Mirror, Mirror: See What You Say

The Art of Teaching: Learning

By Carmen Brocklehurst, Albuquerque

Unaware that she is being observed, the teacher does her T’ai Chi Chih. “Oh, I see that I have not been doing that movement right,” the student says, in a caring voice. The teacher, interested, turns and faces the student. The student, having the teacher’s attention, then goes on to show the teacher his concept of the movement (which is correct), and then shows her what she had been doing (which is not right).

Often I have heard teachers say, “I always learn a lot from my students.” When teaching T’ai Chi Chih it becomes very obvious when we as teachers are not following the form we are talking about. Are we leading with the shoulders, instead of the tan t’ien while yinning and yanging? Is our knee turning in, and crossing over the opposite knee just before we snake the foot out for the side movement? Are our hands synchronized with our leg movements? Are we holding our elbows up too high and turned out so that there is tension in our upper arms?

Watch your students. Does it seem as if the whole class is doing the movement incorrectly? Is it their fault or are they being very careful in following exactly what the teacher is doing? Often we hear ourselves say the correct words, but if someone were videotaping us, what would we see?

Many times after practicing with Justin, I have noted the suggestions that he has made to everyone in general, and then later, at home, have taken the time to observe myself in a full length mirror. Sometimes I have heard myself say, “Oh, is that why I was feeling that tension,” or, “No wonder that didn’t feel round.”

As teachers, we always have plenty to say to our students. Take time to teach the person you see in the mirror. It may give you some insight into the strange movements your students are doing, or from whom they get their extra fancy curves.

“The Fairest in the Land is T’ai Chi Chih!”