Holistic Nurses Experience TCC at National Conference

As an accredited T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) instructor, I feel compelled to teach this magnificent form to students wherever I find them. I was introduced to TCC at the local community college by Donna McElhose, a teacher with the vision to create a strong TCC presence in our community. Once I became accredited, I began teaching TCC at my long-term care facility. Though some residents would fall asleep during class, they became upset if I was too busy to teach that day because they had looked forward to it all morning. I learned that Chi does its beneficial thing, no matter what your functional level at the beginning.

Working in my next position in home care, I taught veterans who were “fall risks” to do TCC. After learning TCC, their “fall rates” were well below peer averages. With some modified safety measures (like holding onto a couch behind them or a chair in front of them) some vets could stand for short periods. They had huge functional improvements from using a chair.

In 2005 the American Holistic Nurse Association (AHNA) was looking for a T’ai Chi teacher for their national conference, and I offered to teach TCC. Amazingly, they knew all about TCC since their previous teacher had been teaching it. TCC was exactly what they wanted. Thus began over a decade of teaching this fascinating form to holistic nurses annually. I bring articles, books and DVDs to spread the joy.

A few years ago, I discovered I had many regulars attending my early morning classes, some who practiced on their own during the year. Since they were already energy workers, they loved Pulling Taffy to feel and play with energy they are well trained in. I have never found a group of inexperienced people who are so present and aware of their bodies. They moved effortlessly from the get-go. I’m also astounded that they generally stayed with me – not speeding up without self-correcting. I don’t teach TCC. The TCC does the teaching. I am only the conduit.

At one point I wanted to take an early morning class offered at conference. When the AHNA office said I had one of the most popular classes and asked if I would reconsider and teach every morning during the conference, I did. And I continue to do so.

TCC has been a benefit I have been able to offer in multiple sectors of my nursing career. My yearlong TCC class for the post-traumatic stress group at Veterans Affairs showed strong improvements. And starting in February 2019, our facility will begin offering TCC facility-wide.

I look back to that happenstance day when my boss invited me to attend an evening TCC introduction at the community college, when I discovered one of the best teachers in the land. It has been such a joy to have various niches for TCC and to find the welcoming holistic nurse community to share my passion. Below you can see some student feedback I get back annually.

2017 & 2016 AHNA Evaluation Ratings (1-5 scale) & Comments

Importance of self-care practices to wellbeing of self and other: 4.87 | 4.40

Effective speaking: 4.95 | 4.72

• Really enjoyed the session, as I have only been exposed to video Tai Chi sessions, and this was so much better. The energy in the room was so strong and peaceful. As I have gotten older, I notice that I don’t have the strength and balance that was so easy in the past. This gave me back that feeling.

• Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and intend to use it more often.

• I was very motivated to incorporate this practice into my everyday routine. I felt energized after this class.

• First experience with TCC.

• Greatly enjoyed. Have done Tai Chi in the past but it’s been a while. Reminder that this modality is a self-care tool I should utilize regularly. 

• Very helpful way to relax and reenergize.

• Great experience and great way to start the day. I had never done this before, and it was interesting to get some movement and history of the TCC practice.

• This session showed me that I need to slow down. This is a great way to manage stress. I wish I could have had this class on Friday morning.

• Always a great experience; very relaxing techniques.

• Instructor was easy to follow.

• Will research more to learn how to apply in practice

• Enjoyed this session so much yesterday that I attended it again today. I bought a book at the bookstore with a DVD so that I could incorporate this practice in my everyday life. I felt balanced after these sessions and centered for the day.

• Enjoyed the session so much Monday that I decided to go again on Tuesday.