Student's Corner: My Experience with the Five Animals
Jann Nestell, September 2009
Hi, Yinong and Shawn,
I wanted to write and thank you for a profound and wonderful day on August 8th. I deeply appreciated all that I learned, all that you so graciously gave to me, your time, energy and the learning of "The Five Animal Frolics"-and much more. I was pretty tired when I got to the hotel room (thank heavens it was only across the street and thank you so much for doing the whole day at The Crossings!) The next day my legs were very sore, but I didn't worry. I knew we had done things well and that I would recover just fine. It was good work.
I have been practicing every day and am finding that many things stuck with me. When I went to demonstrate "the monkey plucks the fruit", for example, it just kind of came together and I was happily surprised. The Tai Chi class I take very Tuesday was most eager for a demo and some learning and my Tai Chi Master friend was just as excited as I. We worked together Thursday night, just the two of us. It was great! It is somewhat awesome for me to be teaching, sharing The Animal Frolics with some of these very learned people. But, they don't know The Animal Frolics, and they are very happy to learn, so it is also great fun!! I know it will take a long time to know all the animals and then the beautiful subtleties, but it is a great journey.
You are both amazing practitioners and people and I will always be eternally grateful. Yinong, I can "pluck" fingers now consistently well. And, I played and used your meditation CD more times than I can count, already. Shawn, that hip release that happened with me was also a gift. It's bothered me for a year or two and I've worked at it and could not get it to let go. But, after I got home, I went out to ride my back (when I always notice it getting on) and my leg swung up like "no problem". This was an unexpected benefit, but a huge one for me. So, thanks for that, too!!
Also, thank you for lunch and for the wonderful conversation. I feel quite sure our paths will cross again. In the meantime, please know I am a grateful person, so glad to have been with you.
Be well and many, many thanks,
Jann