Hold Fast, Then Let go: Seijaku Teacher Training in NJ in October

Imagine how this felt.

Think of tearing your beloved T’ai Chi Chih practice apart — feet one way, hands another, head and shoulders somewhere else.

Look at the pieces under a brilliant light, using a magnifying glass.

Imagine the frustration, sweat, annoyance, maybe even anger, as your “knowledge” falls away. Nothing goes together the way it used to! And you’re supposed to be a teacher!

Then, using softness for glue, put the pieces back together.

Feel the incredible lightness.

Notice how time stands still as you sense every millimeter of change in your weight shift.

Feel the power surge through you — and ground it well.

Laugh at everything — especially at the paradoxical workings of this challenging practice, the “graduate degree” of T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement.

Those feelings were common during the three-day Seijaku training in October, as 33 TCC teachers learned and practiced Seijaku together at the Mount St. Francis Retreat Center in Ringwood, NJ.

The Seijaku accreditation course was organized by Dan Pienciak and taught by Ed Altman — who both responded with flexibility and good humor to the challenges of dealing with so many sincere, sometimes demanding, often irreverent TCC teachers. In addition to the Seijaku movements and principles, Ed taught the other components of the Maximum Chi Program — toning, the massages, chi circulation techniques, the Jing, and the “healing through joy” song.

If T’ai Chi Chih practice is like a 75-watt light bulb, Seijaku is a 1,000-watt bulb — that is what Justin Stone says. The “light” of Seijaku taught each of us something we needed to know.

“In the beginning of Seijaku, I moved with the upper body muscles,” said Ron Heck. “When I realized the movement started from the t’an t’ien and then the whole body, the feeling was very intense and fulfilling.” Sue Reed’s insight was about the transitions between movements. “Seijaku has shown me the importance of graceful transitions from hard to soft, all made possible when focusing on the t’an t’ien and using a solid stance.”

“My Seijaku accreditation weekend was serenity in the midst of my T’ai Chi Chih family,” said Grady Anderson, Jr. “Seijaku helped me to see the flaws in my T’ai Chi Chih practice — thank you Ed Altman for taking me to the next level.”

Athene Mantle echoed that feeling. “I’m excited about the new levels of awareness that Seijaku is bringing to my practice,” she said. “The timing of the expansion through the knees and the release of the heels has been enlightening in regard to grounding. I’m looking forward to many more insights.”

Sister Juanita Morales said “The chi moved strongly and made me aware of my faults and also my improvements. As I leave today I am filled with confidence and enthusiasm to continue with these practices in my daily life, and also to keep my attention and focus on the soles of my feet!”

Several attendees, such as Debbie Cole, had returned as auditors.

“It was incredibly helpful to audit so soon after my initial Seijaku training (St. Louis in May). I had time to process some of the initial information and then I was more open and ready to go deeper this time. I really enjoyed the intimacy of a smaller group with the intensity of this focused practice.”

Vida Wackerling was also a returning auditor — “Please come back and back and back again,” she said. “It is a wonderful experience.” Carolyn Perkins said that, on the second time, “everything fell into place. You have to persevere with Seijaku, as you don’t necessarily get it the first time. Now I can’t wait to go back and teach it to my advanced TCC students.”

Debbie Cole noted that, as with TCC practice, Seijaku also teaches us about life. “I look forward to applying these principles to my life as well as my practice. Pushing through the resistance (not around it) and acknowledging that it is there seems to apply directly to my life.”

Even though the long, intense days sometimes were a little tiring, Paula Favorito found more strength during the course. “I was unsure if I could do it because of a very weak knee. After wearing a knee brace Friday I found Saturday and Sunday I did not need it and was very pleasantly surprised that I could walk and stand as much as I did. A great experience, indeed!”