How to inspire yourself and your students to daily practice

Sharing Knowledge: The Workshops

Led by Carmen Brocklehurst and Margo Carpenter. Writeup by Stephanie Bass.

Carmen:

§ They have already been motivated to come, by signing up for classes.

§ And sometimes students inspire you.

The real thing happening is the chi is moving and it goes before you—then anyone you need to meet will come around. You cannot be attached to doing it all yourself. It may be something another teacher starts and you finish it years later.

§ The best motivation is by example. “You never know when someone is watching.”

Margo:

§ Regular group practice: Edmonton has a practice every 2nd Saturday for all teachers and students at the community hall where Margo teaches.

§ Don’t be stuck thinking you have to do it all. Ask others to help and make it possible. For example, if you are the leader, get an inexpensive videotape player and let the group “practice with Justin” on videotape when you can’t be there.

§ Send out frequent reminders via email and don’t drop anyone from the list. They may come back later.

Carmen:

§ Help students see themselves succeeding. She has teacher prep students make their own business cards as a requirement.

Margo:

§ If you don’t like schedules and routines, (like Margo), look for the fun in practice. She looks for special feelings like the “ring of heat” she feels with Around the Platter. She lets herself practice at a variety of times and places—sometimes in the kitchen while her children are playing rock music.

Carmen:

§ Empower students to take the time for themselves—ask up front if they can take 15 minutes a day for themselves. If they say yes, they’ve agreed they have time to practice.

Rich Ashman: practices outdoors, especially while traveling.

Blair:

§ Empower students to make comments and suggestions about their practice experience.

Leah Ashman:

§ Challenges TCC. “If I don’t feel like practicing, I’ll say to TCC, I’ll do this and I’ll see if you make me feel better.” It always does.

Member of the group:

§ I practice during 15-minute breaks at work.

Member of the group:

§ Think of what Justin says—if you’re a teacher and you don’t practice, you’re a fraud. Or: “If you feel like it, practice. If you don’t feel like it, practice.”

Member of the group:

§ Encourage students to apply it in daily life—do TCC mentally to help get through medical procedures such as dental work or an MRI, or even shopping.

Member of the group:

§ Think of everybody you know practicing. Whenever you are practicing, someone somewhere else is practicing.