Attending Is Inspirational

Intensive with Sandy McAlister in New Jersey; March 24-27, 2011

By Daniel Pienciak

Probably the biggest reason folks come to intensives is to focus on how to move in T’ai Chi Chih, and how to better and more fluidly integrate those principles in our practice. With that comes more relaxation and more enjoyment (and more benefit). But if you’re looking for simple how to’s or why’s or what’s in this article, you won’t find them. What you will find, this writer hopes, is reasons why it behooves you to look at the event calendar now, find an intensive that you can plan to attend, save up some funds, and schedule yourself to just do it. I have been hosting intensives for the last eight or nine years, and it is impossible to pass on this kind of learning in a written article, but I can share some sources of inspiration for sure.

Sandy led the group in some very valuable discussions and sharing such as: “How do we let go?” “How can we learn to be softer in our practice?” “How do we find the Joy in T’ai Chi Chih?” “How do we ground?” “How do we feel the tan t’ien?” “What is the Nei Kung and how can we use it effectively?”

Other helpful explorations evolved: “How do we know how far (forward or to the side) to place the heel?” “How does our wording/language in our teaching and in our understanding help or hinder us in our practice?” “What are some specific aspects of moving we can explore on our own to discover more about how to flow from the center?”

And from the participants themselves: “I came unaware of the many questions I have about my TCC practice, and I have gratefully found just the place for exploring those questions” … “It’s been transformational. Having been a corporate human resources manager for decades, this workshop was beyond professional and given with honesty and love; it all seemed so effortless” … “The time spent on proper weight shift is leading me to greater softness” … “I came to be a part of a community whose interests and direction are the same as mine” … “Being here presented me with new direction and new eyes for the future in my practice” … “Attending was magical in the breaking down and putting back together in harmony.”