Across The Pond

When I first met Tina Wells in April 2016, I had no idea that her introduction to T’ai Chi Chih and her intention to find new teachers would lead me to Philadelphia in 2018. I started attending Tina’s classes in her lovely garden studio near Oxford, England, and got hooked. TCC was the missing link in my spiritual development. It energised me and helped me maintain focus.

So it was with excitement that Lesley Nell and I, despite a major blizzard, slipped out of Heathrow and arrived in Philadelphia on March 1. The next day Philadelphia experienced its own snowy weather and 400 flights were cancelled. I’m sure our visualisation and positive energy projections worked; we were meant to get to our accreditation.

The course began on Sunday evening when we met Daniel and our fellow students. It was a mixed and diverse group. We shared our histories, began to practise together and were supported with feedback from teachers who joined us. Key refinements were about bending the rear knee when coming back and a softer, slower, smoother flow. Daniel’s direction regarding the weight shift in the feet was helpful and I continue to work on this every time I practice. Rocking Motion has always proved challenging, and I must continually work to refine this so that it feels right. The feedback and work led to a determination to continue to surrender and allow the Chi to flow and my practice to develop.

The overwhelming surprise? We are now connected to this amazing TCC community. Wherever I go I can probably pick up the phone to find a like-minded individual. My favourite kind of travel is getting to know people in the areas I’m visiting.

That Lesley and I can join Tina, Tracy and Jerry Jonnson to spread TCC in the UK is so fantastic. Three classes start in April to get into the swing straight away.