T’ai Chi Chih offered at Canadian prison

Lynn Shaw-Ringham and Guadalupe Buchwald from Victoria are currently involved in the second year of T’ai Chi Chih at William Head Medium Security Prison for Men [WHI] in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

There are approximately 250 inmates in this very modern and progressive facility. The residents’ ages range from the mid-20’s to mid-60’s and they come from across Canada. They live in homes with up to six people per house and have different programs as part of their activities. Sister Judy Morin, a Sister of Saint Ann, was the contact that finally opened the doors for us to teach T’ai Chi Chih, in WHI, under the Chaplain Services umbrella.

In 2000, from January to July, we held our first program. We had about 20 men participating in this course. William Head has a constantly changing population, so it was necessary to adapt our course to this reality. After the first nine-week beginners class we ran an ongoing program until the Summer. This allowed continuous intake of new students at all times, while keeping some of the advanced ones.

Currently we have 11 inmates and three staff members attending our program. We plan to run another nine-week beginners course, and perhaps continue on an ongoing basis until late Spring.

When we asked the participants what were their thoughts about the T’ai Chi Chih course, these were some of their responses:

“I am a big man and I want to learn how to be a gentle giant.”

“I feel clean after the practice, and I particularly like to clean my liver.”

“I am curious about a gentle approach.”

“I feel relaxed and enlightened.”

“I like something that promises both physical and spiritual dimensions.”

Most of our students come from a course in Non-Violent Communication [NVC] that we also participate in as volunteers — as a spinoff from our first TCC class. We initially felt we were giving a service to the William Head Community, but through TCC and NVC, we have learned a great deal. In TCC we see the transformation of the participants into gentle, fluid and harmonious beings when the Chi flows. Through NVC we have reaped benefits, as well as learning new dimensions, firsthand, about parts of our society.

In conclusion, we are very grateful to Justin, to T’ai Chi Chih, and Sister Judy Morin on guiding our path to William Head Institution, having the advantage over our participants in the knowledge, that at the end of the day, we can leave and go home.

Happy Chi from the William Head participants, Lynn and Guadalupe. . . .