Q&A with Senior TCC Teacher Linda Braga

Castro Valley, California | Accredited 1985

How did you learn originally about TCC? Why did you become accredited?

In Spring of 1984, a local newspaper landed on my doorstep with a full-page photo of a young woman doing a T’ai Chi Chih movement. I told my husband, “I want to learn to do that.” I signed up the next day. My teacher was that same woman in the photo, Valerie Lawson Smith. Destiny had put me in touch with a talented teacher and a friend for life.

In Spring of 1985, several of us from Valerie’s class decided to become accredited because we were told this would be Justin’s last accreditation. We worked hard to prepare for this opportunity and were told it would be challenging. I was already an Elementary level Special Education teacher, so teaching was a central part of my life. Sandy McAlister was part of our candidate group and little did we know what the future would hold.

When and where were you accredited? By Justin? Paint a picture about the experience.

Justin and Steve Ridley co-hosted the accreditation in San Leandro, California. The training was held in late afternoons and evenings for a week because we all worked full time during the day. Some Albuquerque teachers were in attendance, so we had lots of interaction and support.

Justin ran the sessions in a Zen fashion. All candidates sat on the floor and did not lean against the walls when he was talking. We could not look at each other, only at the accreditor. Our movements were scrutinized thoroughly to improve our form. We all gave a creative presentation about TCC as well. It was a full week.

On graduation day, we were full of joy and pride about how much we had learned and how our form had changed that week. The journey of teaching had just begun.

What’s the best resource to inform your teaching?

My daily personal practice of TCC. I began offering TCC classes through the San Leandro Adult School that Fall. I taught in the evening; years later, I taught in the daytime, two days a week. Over the 28 years I taught TCC there, classes were held in school cafeterias, the Public Library, and the Marina Community Center. A Senior Community Center was built later with large classrooms, mirrored walls, and a built-in sound system. This made it possible to offer large classes in a beautiful environment. We could easily host classes of 30 to 40 adults, attracting a wide variety from the Bay Area, some coming from an hour away.

How has your teaching changed over the years?

As time progressed, I offered TCC experiences to different adult groups: to educators at the California State Conventions of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; at Contemplative Retreats at Santa Sabina Center; to administrators in the Bay Area during a day-long retreat; and beginning classes to members of the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

I also introduced TCC to groups learning Acupressure in Santa Cruz and taught TCC through the Hayward Adult School. It was a time of inviting people to try this moving meditation, and to feel the flow of Chi. I treasure those opportunities, and many went on to find TCC teachers in their own communities.

Around that time, the Nor Cal TCC Teachers Group was formed with about 40 teachers, and we offered many annual day-long workshops in the Bay Area. We happily hosted Dan Penciak, Pam Towne, Sandy McAlister, and Ann Rutherford to lead our retreats, along with many local TCC teachers. We attracted students and TCC teachers from the wider San Francisco Bay Area, including Sacramento, Marin County, and the East and South Bays.

Share an innovative teaching method that you developed or learned from another teacher. 

My background in Special Education equipped me with effective teaching strategies for my TCC classes. One method stands out as the best strategy for TCC students: Partner Practice is considered a best practice in teaching at all educational levels.

Partner Practice promotes student interaction and encourages them to share what they know by exploring a movement together. It is fun, and promotes higher level thinking skills, use of vocabulary related to TCC, and actually doing movement together rather than talking about them. It can and should be used with all levels, from beginner to advanced. Best of all, it promotes friendship and personal confidence in what students are learning and how well they are moving. Happy, confident students become well-prepared TCC teachers.

Please share a first-person story about Justin.

For years Justin wanted to hold a 10-day retreat with TCC teachers, but we were working full time and could not get away. In 1989, the first 5-day retreat was held at the Green Gulch Zen Center in Northern California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. About 25 TCC teachers arrived, determined to please Justin in whatever he asked.

On Day 1, winter weather brought fog and bitter cold. That did not deter us from gathering at the huge Zendo temple each morning where we meditated together, sitting on elevated platforms.

On Day 2, many brought a blanket from our room to wrap around us while meditating. Howling winds swept through the trees and temple grounds. We went deep into meditation. No one complained. Justin referred to the Zendo as “Outer Mongolia” and we silently agreed.

On Day 3, something quite unexpected happened. At breakfast, Justin announced: “We won’t be going to Outer Mongolia today. I have arranged with the head Monk for us to use another room for meditation. There is no point suffering any more in the frigid Zendo. We proved we can do it. Now we are moving to another location.” We looked at each other and smiled. Many of us realized that Justin would always be our master teacher, and as of this day, he was also part human.

This was a deeply meaningful time with Justin, meditating together, and hearing amazing personal stories of his years in the Far East. We learned much about meditation techniques and were privileged to be in his presence. His comment after the first full day was: “I would meet all of you anywhere in the world to meditate. Most yogis and saints I met in the Far East don’t take meditation as seriously as you do. Congratulations.”

What lasting lesson(s) have you learned from Justin and his teachings?

TCC is the most precious gift that flowed into my life. It has nourished me and my many students for decades and made us better people.