Checking Our Foundation

Even with a continuing class, it’s good to go back to basics. The following exercise can be done at the beginning of class and then it can be reinforced by following it with a full practice. Work on the front and back weight shift by focusing on keeping the toes and heels down until they need to rise or release from the ground. Attention is focused on the time in between the release of the toes and heels. Notice how long you can continue to move, shifting the weight, while still keeping the feet flat on the ground. This is the key point of this exercise. It is more a gliding movement than a rocking movement. Then notice that it is the last bit of weight shift that brings the toes or heels up. We do not need to lift them. It is important that the toes and heels come off the ground with the end of the weight shift – and not after the weight shift is finished.

This exercise accomplishes many things:

1. Leaving the back heel down longer encourages the back knee to straighten.

2. The feet stay in contact with the floor longer, thereby assisting balance and gaining a deeper grounding.

3. It releases tension in front ankle for those students who tend to lift the front foot too high.

4. It brings greater awareness to the weight shift and to the evenness in timing.

General Teaching Tip

Let your words be one step ahead of your doing. Students need to hear the instruction and then have time to assimilate it in order to follow the instructions. If we are telling them what to do as we simultaneously do it, then they will be one step behind. They are still trying to process words into movement.

Changes in SEIJAKU Teacher Accreditation

By Pam Towne, Oceanside, CA

Seijaku is a Japanese word meaning “stillness in the midst of activity.” This describes the experience resulting from the practice of Seijaku, the advanced form of T’ai Chi Chih. One additional principle, simple yet quite powerful, is added internally to T’ai Chi Chih practice, which greatly strengthens the flow of Chi…and the resulting benefits!

Seijaku is a valuable practice that Justin has originated and given to T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) teachers for their own evolution and to share with their advanced TCC students. He has said, “For those who’ve experienced the power of TCC, Seijaku has many times the power of TCC.” Justin first taught Seijaku to a group of TCC teachers in Menlo Park, California in November 1986 and accredited them to teach Seijaku during a 3-day course. This has been the format ever since for accrediting Seijaku teachers.

At the Seijaku Renewal in Albuquerque in November 2006, only 2 of the 10 Seijaku teachers present were actually teaching Seijaku, and one was the trainer! Unfortunately this has become typical. After just three days exposure to Seijaku, teachers are not prepared, nor do they feel confident, to teach it.

Before TCC teacher candidates attend a Teacher Training, they are required to know TCC well and have practiced it for at least one year (and preferably two). It also makes sense for TCC teachers to know Seijaku and to have practiced it regularly for a period of time before attending a Seijaku Teacher Training.

To insure that Seijaku continues to be available for TCC teachers and advanced students, and that accredited Seijaku teachers are well prepared to teach, Justin Stone, the originator of T’ai Chi Chih and Seijaku, approved the following changes in the requirements for Seijaku accreditation:

A TCC teacher will be required to have learned and practiced Seijaku for at least six months before attending a Seijaku Teacher Training and have worked with Justin’s Seijaku DVD. Students can learn Seijaku from any accredited Seijaku teacher.

These changes will go into effect after the Seijaku Teacher Training in New Jersey (August 13-15, 2007.) This will be the last Seijaku training that TCC teachers can attend without already knowing Seijaku.

To support Seijaku teachers in developing and updating their Seijaku skills, two kinds of Seijaku courses will be offered by the Seijaku Teacher Trainer in the future:

Seijaku Teacher Training – for TCC teachers, who have been practicing Seijaku at least six months and have worked with Justin’s DVD and an accredited Seijaku teacher.

Seijaku Renewal – for both Seijaku teachers and students to deepen their practice and understanding.

If you are a Seijaku teacher and would like to host either of these courses in your area, please contact me, the Seijaku Teacher Trainer.

If you want to learn Seijaku, consult the Teachers’ Directory or the “Seijaku” area of the website www.taichichih.org for active accredited Seijaku teachers. If there none are listed in your area, contact me. Also, consider ordering Justin’s Seijaku DVD from a local teacher or Good Karma Publishing, Inc.