September Newsletter

Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Yoga and More
The Peaceful Dragon
For the Contemporary Mind, Body and Spirit
www.ThePeacefulDragon.com
September 2016
704-504-8866
At a Glance…
What The Peaceful Dragon Offers
Adult Programs
 Tai Chi
 Kung Fu
 Zen Meditation
 Yoga
 Asian Culture and Philosophy
Inside
Upcoming Events
New Students and Promotions
Peaceful Dragon School News
Disciple’s Forum
Did You Know?
Students Ask Master Sbarge
Children’s Program News
Classifieds
Students of the Month
Children’s Programs
 Kung Fu and Leadership Classes
Other Services
 Seminars and Presentations
 School Field Trips
 Community Demonstrations
 Corporate Team Building
2014 and 2015 Winner of
TWO Charlotte Observer Reader Awards!
 Best Martial Arts Studio
 Best Yoga Studio
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThePeacefulDragon
September Holidays!
Self-Improvement Month
5th Labor Day
6th Read a Book Day
11th Patriot Day
13th Positive Thinking Day
16th POW/MIA Recognition Day
19th Talk Like A Pirate Day
21st International Day of Peace
25th National Comic Book Day
Message from Master Eric Sbarge
Yes, we ARE GLAD when you show up!
For many years I’ve studied various trade magazines and marketing materials for the
health and fitness industries, as well as the martial arts industry. I’m now going to
share with you a dirty little secret that you may not have known.
Many if not most gyms and health clubs purposely enroll many more members than
their facilities can accommodate. In fact, some enroll as many as five times the number
they can handle. For example, if their facilities can hold 500 people each month they will nevertheless
push to enroll 2500 members per month. Why and how do they do this?
The why is easy: The more members they enroll, the more money they make. The how is less savory:
They are able to enroll so many people because they know most of the people will rarely, if ever, show
up.
Most initial memberships are for one year. Do you think the average well-intentioned health-club
member actually attends regularly for that full year? If you guessed that they only attend for three
months, you’re an optimist. The actual amount of time averages just 30 days!
So people are paying for a year, but only attending for a month. You are not encouraged by the staff
and management to show up more because the whole model is predicated on you not showing up. This
business model may not fall under the category of white-collar crime, but it sure does seem a good bit
dishonest and unethical.
In case you haven’t noticed yet, The Peaceful Dragon operates on a different model. We are content to
have a much smaller student body, but one whose students attend regularly and for a long duration.
Most of our students make it to classes at least two to three times per week, and the majority of them
continue their training year after year. In fact we have many students who have trained at The Peaceful
Dragon for over ten years, and several that have trained here for the nearly twenty years we’ve been
open.
If you fail to show up for more than a week or two, our staff is usually calling or emailing you to make
sure everything is okay with you. We are not a gym – we are a school teaching the traditional arts of
kung fu, tai chi, yoga and meditation. As a school, we’re only successful if our students are successful in
reaching their goals, and our students can only be successful if they are coming here regularly and
training.
I’m sure there are good health clubs that take care of their members and have good show-up and
renewal rates. But the statistics don’t lie – the majority not only have poor attendance rates, but are
actually built on a model that demands poor attendance.
We welcome your attendance, and contrary to the norm, We Really Are Glad When You Show Up!
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“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Woody Allen
Upcoming Events
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Begins
Led by Our Director of Yoga Studies, Mara Healy,
Right Here at The Peaceful Dragon
Friday-Sunday, September 2-4
The training group meets each weekend for a total of 9 weekends. Each weekend
is a 20 hour commitment with reading assignments, guided asana practices,
lecture, discussions, and detailed explanations on how to both deepen your
personal yoga practice while also laying the foundation for being a skillful yoga
teacher. You do not have to want to teach in order to join the program! Check
the yoga page for the weekend dates and more information.
