Q&A with Senior TCC Teacher Lynne Roberts

Missoula, Montana | Accredited 1988

Editor’s Note: We invited several long-time TCC teachers to share their experiences with us by answering a few questions. We’ll be featuring these interviews in upcoming issues.

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

It was 1988, and I had recently moved to San Luis Obispo, California. A friend invited me to attend a class that Corinn Codye was offering. It was a T’ai Chi Chih class at the Unity Church. What I didn’t know is that this class was for those TCC students of hers who were interested in further training to become a TCC teacher. I had no idea what I was going to experience. I followed her instructions and moved along with the others.

Afterward, she approached me and said she noticed how fluidly I was moving. She said if I was interested in becoming a TCC teacher, she would work with me one-on-one as there was a lot for me to learn. I decided to take her up on that offer. We only had a few months for me to be totally immersed in TCC and qualified to be accepted into this teacher training accreditation course. I met with Corinn regularly, practiced daily, and was fully committed. I wanted to be loyal to the Master of TCC, Justin Stone, whom I was told was a great believer of TCC teachers carrying his teachings into the world. I was intrigued by this new movement and anxious to learn more.

In my dancing career, since the age of five, I had been on many stages entertaining. As the years moved on, I became part of a group of dancers who entertained our military troops through United Service Organizations a/k/a USO Shows. Having ended my dancing days and knowing that my life was now settling down, I realized this was the moment to commit to an opportunity to carry on my love of dance through TCC. Yes, this was the year to rekindle my passions and redefine my world.

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

The time had arrived. November 1988, Morro Bay, California. TCC Teacher Accreditation with Justin Stone, Originator.

I don’t recall much about the accreditation course of several days. I can’t even recall how many others were part of the course. I do remember practicing moving and Justin talking to us. But the most memorable was the presentation that we were all expected to give. I can dance in front of crowds, but to speak was another story.

I was in the middle of my presentation, having just mentioned that Justin began teaching TCC around 1974 in Albuquerque, New Mexico when Justin interrupted me. He said, “That is not true.” You can imagine, I froze for a moment. I’m sure I turned all shades of red. Fortunately, I went right into demonstrating Bass Drum.

Thank goodness my dancing poise taught me that if you make a mistake, just keep going. Once I felt grounded, I completed my presentation. As soon as we had a break my classmates came rushing over to me to say, “You said Justin’s facts correctly.” That helped me feel better but what did Justin hear me say? Whatever he heard, I was devastated.

My decision to “to go for it” was exactly what I needed to make life better for myself and everyone around me. I had a new career future. Thank you, Justin, for believing in me to shine brightly, reach out into the world, connect to those who are looking for change in their lives. In doing just that, I was grounded into truly living a TCC life worth loving.

Lessons you have learned from Justin and his teachings.

I have learned how to be strong yet not disrespectful, humble yet not timid, and proud without arrogance.

Relate a teaching experience you had that made you laugh at yourself.

For the first several years (out of 32 years of teaching), I was embarrassed to admit to a mistake said or a move I might have done wrong, out of order, missed a move on one side or another. Rather, I would come up with an excuse of why that happened. I finally realized I was not only letting my class down, but I was also letting myself down. That’s when I started to laugh. What a relief to own up to a mistake and correct it. The challenge became mine to find the grace and style to stand amid the mistakes and shine brightly, be grounded, and lovingly correct myself. After all, Justin believed in me to teach TCC with integrity, honor, and conviction — to be authentic and true.