A Wonderful Addition: Seijaku Training Follows Conference

For the first time in many years, after the 2005 International T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Conference in Albuquerque, NM 11 students and 14 auditors had the pleasure of attending a Seijaku Teacher Training compassionately and powerfully led by Pam Towne. The Seijaku Training was a wonderful success. Participants moved effortlessly into Seijaku, fortified and deepened by the energy generated during the Conference. Many shared that they discovered a “new level” in understanding their TCC or Seijaku practice. If a Seijaku training is being considered for after the 2006 Minnesota Conference, the only suggestion would be to start the Seijaku training the day after the Conference ends in order to allow some rest and integration time between the two events. Otherwise, the experience for students and auditors alike was tremendously positive. Thank you, all, for your Teh!

Students related the following comments:

“My first thought was how wonderful it’d be to travel once and have both the conference and the Seijaku training. I had some many doubts, though, after the packed-full conference days and I was thinking I’d bitten off more than I could chew. I thought I’d have a really difficult time handling these extra days. However, much to my amazement, it was wonderful. Much of the credit goes to Pam who gave super easy-to-understand instructions, had excellent pacing and movement demonstrations. The guidance, the meditations, everything was simply super! I really did make a good decision to come to Seijaku after the Conference!”

– Donna Tiroly

“I came to this class with very little exposure to Seijaku so just about everything was new. What I had not expected and found a real benefit was the instruction on the Jing and the meditations. Now I have the tools to not just improve my TCC practice but to make broader changes in daily routines. Habits will change.”

– Adrienne

“Seijaku – New student flutterings, curiosity, humble beginnings…will I ever coordinate all of this? Hard…..sooooft. Hard…..soooft. The soft began to flow—WOW! More energy. More ease with T’ai Chi Chih! More to Know with Seijaku.”

– Linda Robinson

“My assumption turned out to be true: There are only two kinds of people. 1) Those who have taken Seijaku Training. 2) Everybody else!”

– Anonymous

“It was 1999, a newly accredited TCC teacher, I came into possession of Justin Stone’s Seijaku Tape. Curious, it went immediately into the machine. One hundred plus plays later I had all of the text in outline form.

The first Seijaku experience was mind-numbing. Thinking it was just another but advanced form of TCC, I did a set of nine. Well, almost a set. At Working the Pully something fully let go and I was flooded with energy. Buzzing with chi in head and upper body, I dropped to my knees, then to my hands and knees. Working to ground, I quickly recovered. There was a new understanding of this form, and a profound respect! Although I knew some of it, training was an absolute necessity.

Six years later, I had the privilege of taking the Seijaku course led by Pam Towne. Her quiet, ethereal demeanor does not allude to her intensity and fervor in learning and teaching TCC and Seijaku. Smiling and speaking slowly, she led the students throughout the most powerful training I have ever experienced. Insights, techniques, experiences, but a demand for correct movement and energy manipulation. Pam is a powerful and dynamic teacher.

My suggestion to all TCC teachers: Take this course! TCC will take on a whole new dimension for you.

I am most grateful”

– Jim Hecker

“Doing T’ai Chi Chih with the Seijaku principle has brought more softness to my TCC practice. Pam gave the example of a hose with a low volume of water vs. a how with a higher volume of water. The high volume of water will show where the hose is defective. So, too, Seijaku shows me the areas where I am not soft.

It also helps define softness. By introducing more conscious yang into the movement, the consciousness of yin is also heightened.”

– Rita Otis

“The Seijaku Training truly took my T’ai Chi Chih to a new level. Pam made it Real. I now for the first time feel as though I have a full understanding of the complexity of the chi. I feel I have moved to a new level, one that I could not even imagine before this training. Thank you, Pam, for awakening within me a new Vital Force.”

– Rich Ashman

Auditors related the following comments:

“Wonderful privilege to be with so many TCC instructors, and sharing in the Seijaku training. We can easily appreciate that a sincere interest in Seijaku practice is being well-seeded. It will be very exciting and gratifying to see this interest continue to blossom!”

– Anonymous

“Auditing once more has made quite a difference in my understanding of Seijaku and of letting go of the resistance. Coming into the practice of Seijaku right after the Conference has let the energy work in a wonderful way. More grounding, freeing of the movements themselves. The group was ready and open to the flow of the energy. The “Facing the Resistance” had a complete meltdown. The softness expressed itself in a different way and was not overwhelmed or drowned by the resistance.”

– Caroline Guilott

“Thursday I arrived back in ABQ for my first TCC Conference and began practicing TCC regularly, faithfully once again in earnest. I was corrected by friends and teachers several times. I took these comments as their concern that TCC be done correctly and that I could improve my experience.

I left one hotel, checked into another and began the Seijaku experience. With the freshness of the Conference still in my memory, auditing the Seijaku was so much easier. My notes from this class plus the notes from (my) teacher training in ’02 were meaningful.

I’m back on the path/the way/the road after having run off the road several months ago when I stopped practicing….”

– Mary Wichman

“Pam is such a soft, encouraging, stable teacher. I appreciated and respected her wealth and depth of knowledge and experience. It was particularly generous of her to share the more intimate information about her life (and how the practice of Seijaku affected it in a healing way.) It made the point more powerful and profound.

Pam’s patience is to be commended. She is an excellent role model and she has inspired me to practice Seijaku more consistently. Thank you.”

– Lucky Elliot

“Auditing! Seeing our community grow, taking personal practice to a new level. Always a wonderful learning experience! Interesting having Seijaku course right after the Conference! I noticed those attending the course for the first time seemed really tired on the first evening. Somehow, give a break between the two events. Start Monday morning. The benefit of having the Seijaku training right after the Conference (or an intensive) is that movement refinement has just taken place making an easy transition to Seijaku.”

– Donna McElhose

“I particularly liked that the Seijaku immediately followed the Conference. I think it was much more beneficial that it was after than before the Conference. However I would have attended if it was before also.

I wish that the Conference would be extended for an additional day for a Seijaku review/intensive. However if that is not possible, I’d like a 1/2 day, an hour, or even just a Seijaku practice as part of the Conference.”

– Anonymous

“It’s amazing how such intense work challenges your mind and body while T’ai Chi Chih elevates with chi and insights. Pam is wonderful, a model to follow.”

– Blair Laden