And still deeper we go! 27 teachers take Seijaku training

Once again T’ai Chi Chih teachers gathered together among the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California. This time it was for an amazing Seijaku Teacher Training. Forty-seven teachers assembled from all around the country.

Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center, run by the Salvation Army, proved to be an excellent location for our training. Nineteen auditors, including teacher trainers Sandy McAlister and Pam Towne, joined with 27 teachers who were seeking Seijaku teacher certification. Ed Altman led us skillfully through what was to be his final Seijaku training. His enthusiasm was quite apparent for what he feels is “Justin’s greatest contribution.”

“This is a mystery, a great mystery,” he proffered as we explored Seijaku together. We also went through the Maximum Chi Program and the overall result was, as one participant put it, that we were “propelled into new territory.”

The tone of the three-day weekend was a happy one as Ed invited us to “yield to the flow of chi.”

“Feel that wave of softness flow through the body” and be “absolutely soft,” he said. As first-timer Barbara Lippert practiced Seijaku’s cycle of moving from softness through resistance, and back to softness, she shared her insight that “the pain is in holding on.” Learning to move through resistance helped us to explore and expand the boundaries of our softness. Ed explained that the softness is the foundation upon which the resistance is built and suggested that it is in the softness that we should linger. His guidance brought us to the joy of truly “letting go.” Even though we were all very aware that this marked the coming end of Ed’s teacher training career, it was the joy of the experience in which we chose to linger.

Lisa Thorburn who came for certification said, “The weekend was all that I hoped it would be. The training was the most intense experience of my life and at the same time the most soothing and relaxing.” Michael Issacs said, “Learning Seijaku will add a very vital aspect to my T’ai Chi Chih practice. I am grateful to Ed for imparting the material in such a clear, instructive and joyous manner!”

Another participant shared, “This was a week of expansion. My practice has already been rejuvenated and I anticipate continued growth as Seijaku becomes a part of my life just as T’ai Chi Chih has.” Auditor Debbie Cole said, “How wonderful it is to rediscover the beauty and power of this practice! Each time I audit, I shave off more and more of the excess in my practice.” As first timer Pat Flynn put it, “And still deeper we go!”

The opportunity to build community and friendships was not passed up by this North to South and East Coast to West Coast group. After long hours of intensely working side by side, mealtimes saw much laughter, discussion and exchange of ideas. We gathered around the lodge fireplace for two lively evenings that were enhanced by popcorn, roasted marshmallows, and a fabulous array of cookies and chocolates. The Bay Area teachers were able to offer their hospitality by taking care of the needs of the out of town travelers. All 21 of the teachers who flew into the area were met by friendly faces at the airport and returned to the airport in the same way.

Auditor Bobbie Anderson summed it up very nicely when she said, “The Seijaku training in California was outstanding. The accommodations and food were excellent. The meeting of new T’ai Chi Chih friends and renewing prior friendships was great fun. The Seijaku training was enlightening and exciting. I am so glad I was able to attend. Ed did a wonderful job!”

It is weekends like this that remind us once again of the joy and privilege of being a part of our phenomenal T’ai Chi Chih community.