Connections: Nourishing, Rooting & Blooming

Editor’s Note: Pauline addressed the major questions that were discussed at various sessions throughout the conference.

How do I nourish my T’ai Chi Chih practice?

• Believe it or not, I do this by actually being faithful to my own daily practice, apart from my practice while teaching.

• I choose different locations such as beautiful places in nature as an added treat.

• I use music such as Justin Stone’s compositions or other melodies that give more depth and meaning, while enhancing the flow of movements.

• I find that my Seijaku practice helps me to appreciate and understand even more the meaning of softness in TCC.

How do I ground?

• I ground by doing Rocking Motion.

• It helps me visualize my whole body connecting down to the earth through my feet, as if taking root into the ground.

• I walk barefoot on the moist green grass.

• I feel the bottoms of my feet and how the carpet, floor and earth feels beneath them.

• I breathe, then I breathe again. I breathe gently. I breathe yet again. I just keep breathing.

How do I flow from the center?

• I practice TCC seated down, to feel my tan t’ien.

• I feel the bottoms of my feet, especially the Hsu or bubbling springs, which connects me to my tan t’ien.

How do I spot common student mistakes and how do I correct them?

• I am present. I observe. I look. I listen.

• I address common mistakes to the whole group. I show them first how not to do the movement, and then I follow by how to do it correctly. Then, I help particular students one-on-one, as needed and according to their readiness to learn.

What does the spiritual side of TCC mean to me?

• Being true to that which I am. Manifesting and being who and what I am. Then, in truth, assisting others in finding that which they are, so they can manifest who and what they truly are.

What does “going forth to bloom” mean to me?

• Allowing the Chi to keep growing and flowing in and through me.

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