An Interview

A. Teaching TCC

1. Why do you teach TCC?

I believe in many ways the Chi called me to T’ai Chi Chih and then called me to teach. I remember entering my first class with my teacher, Judy George, and having the feeling that I am home even though our family had just moved to Minnesota and we did not know anyone. During that first beginner session I felt an inner calling to become a teacher. There is a mystery, a oneness, that lives us and breathes us. To me it feels like an inner magnet pulling and guiding me always to greater joy, expansion and fulfillment. To not teach TCC would be going against this Loving Force.

2. What does it mean to you to teach TCC? What do you think you’re giving to others and what do you get?

Teaching TCC is a gift and great honor that fills me with the deepest gratitude. We are giving others a practice that helps them embody the Truth of Who and What they are. I give all the credit to Justin Stone. He set this intention over and over in his teaching and writings. In Spiritual Odyssey, Justin writes, “T’ai Chi Chih is not just a beneficial exercise … If the one practising persists, … the deeper levels – the Essence of T’ai Chi Chih, if you will – begin to dawn on the practiser and it is realized that T’ai Chi Chih is unique in design and that one begins to sense, and flow with the great Cosmic Rhythm.” This journey of aligning with the great Cosmic Rhythm is an unending, unfolding and limitless journey. My students and the greater community of T’ai Chi Chih continually support and inspire my personal journey.

3. What have you found to be the most effective ways (for you personally) to keep spreading the word, interesting new students, keeping current students engaged?

I truly feel the most effective way to spread the word is to deeply listen to the guidance of the Chi. To trust it completely. It has a plan and will use you if you are open. Justin Stone would call this “Teh – Power of Inner Sincerity.” Justin shares in Spiritual Odyssey, “It is the power of Inner Sincerity that has been responsible for the rapid growth of T’ai Chi Chih. … It is our jewel, and I fully expect this great power to bring T’ai Chi Chih to deserving people all over the planet.”

As I look back over 17 years of teaching I can see how the Chi has always been guiding me in how and when to share TCC. It has definitely ebbed and flowed like the great Cosmic Rhythm. When I first started teaching most of my energy was still in raising children so I just had a few classes on the side. Classes were already established in community education and I just showed up and taught. There was not much energy to spread the word beyond my classes.

After nine years of teaching in Minnesota we moved back to Colorado for family reasons. In Colorado my life became very busy, not only raising kids, but with working full-time and caregiving. The guidance was to not teach; it was six years before I felt the call to teach again. The call, when it came though, was not only to teach, but to dedicate myself full-time to building a community in Northern Colorado of teachers and students. It was hard to put myself out there to such a great degree but I trusted the Chi.

The first thing I had to do was find and establish places to teach. This called me to create a business card and brochure, create packets of information, do cold calls and then presentations. With continual push and support from the Chi I also created a website so perspective students could see when and where I was teaching. I contacted the newspaper and they wrote a large article. I began writing a newsletter. I felt called to host a retreat with Pam Towne. It was a little scary to commit without knowing if students would come. I had only been teaching in Colorado a year. Again, I trusted the Chi and the retreat birthed the Northern Colorado community.

The community wanted to stay connected so we created a Yahoo group, Facebook page and periodic free community practices. I am now mentoring about 10 students for Teacher Accreditation. A lot has happened in Northern Colorado in the past two years but because of the support and guidance of the Chi it has felt effortless. I feel like I am just riding a wave. What a joyful ride it is.

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B. Training the next generations of TCC teachers

1. Do you think moving more qualified students toward becoming TCC teachers is an important part of building the future of TCC? Why or why not? Is this a focus of your teaching? Why or why not? (There are no right or wrong answers here.) 

Teachers are the key to sharing TCC and I believe our job as teachers is to support the teacher candidates as best we can. In all my beginner classes I share my intention to not just teach TCC but to also create a community of students and teachers in Northern Colorado. I believe this is why I now have a large group of teacher candidates and am hosting an accreditation course in June 2016. When I taught in Minnesota I was blessed to be part of an already established, beautiful community. My main focus was on teaching rather than community building. The Chi called my students to become teachers but it was usually only two people every two years.

2. What are the best ways (that you’ve found, for you personally) to move qualified students toward teacher accreditation? 

I love this question because I am dedicating a large part of my time right now to preparing candidates. I am learning so much. I am so grateful for articles in The Vital Force about teacher preparation and the work of teachers who focus on this. We have evolved so much as a worldwide community in knowing how to prepare teachers. I know it will continue to grow and evolve. I have listed some things below that I am doing to help candidates prepare. This is in addition to helping them work on their practice in continuing classes and one-on-one sessions, and inviting them to attend beginner classes with the focus on how to teach.

Once a month for an evening we explore one principle of TCC. Before class I scan all the articles that I have collected over the years that relate to the principle and email them to students. We start class with a group practice where they each take a turn leading a movement. We then sit and I lead a discussion of the topic. We discuss the principle as it relates to our TCC practice as well as our life.

Students are organizing the watching of Justin Stone’s DVD together. We pause as often as needed to allow all questions and clarifications.

3. What are the barriers or stumbling blocks in trying to move qualified students toward teacher accreditation?

I trust the Chi will guide the person. There are times that I feel an inner resistance or habit energy blocking someone pursuing teacher training. I find by allowing the resistance that a shift or letting go will occur. It is most important for candidates to realize that this journey is never about perfection. Acceptance and compassion for who and where they are is needed for their practice to evolve and open. With the deepening of their practice more strength arises to follow the guidance of the Chi.

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C. Connecting with other TCC teachers

1. Is connecting with other TCC teachers important to you? Why or why not? (Again, there are no right or wrong answers here.) 

Absolutely! We open to more of Who and What we are because of our connection with each other. By sharing our journey, our gifts, our inspirations with each other we are serving the Chi and helping us all to grow and unfold. But most importantly we connect because of the joy that bubbles up when we do.

2. If it is, what are the main ways you connect with them? Are these effective and enough? Do you wish there were other ways?

I love The Vital Force. It is such a huge support for me and my students. I also appreciate the T’ai Chi Chih Facebook page. Through it I am feeling a connection to the greater community especially through the pictures and videos of events and other people practicing TCC. I also just returned from a Seijaku Retreat in Albuquerque, which was very powerful for deepening my practice and my connection with others in the TCC community.

I would love to have a yearly conference with a much greater attendance that includes students. I could just imagine the joy and healing that would arise if 200 to 500 people or more were practicing TCC together. I feel personally called to not just help build the Northern Colorado community but the worldwide community of teachers and students.

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D. Is there anything else you’d like the readers to know?

I am very excited when I think of the future of TCC and I am very grateful to be a part of it.