T’ai Chi Chih on TV

News

Carmen Brocklehurst, Albuquerque, NM

Who would have thought, a year and a half ago, that this was possible? Not just on a local station or a public access station, but on mainstream, national PBS? At the time, it seemed that no one did, because, with scripts and music written, clothes bought and contacts made, the funding was nowhere to be found. We were what is called an ‘unknown quantity’. Even standard funders who automatically say yes to putting their names to programs said, “No way, find me another program.” It was like waiting for the first rose of summer to open it’s petals and show forth its glory; it would happen in its own good time. One well-meaning friend said to me, “Well, you didn’t really think it would happen, did you?” Thank goodness for the faith that KNME in Albuquerque, NM has in us, because when everything seemed to fall through, we all took a deep breath and began looking for funding again, and did more refining of everything.

Now, after the first, very successful season, with repeats happening by public demand, people from coast to coast are talking about T’ai Chi Chih, Joy Thru Movement. The Albuquerque station is receiving about 75 calls a day from all over the United States and is working very hard to keep up with the book and tape orders – people want what we have. One of the biggest comments they are hearing at KNME-TV is, “I tried the other T’ai Chi’s that are out there and just couldn’t do it; this one makes so much sense. Why didn’t someone think of it before?” We have, and have been preparing for this time, and this is only the beginning. We are hearing so many wonderful comments from people of all ages. Even young (age 5) children, have come to take classes because of that T’ai Chi on TV, which “made them feel all tingly and good inside.”

Thank you all for the long years of dedication, of practice, practice, practice and of preparing ways to share T’ai Chi Chih, including your diligent work in calling and writing to the PBS stations across the country so that they would be aware of the desire on the part of the public to learn about T’ai Chi Chih. Thank you also for making yourselves available to let people know that you do T’ai Chi Chih and for being willing to grow. Your love and good wishes on behalf of the program have been a real treasure.

The Albuquerque station is interested in the possibility of a second season. They said that our ratings were better that the sports programs. Over 178 stations have picked up the program so far, and others that did not pick it up the first go round are asking for another satellite feed. Not bad for an ‘unknown quantity’. This should give us some idea of how much T’ai Chi Chih and we, as teachers of T’ai Chi Chih, are needed. Keep growing and glowing and …

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