Reflections From Event Participants

One of the first questions that is posed to me in an email or voice mail is, “Where in the world are you?” Actually, that is a question the Sisters in my community often ask as well. Lately there have been several T’ai Chi Chih retreats since the New Year, beginning in Philadelphia; St. Paul; Santa Barbara – Bay Area; and Atlanta. The most recent was in Hendersonville, NC, with 35 participants; twelve were teachers, a few teacher candidates and students of varying degrees of experience. All these individuals arrived with “beginners mind” from nine states with all but a few driving to Kanuga Conference Center is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

I am deeply grateful to all the hosting teachers for their invitations to present, then to find and create space, send the word out, communicate with and welcome participants. The hosting teachers are to be commended for their creativity, enthusiasm, and wanting TCC to abound in their areas. 

The following are reflections from participants at the Kanuga TCC Retreat. In asking individuals to find a word that best expresses their experience of the first day of our gathering, they came up with the following: peace x2 – joy x3 – shedding – remembrance – fellowship – energy x2 – inquisitive – convey – proud – love x2 – enlightenment and awesome – a touch of enlightenment – connection – reflection – happiness – safety – exhaustion – integration – plug–in (good access to energy source).

The other question was: What insights did you gain during the retreat? Here is a sampling of their responses: 

• Ease of movement, lack of effort, and simplicity of action works best in TCC. I love the contained, yet open, quality of TCC.

• It’s not in the trying. I started feeling the “joy through movement” and letting go.

• I cleaned up my technique and justified my focus of energy with less trying; great reward. It was a blessing, especially practicing in a circle.

• Thanks for the reminder of the “open wrist” especially in Daughter on the Mountaintop and in Six Healing Sounds.

• I have changed my form by paying attention and yet letting go, thereby bringing the form more together – like opening up my wrists more in many movements.

• I have a better understanding of being grounded with the feet and wrist action.

• There were so many “ah ha” moments I cannot remember them all, but I am sure when I go to the next practice, some will come through.

• I gained the insight that TCC practice connects me with my life force energy. My awareness of that gives me great joy and peace within. It helps me be … now.

• Use less shoulders in most movements.

• I noticed the foot placement in Anchor Taffy.

• There was an ease of exploring the weight shift.

• I feel more the connection in the weight shifts, hand movements, and tan t’ien.

• I can really feel myself moving with my tan t’ien. I am now doing better having all the movements flow from the center; it’s very profound.

• My form has changed by moving from the tan t’ien. It’s the essence of TCC and a marvelous gift received from Justin. The moves are so much softer; more energy is gained by moving from the center.

• I regained a current exposure to teaching, so I can recommit to my practice with more assurance; I have a new book and DVD to explore and use; I want to have a daily practice. The details of the movements are clarified.

• I have a better understanding of the relationship between weight shifts and the range of wrist/hand/arm motion (or no motion).

• I have a better knowledge of the tan t’ien and moving as one with a connected body, with my suspension like a string of pearls.

• I don’t worry so much now that I have it wrong. I feel my practice has been fine–tuned and I’m more correct in my form than ever. But I’m convinced that is not the most important aspect.

• I realize that when moving from the center, the other aspects of the movements can pretty much fall into place. I’m also keeping more grounded when doing the forward/backward movements.

• Pace has improved my flow and the flow of Chi. I now let my tan t’ien rule.

Well, this is where I’ve been. As Justin would say, “I’ve never met a person in TCC who I would not like.” What a blest community we are. Happy Spring.