Two visions for the future of T’ai Chi Chih

There is a bright future for T’ai Chi Chih…and for those who practice it. I see it improving our quality of life both now and as we mature. The benefits of TCC practice are particularly appealing to seniors who want to be healthy, vigorous & productive. Justin Stone is a living example of the health, serenity, longevity and creativity benefits!

Over the 20 years I’ve been teaching TCC, I’ve found I’m teaching more and more seniors. This is partly because I’m now a senior of 58 years myself, and partly because there are more people over 55 as the “baby boomers” mature. It’s never too late to start practicing TCC, and we get benefits at any age. Yet, I look forward to the time when there are hundreds of thousands…even millions…of people who’ve been doing TCC for 10, 20, 30 years or more!

Like the “Hundredth Monkey” effect, I see us reaching a “critical mass” in terms of the numbers of people practicing TCC regularly…that percent of the population which triggers a transformation in our planetary consciousness…first here in the USA, then around the world…which can bring about peace. I look forward to the time when T’ai Chi Chih is a household “word” and peace prevails on our planet.

My vision for us as TCC teachers is that we get the maximum benefit from our TCC practice. I encourage us all to practice regularly. As we teach more & more classes it’s easy to let personal practice slide. Listen to Prajna, the inherent wisdom of the Chi. Find balance in every area of our lives, between giving and receiving, teaching and practicing TCC. Take care of ourselves, so we give from our overflow rather than from an empty well. Use the advanced tools Justin has given us…Seijaku and the Jing. Know that this is a transformational practice. As the character of the Chi changes, we change. Be open and receptive to the flow of this wonderful CHI!

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By Sandy McAlister, Teacher Trainer

I think of the story that Nancy Adams told about her experience of doing T’ai Chi Chih in a circle and seeing everyone connected to the center of the circle from the Tan Tien.

That gave me the idea of “Connection.” We are all different, with different jobs, family situations, goals, but a common connection of T’ai Chi Chih brings us here and connects us together as a community. Think about that connection. How can we become more conscious of that connection and be more ACTIVE in strengthening that connection?

When we travel to another city, call a teacher there and ask to do a practice with him/her. Ask if they are teaching a class while you are there and if you can attend. Not only do we have an opportunity to learn from each other but we are strengthening our connection.

Our connection in the United States is strong and is gradually spreading out. We have many teachers in Canada and a few in other countries. A new community is building in Italy. It won’t be long before we will be having a teacher training course there.

Whether we travel or not, we can strengthen the T’ai Chi Chih connection with our intent and our hearts. Each time we do our practice we are creating and sending out a vibration. Doing our practice with an open heart and grounded energy allows for the flow of that connection. It is as if there were these invisible threads of T’ai Chi Chih energy emanating from us as we do our practice, reaching out for and like threads, connecting. As those threads of energy spread out into our world, they are felt as peace and love.