Students and teachers find value in attending TCC Intensive in Illinois

Midwestern hospitality bloomed Tuesday night at the home of Bobbie Weichman. Local students brought deliciously prepared food to share with the Intensive attendees that came from Florida, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, California, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Thru the combination of the potluck dinner, sharing conversations, and Pam’s discussion on the Intensive, the attendees came together, feeling more relaxed and finding new friends. A ceremony of sharing the chi, and bringing all into the circle concluded the first evening. The stage was set.

The first day began with Pam discussing exceptions and letting go of them, encouraging us at the very beginning to relax, flow from the center, and to set our intentions for the Intensive and asking each student and teacher to let go, empty their cup of expectations, high or low, of limiting thoughts, and restrictions holding them back. The days seemed to fly by — principles being applied, adjustments made, letting go of old habit energies, meeting new mistakes, and reviewing our intentions.

Lectures, group practice and full practices filled the days, as each absorbed what they could to improve their individual practice, the empty cup of the first day slowly filling with new understanding of the flowing of the T’ai Chi Chih discipline.

A special thank you to Roberta Taggart and Anne Perkins for arriving very early each morning. They offered extra help and assistance to the attendees, with each person receiving assistance with what they needed. Receiving gentle instructions that they incorporated into their new understanding of their practice. The attendees loved this time.

I truly enjoyed hosting the second Intensive — meeting new friends first by email and by phone, then in person at the Intensive. Thank you all for the delight you brought to this gathering of serious T’ai Chi Chih practitioners. It felt as if each attendee left with a new blossoming of their practice, as a bud — slowly opening to become full and then to become a bud again. May all of you continue to blossom anew.

Attendee Comments:

The purpose of the Intensive was to enhance the Intrinsic Energy Flow. It did!

– Gregory Robert Buss

This experience was joyful. Being in a loving, supported, and nonjudgmental environment is most gratifying. All serious students, especially those aspiring to be teachers, will benefit greatly from experiencing an intensive. You will come to know your practice on a much deeper level and discover many aspects of T’ai Chi Chih practice that were always there but now they are blossoming. This was a great experience. Simply Great!

– Bob Steffen

This intensive deepened my practice. Definitely going to a different level. I also came to see my attachment to being a teacher. I came to see that as different from my desire to be a teacher. Perhaps what I think is lifting me up is actually holding me down. What I cling to — thinking it makes me look good or makes me right or makes me better than others (those poor unfortunates who don’t have my wisdom) — is really keeping me attached when I was created to fly.

– Rita Otis
Student of Sr. Maureen Conroy

I came to the Intensive to deepen and enrich my practice of T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement. I got what I came for — and more! The teachers who participated contributed enormously. It was so enriching to me to have several perspectives and so many role models. Each of the participants warmth and sincerity touched me deeply. Donna McElhose was the ultimate host — from the first e-mail contact to the conclusion.

– Ann Marie Wyrsch
Student of Kathy Vieth Albers

I really enjoyed these three-and-a-half days of intensive work, thought provoking lectures and sharing in the principles of T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement. I am coming away with a better understanding of Yin & Yang and where it is (and is not) in my TCC movements. I better understand how the TCC movements are really a small part (or not the total picture) of what TCC Joy Thru Movement is all about, i.e. the spiritual aspect — letting go, Zen, the empty cup. I think Pam Towne is a lovely person, and embodies the TCC spirit (as does my teacher, Donna McElhose). Donna did a great job preparing us for the intensive and I am still amazed at just how much I have received from this workshop. I totally recommend this to other serious students of the TCC form. Roberta Taggart has also been a wonderful addition and helper as a TCC teacher, and I’ve enjoyed her suggestions and tips/ideas as well.

The spirt of nonjudgement has helped me overcome some of my over self-criticism to allow for greater advance. I am excited to continue my self-practice as I have found greater awareness of Chi.

I think this intensive is necessary for teacher training. Keep up the good work!

– Lisa Jacobs
Student of Donna McElhose

The four day intensive in Gurnee was a joyous experience. Donna and her students were welcoming hosts. All of the attendees were generous and caring (so nice to know we all share the same journey). The assisting teachers were available and willing to help us work through any and all issues. The T’ai Chi Chih community is truly blessed to have Pam as a teacher trainer. Her joy is contagious and her direction and guidance much appreciated. I am so grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to others.

– Carol Raasch
Former Student of Sr. Merrie Frances Seidl

I think that every serious student or teacher should attend an Intensive to renew their form and increase their knowledge.

– Judy Pritchett

My first thought was an “ego” thought, but an important one — I survived the Four-Day Intensive quite well having Fibromyalgia. It was such a pleasure to meet serious TCC students and teachers from different parts of the country. We built a special bond while learning new things about ourselves and our practice. I would like to see more small group work with teachers. I learned and grew the most in those sessions. Problems could be caught and worked on immediately. I especially would like to thank teachers Roberta, Donna, and Anne for getting up early to work with us before the regular session started. Thank you to Pam for sharing her knowledge of the TCC form. A big thank you to Donna for sponsoring this Intensive work shop!

– Bobbie Weichman
Student of Donna McElhose

Value of this Intensive is very high. It allowed me to discover my defaults and create the program for improvement.

I would like to thank all teachers and students for sharing their experiences, and giving me the opportunity to share mine. Special thanks to Pam for not just observing and correcting my mistakes, but for showing how to teach: with patience, integrity, and Teh — inner sincerity.

– Alla Meerson
Student of Robin Kidd

I enjoyed the community of people I met here. It gave me a better broader view of techniques, and variations of abilities. I sincerely hope the organization starts requiring CEU’s and/or recertification in the near future to encourage all teachers to be on the same level plane. This will greatly help in achieving consistency around the country between teachers. If you are able to grow to this level at this juncture, the teachers will be needing a teaching or teachers guide video to assist them growing in their isolated area of the country and prepare for recertification process down the road. Thank you for this community that continues to evolve.

– Andrea Skillman
Student of Donna McElhose

I would highly recommend to others — both teachers and students — that they take part in an Intensive. As a teacher, I know it has helped me deepen my practice and my life. I also think it was good practice to the students being in a somewhat pressured situation before going to a teacher training. I wish there was some way to make it a little more relaxed, but I guess that is what retreats are for. And I am left wondering — IS THE BAR TOO HIGH? I still have to get my thought together about that question.

– Robin Kidd

Caring environment — at the very beginning when working with a partner to be a “loving Mirror” and this set the tone of the whole Intensive — the free giving and receiving of helpful and honest comments to one another, in a supportive community.

I loved Pam’s emphasis on finding three major points to work on in our practice (a practical checklist to take home), something equally important for students and teachers.

I felt that both the students (and certainly I as a teacher) craved even more individual corrections, and would have benefited from more small-group work.

– Anne Perkins

As an experienced teacher attending my first intensive, I found the opportunity to explore basic principles of T’ai Chi Chih [practice] with greater awareness and application, finally feeling the connection of hands, feet and t’an t’ien in a way that gave the term “continuity” a deeper level of understanding/integration.

– Roberta Taggart

Invaluable! I don’t know how anyone could do teacher training without the intensive. I received help, direction and gentle correction that I could not have gotten anywhere else. I would recommend it to all serious students.

– Lyn Majchrzak
Former Student of Sr. Merrie Frances Seidl