New Teacher Works In Rehab Unit

Working at Laguna Honda Hospital, I have practiced T’ai Chi Chih with people in the psycho-social and rehabilitation units, with auto immune deficiency patients, with dementia residents, within the hospice unit, and now in the brand new Wellness Center. Most residents at Laguna Honda need to practice from a seated position. Some are not able to communicate verbally, or if they can, English is not their first language. But they all marvel at this moving meditation. Many initiate the moves as best they can, while others (especially those with severe behavioral issues) become relaxed while simply watching the practice demonstrated.

Residents feel calmer, their minds settle down, and they notice that environmental noises decrease. Some insomniacs seated nearby our class would fall into a deep sleep as the practice progressed. Others who had only practiced from a chair notice they are able to stand better and have more stamina for walking longer distances. A recent stroke resident, after practicing TCC from a seated position, informed his social worker that he “left his anger down in the Wellness Center.”

After becoming accredited, I look forward to working with individuals from our rehab unit directly. Many of them arrive in wheelchairs but have the capacity to walk out on their own. I wish to support their transition from chair to weight-bearing by introducing them to TCC basics – awareness of the tan t’ien, forward-and-back and side-to-side movements, weight shifting. My hope is that by the time they get to stand, they will be ready to flow freely into the movement.

This is actually how I learned TCC long ago when I incurred a back injury and was not able to stand. While following those orders and lying in bed watching television, I came upon a PBS broadcast featuring Carmen Brocklehurst demonstrating TCC and having a conversation with Justin Stone. I sat up and started moving my arms and rocking from a seated position. I didn’t experience any pain so I kept up with her 30-minute sessions. Within three weeks, I was able to stand and do the movements. My doctor and physical therapist were amazed. I am so grateful for my TCC family – and my residents are too.