Universal Yoga Sequencing Practicum and Quarterly Workshop
with Yogini Mara Healy, assisted by Yogi James Yancey
Friday-Sunday, September 16-18
Learn how to organize and perfect the panorama of your asana and vinyasa practice on the
mat. This weekend workshop will help you create sequencing strategies that expand your
understanding of a wide variety of asana pairs for legs, arms and spine while you use
vinyasas and turns on the mat as the creative elements in practice. You will learn the
fundamental underpinnings and rules of sequencing. You will be able to synthesize the wide
variety of options in yoga to construct consistently effective practices for beginners and
advanced practitioners alike.
$130/person Full Weekend September 16th-18th
Saturday Afternoon, September 17th, 1-5pm is free for all Peaceful Dragon students as the
Quarterly Yoga Workshop
Please register at the front counter by Wednesday, September 14th.
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Adult Block A Promotional Testing
Saturday, September 17, 11am
Makeup Day Wednesday, September 28, 6:30pm
Good luck to all of our testing adults. Please fill out your Testing
Application no later than one week before your chosen testing date.
They are available at the front counter.
Quarterly Cleanup and Fall Landscaping Day
Saturday, September 24, 9am-2pm
Please join us as we work to make our school sparkle. Come in for 5 minutes before
or after class or come in for the whole day. We appreciate any and all help.
Plan Now for Our Mountain Tai Chi Retreat This September
This Year Space is VERY limited for this popular event, so it’s
first come first served for reservations!
Friday-Sunday, September 30th-October 2nd
Relax and rejuvenate while enjoying intensive instruction and practice in the Chinese arts of tai chi and
pakua, complemented with sessions of qigong, Zen meditation and yoga. Led by Master Eric Sbarge,
director and head instructor of The Peaceful Dragon in Charlotte, NC, the retreat will be held at the
beautiful YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC, just 10 minutes from Asheville. Suited for
beginners or advanced practitioners, from teens to senior citizens, the retreat includes all instruction,
comfortable lodging, and all meals except for Saturday evening when you’ll have free time to explore
downtown Asheville or simply relax on your own in the wooded mountains with hundreds of acres and
many beautiful vistas and trails.
We have a limited number of rooms available, register early!
Double occupancy: $625 public; $500 for Peaceful Dragon and affiliated schools’ students AND their
family members! (We will gladly assign you a roommate if you wish).
Single occupancy: $745 public; $620 for Peaceful Dragon and affiliated schools’ students or family
members.
A non-refundable 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot. Full payment must be received no later
than September 20th.
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Our complete 2016 Special Events Calendar is at
http://thepeacefuldragon.com/specialevents.shtml.
Mark your planning calendar now!
If you are not a current student of The Peaceful Dragon, there are many ways to
improve your mind, body and spirit through the programs available at The
Peaceful Dragon. Visit www.ThePeacefulDragon.com and click on Adult Classes
or Children’s Classes. You can then register for a Free Semi-Private, NoObligation Introductory Class and an Introductory Tour.
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
6th
9th
11th
14th
14th
16th
19th
19th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
24th
26th
26th
28th
30th
Wayne Smith
Kimberly Gerace-Mason
Sheryl Meyer
William McLean
Kaitlyn Kelleher
Aaron Nicely
Hannah Eidsness
Ryan Hoellein
George Lu
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Amelia Lenke
Tim Starnes
Marcia Ilardo
Alexander Kelly
Katherine Snider
Henry Fox
Leonard Roberts
Nancy Darden
Monthly Classes, Seminars
and Discussion Groups
Yoga Seminar – Thursday, September 1, 6:30-8:30pm
Topic: YIN Yoga - the perfect complement to Kung Fu's Yang Energy
Presented by Yogini Mara Healy.
Open to all teens and adults: FREE for Peaceful Dragon students, $29 for guests.
Note: There will be no regular yoga classes on the evenings of the monthly yoga seminars.
Jr. Mastery Program Seminar – Saturday, September 3, 12-1pm
Topic: Positive Peer Pressure vs. Negative Peer Pressure
Open only to Junior Mastery Program students.
