Corporate T’ai Chi Chih: To Everything There Is a Season

Persistence and patience seem to be the key words when dealing with corporations. It has taken me several seasons to get “in” to a corporation. I began my efforts in Fall of 1984 by talking to someone who knew an administrator at her corporation. At last I secured several demonstration dates in April. These were attended by 35 or so employees. By July 1985 I began teaching eight classes a week at that company. It seems to be who you know that enables you to get your T’ai Chi slipper in the door. Once in the door a demonstration in the waiting room for the receptionist sometimes gets you in to the personnel manager…sometimes it doesn’t.

The feedback I’ve gotten from my students at corporate/business classes include how much better they feel and how relaxed they are. They certainly miss the class when we do not meet as a group. During my presentaion and the actual class I talk very little, teaching the form and movements for the stress reduction aspects. This allows students to have their own experiences. I simply let the T’ai Chi raise their awareness from within.

As of Fall 1985, there are only a few people attending my classes at the corporation. The situation is a bit tenuous due to management changes at this corporation. I am reminded of the Buddhist saying that one must go “slowly, slowly, slowly until you can go fast”. That truly is the way T’ai Chi Chih is spreading in the corporate world. However, I hold in my mind a vision of the workers here being outdoors doing T’ai Chi Chih together in peace and tranquility in the midst of their busy work day…perhaps next Spring!

I will be making more corporate efforts in the New Year. If any teacher can refer me to contacts who might help me in the City, East Bay or even South Bay, please let me know.

– Lucy Hocking
Alameda, CA

P.S. As to the importance of T’ai Chi Chih in a corporate setting, working all day without a break can add to dis-ease, as it did in my case. I came to T’ai Chi Chih after surgery for an operable form of Cancer, and I attribute my healing to T’ai Chi Chih and my work with Attitudinal Healing. I am committed to teaching and living T’ai Chi Chih for the rest of my life. I once again thank God and Justin for bringing T’ai Chi Chih to our consciousness.