Coming Home Gracefully

After every one of the 19 movements, there is that moment of rest, checking in, connecting to the earth, connecting to myself. Justin called it “Graceful Conclusion” and I like to think of it as “Coming Home.” It is that precious short moment of mindful presence where my body feels totally at ease. I call it coming home because it is a place of rest and ease, just like coming home after a long day of work.

Home has been a big theme in my life. A quest for a place to belong, a place to meet kindred souls and a place of community. As I get older, I feel that community is becoming more and more important. It is not easy to feel at home in this unsettling world. How can we find comfort in a world that is so full of injustice and suffering? It is up to us to create that haven, that place for the soul to rest. A home that is not made of bricks and stone, but rather consists of a deep feeling of belonging.

T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) creates such a home. It is a practice for mind, body, and soul. The mind and body are engaged in every minute detail of the movement. To make sure we move in a very precise and balanced way, applying all the principles, counting, counting and being 100% present. And how about the soul? We don’t know exactly what the soul is, but I assume we all have one. The soul does not depend on outer circumstance, but needs a home, nonetheless. The soul is inherently pure and whole, but still needs to be nourished. When our practice is going well and the Chi is flowing, we feel complete. Could it be that our soul gets nourished by the Chi?

Between each movement I rest in graceful conclusion. This is a coming home moment for connecting and grounding. For giving body and mind a rest and feeling connected between heaven and earth. It is a soulful moment, a nourishing moment, a coming home moment. I come home gracefully each time I practice.

Attending Accreditation Workshops vs Zooms
By Sharron Gonzalez, Hilo, Hawaii

taichichih.org/teacher/sharron-gonzalez

Technology helps us be anywhere via Zoom, but it can limit our opportunity to work one-on-one. Having access to multiple teachers during accreditation and preparatory courses is truly amazing. As teachers, we need to relay information in many ways to connect with all the different students attending our classes. TCC teachers come from diverse communities and backgrounds, and by being exposed to many teachers we may learn how they share and communicate with their classes. We see how we may apply this to our own classes.

Even if we learn only one new thing from each teacher, the value is priceless. One day the student who needs that information will be in your class, and you will be grateful to connect in a way that may not have been possible without having learned those tips from another teacher. Enjoy your time working with all teachers; they are as excited to share their knowledge and experience as you are to receive it.

The Importance of Daily Practice
I will always remember hearing about a teacher who had just finished explaining to a new class about the benefits of a good daily practice … when someone raised their hand and asked, “Even on the weekend?” The teacher got up, left, and didn’t return. I reassured my class I was not that kind of teacher and that I understand that making time to learn something new can be challenging. It takes as long as it takes to juggle one more activity into a busy schedule. I do advise getting up a little earlier if you can. Having a pleasant location to perform your practice can also be motivating.

Starting your day with TCC is literally starting your day on the right, I mean left, foot so to speak. I tell my students that with time and practice you will look upon your TCC practice as you would breathing, brushing your teeth, getting dressed. Your practice becomes a part of you. Do not separate it from who you are. Don’t look at your practice as one more chore you need to add to your list. You are taking the time to care for yourself. 

We know of the many benefits this practice can provide. One of them being you will have enough energy to accomplish what you need to do in a day, a week, a month. Who wouldn’t want that? We all know how good we feel after finishing a practice. Why wouldn’t we want to feel this way every day? Go forth and practice. Your body will love you for it.