Practice to Feel & Be TCC

Zoom has made it possible to have practices all over the country. What a blessing this is. Having been encouraged to experience other teachers, I find that each has a style of their own. And yet, even as their descriptive words change, they are all saying basically the same thing. Taking notes of lessons with multiple teachers time and time again, it can sometimes seem repetitive and monotonous. I admit, it has crossed my mind a time or two, “Yada, yada, yada, let’s get on with it.” Was I ever more wrong!

Benjamin, Nelia and I have recently completed a Seijaku teaching class on Zoom with Dan Pienciak, hosted by Lisa Stroyan. On Saturdays, we now have a practice, so as not to lose what we have learned from those sessions.

As we start, the first words in this morning’s practice are, “Feel your feet on the floor!” How many times have I heard that? I think, of course, that my feet are on the floor and my mind wanders. I draw my attention back to my feet and ground myself.

As it is a Seijaku practice, the heel of the back foot releases from the floor as the movement shifts from strong to soft, yinning and yanging. Bingo, timing is the key. Timing the feet flat on the floor. As the weight shift completes, the toe comes up briefly, as does the heel on the back foot. This also helps the movement of the legs: as the weight shifts, the knee bends and then straightens. (I often realize my back leg forgets to bend.) I feel the glide. It finally makes sense. I needed the combination of hearing and feeling it, with the help of the Seijaku principle. Hearing those few words one more time mattered. It was obviously the right time. So, it’s back to basics: fine tuning the timing of the weight shift and the eye-opener “feel your feet on the floor.”

This article was inspired by a teacher who recently shared something she had heard from Bill Moore regarding feeling and being T’ai Chi Chih. No matter how many times you have heard something, just continue the practice. Be patient and when the time is right, your ah-ha! moment will come, and you will be filled with gratitude.