ([email protected]).
Looking forward seeing you all!
The Winter Training Team,
Anouk Krikhaar, Peter Streef and Koen Krikhaar
|
