Letters From Teachers: Comments on Teacher Conference

Comments on Teacher Conference

The following are some insights/concerns regarding the next T’ai Chi Chih teacher’s conference.

1) An ideal format will balance inner development with outer expression. We are there as teachers, not just advanced T’ai Chi Chih students. This means dealing with not only deepening our understanding and practice of T’ai Chi Chih, but how to bring T’ai Chi Chih to more people, as well. I, for one, would greatly enjoy a follow-up next year to this year’s vision-building; and a re-introduction of sharing hints for teaching the various movements, as at the last Vallombrosa conference.

2) I am personally disappointed that we’re heading back to Vallombrosa, even though I enjoyed the last conference there. It feels to me like a retreat to the past, and back behind closed doors. T’ai Chi Chih is both intensely personal and universal. It honors the past and ancient oriental roots, but evolved for people actively involved in the western world: a forward-looking, open society. We grow from our honored roots in the past, but we are not meant to stay buried with them! T’ai Chi Chih will soon be forced to leave Vallombrosa by the sheer numbers of teachers who will want to participate in the conferences–the time is now to begin to find creative, satisfying alternatives to a secluded retreat. T’ai Chi Chih in Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza was one of the most powerful aspects of our whole 1989 conference. Clearly we must grow from that point.

Chi!

– Therese Goetz