It’s All About The Practice, Practice, Practice

Conferences are always an amazing experience. Each of us leaves more enriched and energized than when we arrived. And so it was this year in Portland, Oregon. There are no words to express the Thursday morning T’ai Chi Chih practice in the Chinese Garden as the sun began to slowly illuminate the space in which many of us flowed fully in the richness of the Chi. From the first practice Thursday evening, to the final Cosmic Consciousness Pose on Sunday… and with everything in between, my gratitude is expressed to the Portland TCC teachers for creating, preparing and gifting us with “Bridges to Joy.” I continue to be amazed at the depth of talent, skills and sharing that is brought to the conference, which truly is a “Service to Humanity.” We continue to be blessed as a community when area teachers step forward and offer to present the conference for all of us to deepen our practice, and fully enjoy.

Toward the end of conference on Sunday morning, I made several announcements (the August issue of The Vital Force mentioned Justin’s letter to me prior to the 2005 TCC conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in which he shared his revelations). Another was the announcement of an additional teacher trainer. I was delighted to present Daniel B. Pienciak of Howell, New Jersey, as our new teacher trainer.

One of the main reasons for wanting to expand our pool of trainers comes out of Justin’s prediction that TCC will enjoy an explosion of interest, and we need to be prepared for when that happens with well-qualified TCC teachers and trainers. In asking Justin several years ago about Daniel as an upcoming trainer, Justin said “That decision is yours, Sister.”

The following is an outline of qualifications that I feel are important in considering teachers for this responsibility:

1. Be known and respected within the TCC community.

2. Be an active teacher within the TCC community for at least nine years.

3. Attend annual TCC conferences for the same amount of time.

4. Host several intensives and three accreditations and/or other TCC events and complete in-service training at two intensives and two trainings.

5. Work with and recommend about 10 individuals to teacher training who have become teachers.

6. Be willing to cooperate and work with TCC leadership: Guide and current trainers, including:

attend monthly conference calls and bi-annual meetings; one at conference and the other at a designated place for continued discussion and TCC refinement.

take an active part in the annual TCC conference.

You are invited to begin to make plans for the 2013 annual conference to be held at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota from August 1 to 4, and be “Encircled in Chi.” We will be enriched with hours of practice, examining the form through the lens of the 6 Principles of Movement outlined by Justin in his DVD. These principles can also be found in his writings: 1. Flowing from the center, leading with the tan t’ien; 2. Proper Yinning and Yanging; 3. Focusing in the soles of the feet; 4. Moving with Softness and Continuity; 5. Circularity; and 6. Polarity.

Justin gives other vital instructions, such as “breathe naturally” and avoid practicing TCC after a meal, and not after the supper meal. These and other guides support the principles of movement and further enhance the circulation and balancing of the Chi.

Teachers at the annual conference share experiences through presentations, offering unique creations in the vendor room, and reuniting with old friends as new ones are made.

I continue to be grateful to all teachers for gifting the world with your instructions in sharing the TCC form with your students. I tell the inmates at Folsom during my annual visits that they are contributing to the peaceful balance in the world outside the walls of their imprisonment, because that is what is taking place within, at their core. Transformation at every level of being. They experience a freedom that many individuals never achieve outside the walls, due to their practice. Oh, yes, it is not their practice, for that too moves beyond time and space and has an effect on the planet and all within it.

Recently one of the teachers shared that as she was doing her practice, she imagined Justin being there, watching her. She apologized that she may not be doing the form exactly, but she is faithful to the practice. She sensed Justin sitting there with a grateful grin on his face.

Wishing you peace and all good as we enter into this autumnal time of year.