Confidence in the Chi

George Manning offers a T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) class every Tuesday at Hope Cooperative’s mental health program. He welcomes anyone who comes in the door: a newcomer, regular, or student who has been absent. This past Tuesday, a former student entered cautiously. She had been absent for about two years, suffering from long COVID. She expressed some hesitation, but George reassured her that she could call upon muscle memory and relax.

As the class progressed, she began to show a bit of confidence. A couple of times George stood next to her for several repetitions, inviting her to feel the energy. She quickly remembered “The Taffy” variations and finished the last few movements in a seated position.

After the class, she shared that she had been a bit nervous about coming back to Hope Cooperative, with its expectations and responsibilities. However, she now felt the Chi and was more confident in herself. TCC had reintroduced her to her own energy — an important step in healing body, mind, and spirit.