Mondo’s Movement & Climbing Mountains

Francesco became one of TCC’s 11 new Italian teachers, accredited near Montova, Italy in August 2006. Mondini is a ski instructor, competitor, climber, kite surfer, and resort activity director. Thanks to Dan Pienciak and Renza Moscatelli Baker for help in translating.

I walk up the hill – scarcely five minutes above my home – during days of almost perfect weather, to relax and do some T’ai Chi Chih. I gaze toward Mount Baldo, with its sharp summit, its radiance slicing through high misty clouds with a thousand colorful hues. The temperature suddenly changes and the air is beautifully cool.

I write to you about the satisfaction and joy that TCC gives me, about the awareness and confidence that it brings in everyday life, during professional activities, during times of relaxation and reflection, in my personal rapport with others, and in my social life. I am very happy because, after completing the teacher training week in Mantova (with endless gratitude to Sandy, Cristina, and Daniel), my TCC movements are more soft and flowing, more smooth and natural, more round and free.

After Rocking Motion I feel more relaxed and rebalanced. With the very first steps in the forward and back movements, the Chi begins to flow from the T’an T’ien throughout my body. Polarity is felt between my hands and gives me the feeling of softly stroking the air.

Last spring, after fifteen years of mountain climbing, I became aware that even though I climbed with composure, it would cause fatigue to reach 30-35 meters. When coming upon very high and steep cliffs, there should be no slackening of the resistant strength. This is also true on a delicate pass, with its illusory and brief timing of balance, with the last hold gone and with only a three-meter rope to help the footing. Climbing a smooth and terribly vertical slab to reach the top, it is essential to move slowly, with continuity and precision, with flow and intelligence, with balance and decisiveness, moving freely and naturally. Mountain climbing is the slowest sport and activity in the world. And it is normal that it should be so.

Climbing or walking to a mountain summit requires certain physical and mental efforts. It requires control and flexibility of the pelvis and hips, feet and ankles, static and dynamic posture, with great determination at the right moment. TCC helps me feel more secure and ready to go forward. As the Zen statement says, “When you reach the summit, continue to climb.”

TCC has also gives me gifts for use in competitive skiing. It helps me rapidly evaluate situations and execute technical movements with great precision. It helps me be aware and in constant control so that I may make immediate corrections of the body’s movement. It has increased my consciousness about my limitations, my joy in the realization of my achievements, and the desire to share with friends. I have greater imagination in the application of the movements and great freedom of expression. When everything is okay, I free myself from the plan, follow my instincts, my breath, and let my great passion for this activity lead me. TCC helps me enormously as a sportsman, a route made of sensations and perceptions, attempts and tests, discoveries and emotions.

A God created the mountains

And the gullies covered with snow

And above all he created the physical laws

For which everything that goes up

Will then come down,

But in doing so

You can choose the way of the gullies

And of the snow

And so you can discover that the soul

Does not know other forces or laws

But freedom and emotions

I also practice TCC to relax and detendermi psychologically, to recoup fresh energies, to interact well with people (even unpleasant ones).

I am extremely grateful to TCC creator Justin Stone for these movements. I am very happy to be an accredited instructor, but egoistically speaking, I am also very glad to practice TCC for the benefits that I get from it. I look forward to organizing classes and teaching these movements to new people and friends – to give them this instrument of serenity, wellbeing, and knowledge of oneself in their search of spirituality. Ciao.