Letters From Current TCC Students to Future Students

Editor’s Note: Longtime T’ai Chi Chih teacher Donna McElhose asked her current students to write a note to future students of TCC. Below are a few of many, which began with a salutation like Dear Future Student or Dear Newbie. Unless otherwise noted, they were presented anonymously.

“Get ready to move your body in new and different ways. The Chi will begin to flow through you and start to awaken your senses. Soon, you’ll begin looking at the world in a more open, less judgmental way. Forgiveness toward others w and most importantly towards yourself — will slowly start. You’ll find out that you are aligned with the Universe, and you have everything you need. Most importunately you will find that ‘100% of me is enough.’ Enjoy.”

“To be honest I didn’t know what to expect. What I thought was going to happen or change wasn’t what happened. I wasn’t aware of the health benefits that I would receive. My left hip went from cracking every step to completely stopping. My knees stopped aching as much. Another odd thing happened: when I walk normally, I pay more attention to my feet and how I’m moving.”

“I took this class to help with balance and have gotten so much more out of it. I have found deeper meaning in things I had taken for granted and have become more focused in all daily aspects. I’m also a bit more accepting and less conscious or reserved and more open to others’ ideas.”

“I hope you will enjoy this class as much as I have. The benefits you will get are so worth it. Practice daily for at least 15 minutes to feel calm yet energized. Hopefully at the end of the course your life will have improved as mine has.”

“I joined this class for the credit and out of interest. It was worth every minute of my time. I learned not only about TCC, but also about myself and who I am. Listen well and you will learn and grow.” — B. O.

“I was skeptical at the start. I don’t put much stock in spiritual things that aren’t my Christian faith. But I found something different in TCC: it helps me find and incorporate peace in the middle of just about all daily activities. That alone reminds me of my faith. If it doesn’t (or you don’t allow it to) affect your daily life — the good and bad — then it won’t be a true part of you. This brings me to actually practicing TCC daily, if even for 15 minutes at a time. This is what finally caused me to start experiencing the connectedness or grounding of the body’s movements to my present. Being able to control how I move through the TCC movements is a relaxing way to stay grounded and calm no matter how stressful the circumstances. Everyone has stress; this is a great way to deal with that.” — D. B.

“One great thing is watching yourself improve during the semester in doing all of the movements. Different things will change as you continue practicing. I noticed a calming effect during and after class. My ability to be aware of my thoughts and stay present in the moment also increased. The more consistently you practice, the more benefits you will feel. I encourage you to stick with the practice; the benefits are great.”

“Like everything, you get out of this what you put into it. At first it seems overwhelming, but the movements, the peace, the joy will be felt as time passes. You will get there. And not only will you learn the practice of TCC, but you will also make new friends and get comfortable doing these movements with your classmates. Even though you may think you aren’t doing the movements correctly, it is still important to practice. Enjoy your class.” — S.