Inspecting job sites for T’ai Chi Chih classes

T’ai Chi Chih Teachers dream of teaching classes in an ideal setting: a quiet, well-ventilated room, good accessibility from the street, a table and chairs, and space to move. A fireplace and a view would be the icing on the cake. Few of us are so blessed. When establishing a new TCC class, it is wise to inspect the “job site” before classes begin. Never, never assume that the room will be adequate for the needs of the class. This I have learned from hard experience.

Years ago, when I first started teaching TCC, I taught at the SL Library. Naturally, I expected to have a nice room with plenty of space, very accessible to the public. I was shocked to find that the small room reserved for TCC was a smoker’s haven on the 2nd floor. The curtains, rug and chairs reeked of smoke. We couldn’t breathe. Bad news!

We were eventually moved to another room, a larger one, on the main floor. We were pleased until we met there and found the floor covering was the carpet from Hell: huge geometric patterns with loud obnoxious colors that literally assaulted our eyes. It made us nauseated and dizzy. Focusing on the soles of the feet was no help. So a parquet dance floor was installed at one end of the room. That was better for awhile.

The following year, our TCC class was moved to an elementary school library. Ah, windows, no smoke, and soft neutral carpet. But, there was yet another drawback. We had to move and rearrange all the furniture every time we met for class. The understanding was that we would “return the room to the exact way it was before class.” Even members of a labor union would not be happy to have to move the furniture as often and precisely as we did.

The next location selected for TCC class was a multi-purpose room at another school. It was a nice big space with windows, tables and chairs, and an old furnace. Problems, you ask? Yes!

The floors were often dirty with candy wrappers, gum, pizza sauce, and the dirt from 500 kids. Then the custodian quit and things got worse. No chairs set up ahead of time, no lights outside the building for safety, a bad furnace that banged when turned on, and, oh yes, birds nesting in the upper windows. (I am teaching my last TCC class of the year at this location next week.)

In looking for other places to offer TCC, I was told that an exclusive country club was looking for a T’ai Chi teacher. I had visions of a fabulous room overlooking the green hills of a golf course, nestled among huge trees in a lovely neighborhood. I followed up on the contact and arranged to meet the Sports Director at the Club.

In viewing the room set aside for Yoga and Tai Chi, I was stunned by what I saw. A huge cavernous room made for racquetball or storage. No windows, not one! And, of course, no natural light! There was only ONE door with no alternate exit, a definite safety issue in case of fire. No chairs, no table, just the overpowering smell of sweaty bodies from former classes, and lingering paint fumes. Oh yes, the room had a 3-way echo that I heard as I stood there and said, “Oh, my!”

Having a sense of humor helps in situations like this. I dubbed it “Cell block 7” in my mind, and politely asked if there was any other room available. A second choice was the Children’s Center by the pool and Pro Shop, with lovely carpet and view. Drawbacks itemized by the Director were the loud lawnmowers that were used to groom the golf greens and availability of this room in the daytime.

I was not deterred. Children’s toys were no problem, nor the lawnmowers, nor the Pro Golfer’s office adjoining this room. I had dealt with much worse in the past. I knew that once TCC classes started, the positive Chi in the room would outweigh the various problems. At least we could breathe in fresh air and see the green grass, natural elements that would enhance our practice.

My advice to TCC teachers setting up new classes is this: be sure to check out the “job site” before classes convene, hold out for what you want in terms of space, ventilation, and accessibility, and wear a hard hat if birds are nesting in the windows. Remember the Story of The Three Bears… “Not too big, not too small, not too hot, not too cold,” the room should be “just right” for offering the gift of TCC to others.