Teacher News (June 1992)

Theda Gillespie says: Life is great here in Napier, New Zealand. We are just entering our fall season. Five hundred thousand boxes of fresh picked apples leave this weekend (March 5) by ship. I am busy with T’ai Chi Chih and other meditation classes. This year I teach for the Community Education staff at Colenso High school–three classes a week, 2 hours; plus a class of “60 & up” club. Will look forward to seeing you in July!

Meara Joy Rybczyk, Milton, VT sends “Greetings from the Northeast Kingdom–happy Spring–we saw our first robins today! It’s quite a wondrous sight–what a difference from Santa Cruz, CA. My classes are doing well–growing and expanding. Much love and chi!

Barbara Riley, graduate of the June ’91 accreditation course in Alameda, CA, has begun to teach T’ai Chi Chih to some of her yoga friends. Though not advertising to the general public, she happily includes referred students in her class which meets in the garden at her Orinda home.

Chris McLain writes: The opportunities have been magnificent when presenting TCC for Medical Staffs. Especially when the futurists and planners in the hospital say, “Chris, hang in there with your practice! In the next decade we are going to be having a floor for the healing arts! Visualization, movement, therapeutic touch etc, etc.” So! T’ai Chi Chih as I offer it to the nursing community helps them to stay grounded, centered and clear when they offer healing touch. To unruffle the energy and facilitate relaxation, one’s own energy needs to be unfettered and free of ego–open to the intentionality of healing. I’ve presented several times at St. Luke Hospital’s Meritcare and other area hospitals in the Fargo, ND area. I am preparing an inservice to offer to nurses in labor and delivery to sharpen their skills and assist the high touch (juxtaposed to high tech) in the one hospital unit where the procedures are NATURAL! Birthing is Natural.

Donna Shaffer, San Jose shares this: I was asked to work with Apple Developer Events-Apple Computer, in March for a special event held in Sunnyvale, CA. The theme had an oriental flavor and 20 software developers from the US, UK and Japan were in attendance. As part of the theme, each morning was begun with 30 minutes of T’ai Chi Chih done beside an outdoor pool. Over the four days, everyone was able to learn a few TCC movements well enough to enable them to focus each day and to take home with them for daily use.

Dorcas Heuners and Paula Arnold presented T’ai Chi Chih in connection with a Sacred Dance Guild workshop on May 9 in Medina, MN. The workshop was entitled “The Spirit Moves Where it Wills…an ecumenical, intercultural festival celebrating movement and spirituality.” The brochure advertising the event was beautifully done with brush stokes symbolizing the spirit movement. Paula also did an in-service for an Activity Professionals Group in March in St. Paul, MN using the in-service as a National/Continuing Educational credit for Activity Professionals.

More Teacher News

Steve Ridley offers a Spiritual Renewal Night as an opportunity for T’ai Chi Chih practice and sitting Meditation in a supportive environment.

All are welcome to attend Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm in Denver. The purpose of this involvement is to provide new as well as experienced practitioners a format for balanced usage of these evolutionary methods.

Ellen Greyson, Santa Barbara writes:

Even tho’ I have not been able to teach T’ai Chi Chih very much during the past year, I do try to live by T’ai Chi principles. As “Extremes” are my way of Life, I really need the balance that comes from TCC, and I know that my practice has helped me through some recent changes.

The most wonderful thing has been happening to me over the course of the last year, and it’s not easy to explain in just a few words. I feel as tho’ I have a “new body”, which has been freed of many of the pains I’ve suffered in the various joints, knees, ankles, back, shoulders, etc. for years. In combination with some intense chiropractic treatments and the flowing of the “Chi” through my (effortless) efforts, I’ve been able to realign “everything” and often feel “no pain.” This has helped my whole life in every aspect including strengthening my relationship with my husband, helping me perform my job, and increasing my enjoyment with my loving and faithful “puppies” who seem to instinctively be “T’ai Chi Masters”.

Mara Carrico of Encinitas, CA is teaching three classes a week (one each, am, afternoon and pm) at a Shiley Sports & Health Center in LaJolla, CA. She also schedules T’ai Chi and other classes at Rancho LaPuerta Spa in Tecate, Mexico.

Betty Comey, Arlington, MA: As I teach and practice TCC I often think of the weeds in my garden. The seeds, sown so easily, nurtured by time and nature spreading in such a natural way ….like weeds! And it seems as tho’ there are seeds of TCC sprouting all about me. One has only to plant the first of the seeds and it spreads…responding to nature…like weeds! I returned from six weeks of teaching at Rio Caliente in Guadalajara, Mexico. The guests were most receptive to TCC and it was such a pleasure beginning each day with our practice in the valley of the hot river. Since returning home I have resumed teaching TCC/Movement/Body Awareness to students enrolled in a two year program at Dr. Ben Benjamin’s Muscular Therapy Institute. I also have a series of classes for a health club in Concord, Mass. and am teaching TCC for a seminar of 85 participants in a week long program sponsored by The Learning Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A week ago I went to Hartford, CT to give a talk/demonstration to the women’s group of the Unitarian Universalist Church and have a date to do a similar program for a nearby Oriental Health Center. There are requests for private lessons or courses that I have yet to work into my garden….er….my schedule! And so….from the initial planting the work and the practise spreads.