On The Way With Strength

Two years ago on a cold winter’s day, I attended my first TCC class – what excitement! Prior to enrolling, I lived a sedentary lifestyle because of health reasons. Rigorous exercise was out of the question. On most days, I sat at home with my recreation of choice: lap quilting. But I knew that I needed to move my body. Also, because I cannot go to work, I cared for sick children, let in repairmen, and ran errands on weekdays for family and friends. I didn’t mind helping, but my time was no longer my own; I was ready for a new adventure. So my daughter went online and found a TCC class in my hometown. I was pleased to find its nice size class and my teacher. Hope Spangler’s introduction to TCC made me want to learn more. I had to become more selfish with my time; I felt I deserved that. I practiced morning and night, day in and day out. As I kept with it, I noticed that TCC began to relieve stress and tension. After one month with TCC, I slept better and heard the doctor’s report, “Keep doing whatever you’re doing!” Almost two years into the practice, I’m considering becoming accredited as an instructor. I know I’ve come a long way. TCC brings a sense of well being to my life and in my world.

From Hope Spangler: Betty has benefited from TCC on so many levels; she absolutely loves and is devoted to her practice. TCC has brought a new dimension to her life and expanded her horizons immeasurably.

Wordlessly Moving Beyond Imitation

By Maybelle Filler, Sitka, AK (Student of Nancy Jo Bleier)

What am I doing? It’s a cold Saturday morning and I’m completely underdressed for the occasion. It started to snow as I started heading to the site. I’m not even sure if I can follow along, and no one will be offering verbal instruction during this T’ai Chi Chih session.

The class started months ago, when I thought I was just trying another activity offered to SEARHC employees. I checked it out partly because of my job as a health educator in the Diabetes Prevention Program, partly out of curiosity, partly because I’d heard that TCC might lower my stress, and partly because I knew the teacher and had told her I’d be there. Living in Seattle and working near the international district, I would see people doing TCC in the park. Wordlessly, gracefully, in synch. I’d always wondered how they knew what to do if no one exchanged a word.

As I looked around at the students attending the first session, I recognized some and not others. I was nervous but excited. I remember those first sessions vividly, wondering if I could memorize the steps while remembering to breathe and remain quiet. I wondered whether an active person like myself could actually be calm enough to do the moves andreally take them in. I especially wanted to lose my feelings of self-consciousness. My worries were for naught. I found that, although the experience wasn’t as physical as playing softball, the mental aspects required just as much involvement. Moves were done consciously and with concentration. And I began to enjoy the deliberate actions.

So that’s how I find myself outside on a very cold Saturday morning, doing these deliberate, conscious, and concentrated moves. Wordlessly following and moving beyond imitation – towards more awareness of what my body and mind could do together.