Reducing Expectations & Judgments

A recent issue of The Vital Force explored various approaches to achieving the maximum benefits from our T’ai Chi Chih practice. I immediately noted on a scrap of paper that in my experience, the ratio between the type and duration of the practice and the benefits received is relative, not absolute.

Several years ago, The Vital Force published an article expressing my belief that people practicing TCC with teh received 100% of the benefits available. My years of teaching at Life Care Center and more recently teaching participants in an Easter Seal program have reinforced this belief.

Justin admonished us to watch our breath and posture without trying to change them. I believe he was encouraging us to let go of expectations and judgments, not only about our breath and posture, but also about our TCC practices and our lives.

After 34 years, I still deal with ego issues related to my TCC “performance.” These issues arise more prominently when I am at conference or another gathering with TCC teachers. They also surface now that I am attempting to prepare a teacher candidate.

I have never had a period of doing a full practice seven days a week beyond the first year. I see other teachers almost apologizing for not being more dedicated to receiving the full benefits of TCC.

Yet Justin repeatedly said 15 or 20 minutes once or twice a day is enough to circulate and balance the Chi. At 81 years of age, I prefer to do smaller sessions throughout the day, more than twice a day.

And I prefer to do TCC with others, regardless of the duration or level of competence. For example, I get an inexplicable feeling of joy and contentment from my class with people in wheelchairs, most of them with very limited cognition, at Life Care Center. While many of them cannot move anything but their arms and upper body, they are experiencing Joy Through Whatever TCC Movement they can do. They literally light up when doing Light at the Temple.

I’m always satisfied with my TCC practice and sometimes amazed at the benefits I receive from the weirdest practice. I was recently standing six feet from other customers in line at the bank, fearing that the notary would not notarize something that needed to go out in the five o’clock mail. The morning had been filled with one mishap after another. The libraries were closed so I could not use the printer there. I did not know if OfficeMax could print the document after the notary signed it.

I was trying to go with the flow, as is my usual intention, but I could feel stress beginning to arise. With the notary documents and a pen in one hand and my purse over my shoulder, I began to do Rocking Motion. I almost immediately felt as if I had done a full practice. I continued for about 15 minutes without a care in the world. (And I got my document in the five o’clock mail.)