Mastery Roundtable Discussion – Tuesday, September 6, 8-9pm
Topic: Practical Guidelines from the Tai Chi Classics
Open only to Mastery Program students.
Lecture and Discussion – Thursday, September 15, 8pm
Topic: Vitamins, Herbs, and Nutritional Supplements – Are They Beneficial?
Presented by Master Eric Sbarge.
Open to all adult and teen students.
Future Instructors – Saturday, September 24, 11am
Open only to Junior Mastery Program students.
Equipment Needed for Classes



Adults
Shaolin
none
Tai Chi
¾ Staff
Kids
4-12 year olds:
White Sash and Above:
Full Sparring Equipment
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“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to
live forever.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Peaceful Dragon School News
Congrats to our New Junior Black Sash Students
Congratulations to Aaliyah Perkins, Aiden Hanger, and Tanusree Chepuri on passing their Jr. Black Sash
Test. These three students have worked hard for 5 years to reach this point! Keep up the good work!
Send Us Your Event Photos or Short Video Clips
If you get some nice shots of Peaceful Dragon events please send them to
[email protected] for display in our newsletter, social media pages and
our new upcoming lobby-area TV!
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Did You Know…
 The Peaceful Dragon was built from the ground up mainly with the kind and
generous labor of student volunteers?
 Stress management is the number one reason adults join The Peaceful Dragon,
and tai chi is the most popular program at The Peaceful Dragon?
 Statistically, martial arts training has fewer injuries than basketball, football or
baseball?
Children’s Program News
A Message from Mr. George
Master Park is one of the top Pa Kua kung fu masters in the world. I was fortunate to attend a few of
his workshops. He talked about when practicing our forms, students need to understand the variations
of intensity. High stance is for mobility and application; you can step around quickly for quick attack or
defense. Mid stance is for moving chi; the middle point between mobility and rigidity. Finally the
Deep stance is for improvement of flexibility, strength, and balance. Years later, I hear the same
principle in Yoga.
If the young students want to just maintain their skills, but not progressing to a higher level, most will
practice in high or mid stances. However, when the young student practices in deep and low stances,
even just for a 20 seconds, that's where the magic of kung fu begins. The refinement of higher skill
comes from repeated practice. Finding that internal motivation and having the “I can do this” attitude
is important. As the old Chinese proverb: Eat bitter then taste the sweet.
Powerful Words
This month’s Powerful Word is Positive Attitude! Positive Attitude means having an optimistic way of
thinking, feeling and acting in the face of everyday challenges. Dr. Robyn’s letter to the parents
includes tips for improving your child’s attitude at school and in life.
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Student of the Month Recognition
Adult Student of the Month— Aiden Hanger
1st runner up— Austin Shields
2nd runner up— Katherine Snider
Aiden has shown perseverance in his training since being in the kids
program through joining the teens and adults classes. He’s worked hard
and shown great example of pushing to the limit.
Child Student of the Month— Tanusree Chepuri
1st runner up— Zeke Steele
2nd runner up— Addison Harmon
Tanusree has consistently worked hard in class. She’s recently set a good example for her junior
classmates by completing her Junior Black Sash Test.
New Students and Student Promotions
Congratulations to all of our new students!
Tai Chi: Fan Soo
Bryan Tan
Linda Cochran
Ismanie Elmore
Jules Zoen
Caroline Potter
Jorge Torres
Kung Fu: Sam Chew
Andrea Chew
Young Dragon: Summer Tan
Ah’Mauri Kiser
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Disciple’s Forum
And It Came to Pass
By Lao Shr Matt Lail
A young county preacher, subject to the distractions of youth, once failed to properly prepare for his
Sunday sermon. To fill in the time, he asked the congregation to stand up and quote their favorite
verses from the Bible. After someone had quoted the required John 3:16 and several of the Psalms, an
old member of the congregation with a reputation for being a little simple-minded stood up.
