First TCC workshop held in Los Angeles

Course Host

Twenty-eight teachers and students, some from as far away as NM and TX, gathered at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 21 for a T’ai Chi Chih One-Day Workshop. The studio space with natural light from many windows, the walls of mirrors and the suspended wooden floor created a wonderful atmosphere for the day. All around us was the youthful activity of a college campus.

Focusing on how to flow, Teacher Trainer Sandy McAlister facilitated the workshop, stressing T’ai Chi Chih basics of stance, posture, release of muscular tension, weight-shifting, and circularity. Reading from a letter received from Justin just before the workshop, she reminded participants to remember Justin’s words as they moved:

“The most important single factor in learning [the] T’ai Chi Chih [form] is learning how to move the T’ai Chi Chih way. People come to T’ai Chi Chih lessons believing it is an exercise. Although it has all the benefits of exercise, and more, it must be done softly without muscular effort. We call it ‘the effort of no effort.’ Muscular tension closes the meridian channels thru which the CHI flows, so that we cannot circulate and balance the Life Force, the CHI, which is the primary purpose of T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement.”

Attentive participants spent the morning sessions reviewing and refining movements through Pulling in The Energy. Later, students were asked to pair up and exchange an ‘Ahaa! moment’ — a moment in which they made a discovery or breakthrough regarding their TCC practice. This exchange of insights one with another provided the opportunity to clarify discoveries as well as share them. Students and teachers alike were emptied and filled in succession as they delved into letting go of old patterns interfering with the flow of the CHI. Teacher Larry Sava from Lubbock, TX said, “The energy in the room and the magnitude of experience is impressive….” while student Gloria Posada remarked, “The workshop was overwhelming in a beautiful way…. so many wonderful teachers…. I learned something invaluable about each and every movement.”

During the afternoon sessions, at the request of participants, Sandy reviewed the waist-turning movements, including the Taffies, Working the Pulley, and Passing Clouds. The sounds for Six Healing Sounds were thoroughly discussed and practiced, as well as Light at the Top of the Head, Light at the Temple, and Joyous Breath. A full practice at the end of the day gave us the perfect opportunity to begin incorporating many movement refinements.

The presence of Teacher Trainer Pam Towne on both days enhanced the experience for attendees. As a Good Karma distributor, she displayed a wide array of TCC materials and discussed with attendees the Good Karma publications that would aid them in deepening their understanding of the TCC form and related spiritual matters.

Twenty-one of the 28 participants chose to participate in the Teacher Preparation Workshop on Sunday at the Inside Out Community Wellness Center in Redondo Beach. . . . Participants opened the morning by sharing with the whole group their ‘Ahaa! moments’ from Saturday. Students rediscovered the importance of: releasing tension from the knees, shoulders, and so on, moving from the hips (t’an t’ien) — not the shoulders and focusing at the soles of the feet. As one participant reflected, “the position of the feet provides a good foundation.” Student Shannon Westmyer remarked “…. getting the flow is empowering to me.” May Swanson, teacher candidate from Phoenix, AZ emailed after returning home to say, “Thanks for the help on my foot work (on Carry the Ball to the Side). I have been practicing the corrections I noted last weekend and it helped me when you pointed out about the feet remaining flat or rolling over to the side. AHA!” . . . The Sunday workshop focused more on circularity, weight-shifting and waist-turning, as Justin’s letter was re-read, and we took note of these remarks: “Actually, T’ai Chi Chih [practice] is done below the waist, with the yinning and yanning of the legs being all important and with some circularity in practically every movement.” . . . Teacher Trainer Pam Towne commented, “I saw remarkable shifts and changes in peoples’ practice over the weekend. The question is, what will they do with those insights when they get home? Will they remember those ‘Ahaa’s!’ and integrate them into their practice?” . . .