Author Archive: Mary Layton
Mary Layton has practiced T'ai Chi for 35 years and co-founded T'ai Chi Ch'uan Academy of Modesto in1995. She and her partner have taught hundreds of students. Mary travels frequently to learn from her teacher Grand Master Kai Ying Tung. Interested in every aspect of health Mary likes to follow a natural path. She loves writing, painting, gardening, hiking and playing piano.
ZenView – For the Children
Mary Layton Tai Chi for Children in Modesto Good news : On January 29th two elementary schools in Modesto brought Tai Chi to their after-school program. It’s been going very well, after only a couple of weeks the kids are having fun and are acting more relaxed. They pay attention and it appears that they […]
ZenView – Year of the Dragon
Happy New Year of the Wood Dragon By Mary Layton The year of the Wood Dragon begins February 10th, 2024 and ends on January 28th, 2025. It is the most popular zodiac animal in the Chinese Horoscope. In Chinese culture a Dragon is a mythical, supreme being that brings good luck. Couples want to have […]
ZenView – Restraint
By Mary Layton The practice of Self-Restraint Several years ago I went to visit my Tai chi teacher who is a 3rd Generation Grandmaster of T’ai Chi. Upon entering his house I noticed a large Chinese calligraphy on the wall representing one of the most important principles of T’ai Chi : Self-Restraint. Next to the […]
ZenView – Grateful
By Mary Layton Time to be Grateful Once again it’s the month of Thanksgiving. For many people in this country there will be the traditional food feast with all the fixings to go with it. Families and friends come together to celebrate the love for life and its bounty. In these tumultuous and uncertain times […]
ZenView
What’s to like about T’ai Chi? By Mary Layton Angela’s Story This month I thought I would ask one of our long time students how she got into T’ai Chi and find out What made her like this Chinese Martial Art. This is what she told me : “When I was young I was into […]
ZenView – Time to Travel
by Mary Layton Summer travel has started and I’m one of the lucky ones getting away for a a couple of weeks. I will be seeing my family in Germany and look forward to being reunited with everybody. It’s a lot of work though, finding a flight, finding out how to get to the airport […]
ZenView – Food For Thought
By Mary Layton One way people greet each other in China translates to something like : Have you eaten? Which means something like our : How are you? Some days I would have to reply: I haven’t taken the time to eat yet, I’m feeling a little anxious, and tired! Seems like many people don’t […]
ZenView – The InnerChild
By Mary Layton The Inner Child The Merriam – Webster Definition defines the “Inner Child” as “the childlike usually hidden part of a person’s personality that is characterized by playfulness, spontaneity, and creativity usually accompanied by anger, hurt and fear attributable to childhood experiences”. Isn’t it wonderful that no matter how old I am in […]
ZenView – Life’s Lessons
By Mary Layton Life’s Lessons The best thing about getting older is that we may actually learn from our mistakes and change the way we have been thinking. I love how Abraham Lincoln puts it: “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Looking back on my own life I […]
ZenView – This Time
By Mary Layton When I talk to people about their experience of time, everyone says that time seems to go by faster. I think, maybe the fact that the world has been going through so many changes in the past 3 years has something to do with a sense of urgency. Are we running out […]
ZenView: Necessity
ZenView: Necessity Mary Layton I knew a wise man who always used to ask : “Is it necessary ?” – I think this is a really good question that I can apply to anything I think or do all day long! It is amazing when you find out that a lot of what we think […]
ZenView- Finding Serenity
ZenView Mary Layton Looking for Serenity What is serenity? The Oxford dictionary defines it as: “ The state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled.” The goal of meditation is to reach a state of serenity that is when your mind is still and calm. We live in unprecedented times. Our world is changing in front […]
ZenView – Harmony
ZenView Harmony By Mary Layton Harmony? What is it? Any time I watch a flock of geese flying in formation it looks like they have that harmony down. It is an exhilarating experience for me. What magic! To experience a little harmony in your day can do wonders to help unwind and recuperate. In an […]
ZenView: Harmony
ZenView: HarmonyBy Mary Layton Harmony? What is it?Any time I watch a flock of geese flying in formation it looks like they have that harmony down.It is an exhilarating experience for me. What magic! To experience a little harmony in your day can do wonders to help unwind and recuperate. In an orchestra, everyone has […]
ZenView: Rewards of Being Human
ZenView: Rewards of Being HumanBy Mary LaytonWhat are the rewards in your life? Many of us may feel that as long as we have fun and excitement in our lives everything will be good. Having fun is such a welcome reward for putting up with life’s challenges and disappointments. We need to have fun. But […]