Student Journal Excerpts

Last fall was my first time teaching T’ai Chi Chih at a local university. I asked students to keep a journal in which they wrote something weekly throughout the semester. Since classes were only 50 minutes, there was little time for talking. So I thought having the students keep journals would be a good way for me to be aware of their thoughts and experiences. I also had them discuss a TCC “metaphor” which was a lot of fun. (P.S. This semester I was invited back to teach three classes for P.E. credit.)

“I told my advisor to recommend TCC to more freshman because it’s so relaxing and gets rid of a lot of stress (especially for engineering majors). I also asked why there wasn’t a second class; he almost signed me up for the class again.”

“TCC helps me forget the outside environment and all the craziness that we have to deal with. Being in class and performing these movements puts me in a place where I can focus on the present and feel the energy flow.”

“During Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to share what I’d learned with my whole family. My sister loved doing the movements because she’s always running around with work and her son. So it was good for her to just relax. It felt good to help someone else feel what I get to feel every week.”

“I’ve loved doing TCC. I came into college very stressed out and this course gave me a place to be calm.”

“Things have been really crazy but I’ve been able to handle my stress better because of TCC.”

“I wasn’t able to come to class because I didn’t feel well, but I still practiced on my own.”

“My asthma has felt better from the one exercise. Thank you.”

“I’ve been noticing some of the effects of TCC: My overall stress level has definitely decreased and my body feels rejuvenated even more than last week.”

“There was a lot more Chi flow. My fingers tingled and my feet felt glued to the floor.”

“As soon as we began the first stance, I really put my mind in “focus mode” and I definitely felt the Chi. Wow. When I left class I felt extremely relaxed and completely stress free. It was as if someone completely wiped my slate clean.”

“I think TCC is one of the most important classes I have ever taken.”