A Journey with T’ai Chi Chih

T’ai Chi Chih and I met in old Mexico at Rio Caliente Health Spa 14 years ago. Catherine Elber came there during a Yoga workshop to demonstrate T’ai Chi Chih. I took a few private lessons with her at that time. It was study on my own until 1981 or 1982. (I do not have my records here in New Zealand so cannot give exact dates.) The next step was to take private lessons from Richard Brier at Ojai, CA. Here I first met Justin Stone and purchased his yellow book of T’ai Chi Chih. Again I practiced alone for a year or so.

Step number three was when six of us met in Denver, CO at Steve and Lia Ridley’s for the T’ai Chi Chih Teacher’s Training Course. The intensive week long course was finalized on Saturday, May 14, 1983.

This is my seventeenth year at Rio Caliente Health Spa and I have had good classes with much interest there when I taught after being accredited to teach. There is no extra charge for the T’ai Chi Chih classes to Spa guests. Many guests are curious to see what T’ai Chi is like. Most guests are not there long enough to really become serious students. However, we do have two excellent teachers who have come from these classes, namely, Hannah Hedrick and Betty Comey. The Mexican guests are quite keen to learn and respond quickly. We have a mirrored wall so they can see all the movements quite easily. Many do not speak English, so the mirror is a great tool to use.

One noticeable difference in New Zealand classes is the absence of males. Perhaps one or two in a class of seventeen.

We had a very exciting time on February 12. It was the Chinese Community New Year’s dinner and celebration. I was invited to give a T’ai Chi Chih demonstration. I invited three students to join in the demonstration. It was delightful. The interest was great and all 200 Chinese were quiet. The children were exceptionally well behaved. It was noticed by the three Kiwi students and myself that there was no liquor at this “Chinese Year of the Dog” celebration. Below is a photo taken at the celebration demonstration.

At present four Chinese are enrolled in T’ai Chi Chih classes. I have three two hour classes with forty-eight enrolled. My other two classes on Secrets of Good Health and Well-Being have 32 enrolled.

My desire to help people in every way has kept me learning all the health therapies I am qualified to teach and practice. Love All, Serve All as taught by Sri Sathya Sai Baba with his teachings on Truth, Right Living, Peace, Love and Non-violence keep me motivated to love all and serve all.

*Theda lives in New Zealand half the year and receives mail in Medford, OK the other half. During September and October she teaches T’ai Chi Chih six days a week in Guadalajara, Mexico.