After Teaching my First Series of Classes

I am a new T’ai Chi Chih teacher, accredited in October 2014.

At the senior center where I teach two classes a week, we have finished the first series of classes. My beginner students know the rudiments of the practice. We learned their choreography, names and order. Awareness of the Chi, and how to move, has grown in all of us. The benefits of the practice are revealing themselves. Our last class was special. It was our first silent circle practice with music. The Chi flowed and we all felt a deepening of our practice with enjoyment and satisfaction.

They say that teaching is the best way to learn. I am learning a lot. The practical stuff includes getting a city business license, liability insurance, state seller’s permit, business cards, a flyer; deciding how to arrange the room and what music to use.

The teacher stuff includes:

• Bringing the Teacher’s Mind to class;

• Asking the Chi to help me see what needs to be seen and to say and do what is most helpful;

• Taking charge of the class;

• Knowing when to be silent;

• Learning what formation to put the students in for best learning and practice;

• Using “effortless effort” in teaching and practicing;

• Helping open the awareness of students to the Chi;

• Making it fun and mindful.

The teacher training manual received during the accreditation week was a great help. 

Thank you to the Chi, Justin, all my teachers and especially my students. The second set of classes starts soon. There will be an ongoing class and a class for beginners, but all will be welcome in both classes.