T’ai Chi Chih Spiritually Searching

I attended my first T’ai Chi Chih class when my children were small. It was offered through the Gurnee Park District – an evening course held in a beautiful, large, wood-framed room. I needed to try something new, something different, something that motivated and excited me (as many stay-at-home parents, working parents and retired folks do). When teaching, we must let our TCC classes be that to our students, as my first TCC class was to me. Today, perhaps because of that beautiful wood-framed room, I seek out spiritual spaces to teach, practice, share, give, live. 

Before my TCC immersion-process began, I had not heard of the Tao, or yin and yang, but once I did, I was hooked. This energy-work expanded and continues to expand the way I see the world. Indeed, the way I understand the world, and each new practice and class I teach, expands this spiritual understanding. 

My ballet background helped me learn the TCC movements, or so my ego thought. But actually, it took years to undo what I incorrectly assimilated from ballet into my TCC practice. The movements were correct, but my understanding of how to move would take years and much dedication to fix.

What I’ve learned though practice and teaching is that how to move is so much more important than the movement itself. In TCC, as well as ballet, it is a question of flow. The most brilliant technicians can be the most boring dancers, whereas a student of lesser abilities can bring an energy to the stage that people will not only notice and enjoy, but will also respond to in very real and positive ways. 

Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest, because, well, they’re simple. They are clean, pure, with no strings attached – and with this elevation comes crystal-clear intent, which makes understanding easier because it’s right there to see. It’s in view. It’s accessible. It’s beautiful and ego-free. 

Ed Altman, the former head of TCC and the accrediting teacher during my training, was very specific in his instructions to keep our teaching focused exclusively on Justin Stone’s teaching. I brought in fascinating Zen books, but Ed was having none of it. Keep it simple; keep it pure; keep it TCC.

Ed was principled, disciplined and focused; I was captivated. The more I learned, the greater became my curiosity. I can only imagine that Justin’s path perhaps felt similar when he sought something more – different experiences and mentors, a different and spiritually-based existence.

Justin wrote and spoke about much of his life’s work, which is published through Good Karma Publishing. I confess that it took several starts to read Abandon Hope. The title itself is scary, right? It ran contradictory to my parochial school education in which a good student should be humble, obedient and even submissive perhaps, respecting elders and teachers. Isn’t that how I was raised? However, TCC’s energy-work is empowering. It led me from my past and into an exciting future.

Before beginning my TCC journey, I attended the National Academy of Arts, a performing arts high school in Champaign, Illinois. It was a six-hour drive from home, which was rather scary for a high school student in a competitive environment. I received a full scholarship and incredible instruction. I then attended Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and was perhaps attracted to its small community. 

I married outside my Roman Catholic faith, much to the chagrin of my parents, and into Reform Judaism. Fortunately, my fiancée and I met a very interesting Rabbi who changed my view on organized religion and challenged my thinking. I was intrigued and felt my upbringing expanding. I would feel this again, years later, when I began my TCC journey. 

What I discovered, and continue to discover, is that life is about learning, and how we assimilate this learning. It’s about expansion, evolution, growth and change. However, many fear what is different, what is new. Sometimes, I resist it, too, though not for long; my TCC practice won’t allow it.  My TCC journey continues to expand my horizons, enabling me to embrace change, to become what I’m certain I’m here to become. 

My counsel to my students? Trust the Tao, and fear it not. This is easier said than done, but we must allow ourselves and our students that new beginning we are seeking. What I have discovered through my practice is that our passageway to that new beginning is TCC – both its movements and its philosophy.