Teaching Pushing Hands to Addicts in Mexico

ad·dict
noun: addict; plural noun: addicts
a person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug.
“a former heroin addict”

synonyms: Informal / junkie, druggie, -head, -freak, pill-popper, dope fiend
“stealing money for your next high, just like the addicts out in the street”

informal / an enthusiastic devotee of a specified thing or activity.
“a must-buy book for the crossword-puzzle addict”

synonyms: enthusiast, fan, lover, devotee, aficionado,
informal / freak, buff, nut, fiend, bum, junkie, fanatic, maniac

In the spirit of Hwa Yu Tai Ji Master John Chung Li moving to south Florida in 1977, in order to introduce Hwa Yu Tai Ji to its retirees, so I moved to Mexico´s Lake Chapala area, a center for ex-pat retirees, especially from U.S. and Canada. Prior to moving there, to test the waters, I posted on a Chapala  social media site, giving an introduction to Pushing Hands, and a self-introduction to my own experiences, as learner and as trainer. I emphasized that the training offered was initially at no charge, and that later donations would be accepted.

Several months prior, in San Cristobal de las Casas (SCLC), Chiapas, I had advertised my classes (including tuition cost) via posters on walls. This is the custom there, and I never had any problems, even though, according to the immigration law, foreigners are only allowed to work in Mexico if they have a Work Visa. But, in actual practice, especially at (small-scale) English Schools, the law is not strictly enforced.

However, I quickly realized that the situation in the Chapala area is quite different. On the Chapala Board, while 100+ folks viewed the announcement, and several expressed interest, there were several posts that were Red Flags, apparently from foreigners who warned/threatened me that my Tourist Visa status specifically prohibited such a venture, even on a ´´donations accepted´´ status. One of the threat-makers was active on the Board as a legal specialist for foreigners and their Immigration-Residency matters. I was informed by several long-term foreigner residents that my proposed Pushing Hands project was vulnerable, because there were some unhappy-nasty foreigners living in Chapala-Ajijic area, and that they could inform the Mexican authorities about me and my ´´donations accepted´´ Pushing Hands classes.

Shortly after deciding to follow their advice, I noticed a building with a (Spanish) sign–Center for Treatment of Addicts. Ahaaa! I introduced myself and scheduled a meeting with the Director. We had a good rapport. I showed him my Posters for my classes in SCLC, and he saw that I could understand and speak Spanish well enough to explain the benefits of Pushing Hands training. Soon I was teaching three 1-hour classes every week.

It was a short walk from my apartment, to the gate, then the barking dogs, then the gentle greetings to the folks unlocking the door for me. Here is the visual record, shot in SONY Posterization format, exquisite for earthy tones.

The folks were locked in for the 1^st6 weeks of their residence. At my classes we always  had 100% attendance, heh…heh. There was one chap who, initially, would show up every time with the group, but he´d stand stiff and silent, and basically catatonic-style. I assumed he was being treated for heroin addiction, and later was told that was the case.

To open the Gua acu-zones in the loins, we began with the Nei Gong exercises taught by Master Li—Walking and Rowing. Once we began Pushing Hands training, I was pleasantly surprised to see that these men were not trying to ´´win´´. I had assumed that there would be significant evidence of Anger management/Passive Aggression/etc. issues, but that was not the case. The vibe there was truly cooperative and light-hearted. The men enjoyed the movement and the Flow. In this video, I am telling them:

• ´´Todo el cuerpo!´´ (All the body!)
• ´´No solamente los brazos!´´ (Not only the arms!)
• ´´Sentarse!´´ (Sit down!)

They enjoyed the format of the 2-hands to the shoulders. As long as they were moving-in-spirit, I felt it was good-and-meant-to-be. In this video, I am emphasizing:

• ´´Erecto!´´ (Stand straight!´)
• ´´Un paso!´´ (When you are pushed, turn that push into your own step forward!)

Here I am introducing the ´´CONTRACT´´´. That is, as a means of mutually opening the GUA zones, A slowly pushes B, and B is Yin and slowly sits back-and-down, until just before reaching the maximum. Then B gives a slight turn of the wrist. This is the signal for A to convert to Yin, to listen to the Yang approach of B, and to likewise sit back-and-down.

Also seen is the exercise of training the Yin element in the arms, by turning the body and having the arms hit the back. The more Yin, the louder the noise. The chap with the heroin addiction can be seen in the background, stationary. Other times he would be active.

Here is the final video I shot. The month was over, and it was the final class.

I was gratified that they were saying thanks-and-goodbye by putting energy into their movements, including the ex-heroin addict. Hopefully, they are on their way to becoming addicted-to-exercise.