“Preacher,” he said. “My favorite verse in the Bible is this: ‘And it came to pass.’”
The congregation snickered a little and the preacher said, “Inspirational, but I think you are taking that
verse out of context.”
The old man replied, “I don’t know what context is, but I know whatever happens will eventually pass,
it says so right there in the Bible. It is my favorite verse because when life gets tough, I know it will
eventually pass.”
Growing up as a Southern Baptist, the ideas of emptiness and impermanence we typically associate
with Buddhism were not stressed and, if articulated, would have likely been met with resistance. The
idea of impermanence, however, is central to the teachings attributed to Jesus, as well as Hinduism
and Taoism. The idea that all phenomenon, things, and situations change and pass away has been
considered as wisdom in every religious and spiritual tradition I have encountered over the years.
When we are young everything seems so serious. The time before summer vacation seems to never
end. Sometimes we wish that it was time for our birthday party, or that school was out for the
summer, or that we were old enough to drive, date, drink, etc. Other times things come to an end and
we feel regret because we don’t want summer vacation, our first school dance, or that wonderful meal
to be over.
The fact is everything ends whether we label it as good or bad; whether we can’t wait for it to end or
want it to last forever. When things are gone, they are gone. Holding on to the past causes suffering
and detracts from the short time we have in this life. Nothing is permanent. If you believe you are a
permanent thing think back to the person you were at 10 years old. What were your dreams, beliefs,
habits, hobbies? What was the focus of your life, the things that made you tick? Ask those same
questions of your 15 year old self. How about 25 or 35? You will see that the things you think make
your identity change. Things change. Things that once defined you fall away and disappear.
Mediation is the key to not only understanding this but gaining direct experience of it. We are around
half way through the second 10 week cycle of the meditation course. I hope all students will consider
joining the next cycle. As with all the arts we teach at the Peaceful Dragon, meditation requires
practice and consistency to achieve results. Your problems won’t vanish in a puff of light and smoke
the first time you settle on your cushion, but if you stick with it, you, like the man in the parable above,
will see that whatever you will encountered in this life, it will come to pass.
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Getting to Know This Month’s Disciple
Each month, we will be asking our Disciple’s Forum writer to answer a few questions. Here’s this
month’s Disciple’s questions and answers:
What do you do in your free time?
Martial arts, duh. I also like walking, gardening etc.
What type of music do you listen to?
Lots of Desi house, and deep house, with an occasional smattering of gangster rap.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
Master of the Afternoon Nap.
What would I find in your fridge right now?
Beer, cheese, and lots of pickled vegetables (mostly cabbage).
If you won the lottery, what business would you open?
Probably something nonprofit, something to do with cats?
Students Ask Master Sbarge
Question: I really enjoy my classes once I get here, but I’m just so busy that it’s hard for me to get here
regularly. What should I do?
Answer: I’ll remind you of the Zen adage: If you’re too busy to meditate 20 minutes a day, then you
need to meditate an hour a day.
Mission Statement for The Peaceful Dragon
Our mission is to help each of our students reach his or her fullest potential for physical, mental and
spiritual development through the teaching of traditional Asian health arts and martial arts. We
accomplish this by offering the most authentic and effective curriculum, by providing the best
possible service to our students and their families, and by maintaining a warm and caring family
environment in which every student, guest, and staff member is treated with respect, dignity and
love.
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Classifieds
Your ad could be here! Text and
graphics, a scan of your
business card, or artwork you
submit. The cost is $5 for
students, $10 for the public.
Send your copy to
[email protected].
Pay at the front counter.
George runs two social clubs in
Charlotte through Meetup.com:
http://www.meetup.com/North-CarolinaMountain-Biking/
http://www.meetup.com/Charlotte-PoolShootin-Fun-Meetup/
Mountain biking, shooting pool, hiking,
trying out new restaurants or cruising to
the Bahamas!
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