Auditor Musings Of A TCC Accreditation

Fran Alexander, Manahawkin, New Jersey

I am an accredited T’ai Chi Chih teacher and audited the Pennsylvania training in June 2016. While observing the candidates and corrections they received, I realized that there are several subtle aspects of my own posture and movements that need some adjustment.

I am sticking out and lifting my chest and pulling down my shoulders instead of letting them drape. I am using too much effort in my pelvis and leaning back a little because I am bringing my arms back a tad too much. My steps are wide and deep, a little too extreme. In yinning and yanging, I am dipping deeper more on one side than the other. My hands are curling. These are all self-observations (except for the curling hands that Pam pointed out).

The subtle adjustments necessary for softness and continuity have been pointed out over time by Dan Pienciak, my teacher. They have gone from extreme to subtle, but they are still present, an opportunity for continuing adjustment. By simply being aware of these interferences, I noticed a smoother glide in my movement. Adjustments are taking care of themselves. The message? Relax, relax, relax. I’m beginning to transform from a more military stance, which is part of my conditioning, to moving more freely. My mind has also become quieter, as I let go of searching for reasons. My forward gaze has become softer, less extremely focused, as I settle into awareness. I’m reminded of a Chinese proverb, “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” I must learn to let my body sing.

The Essence Of Chi & Friendships Are Timeless

BJ Amin, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Ten years ago I attended an amazing T’ai Chi Chih retreat in Albuquerque hosted by Antonia. Three beginners (plus our teacher Meara Joy) traveled from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, to attend. To our great surprise and delight, Justin Stone paid us a visit during our retreat, and took time to meet and greet each of us. Pictures were taken.

It was a precious time to gain more in depth instruction. But even greater was an immediate essence of Chi that bonded a group of strangers into a lot of love, joy and laughter. One day at lunch, while getting to know a new friend, our conversation drifted to The Wizard of Oz, which I’d always seen in black and white until recently with my child. Suddenly the movie had a yellow brick road, and a horse of a different color. We both were laughing so boisterously that other retreatants turned to stare. Perhaps it was the joyful exuberance of Chi that comes from being among others devoted to TCC … the magic that finds joy in the simplest, perhaps silliest, of times shared. Chi also helps open up our hearts to have compassion for one another.

Another woman and I walked between sessions. I had newly been diagnosed with diabetes so was very dutiful about walking. We became fast friends, me a beginner, she a teacher, sharing our hearts and laughter over marvelous walks under a brilliantly blue New Mexico sky. I was impressed she had come from Canada.

Life has a way of rapidly moving forward. It is suddenly 2016 and I am going through old pictures only to discover those I’d planned to mail to my new Canadian friend. They were photos of her with Justin Stone. I couldn’t remember her name, but I needed to find her because she was photographed with Justin.

What are the chances of finding someone from somewhere in Canada when you live in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico and ten years have passed? I searched everywhere, including a lot of TCC Facebook groups and the TCC teacher’s list for Canada. Who knew there were so many? I scoured dozens of pages and sites. One day for some unknown reason (perhaps Chi at work), I was drawn to one teacher’s name and emailed her a photograph to see if she could help.

To my total amazement and joy, that very teacher was my long lost friend! And that is how I know the essence of Chi and friendships made along the way have no time limits. I am BJ from Truth or Consequences and she is Rita Beth from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. How could any one forget the names of our towns?