TCC & People With Alzheimer’s

How do we teach T’ai Chi Chih to people who speak languages we don’t and who have multiple physical disabilities and/or Alzheimer’s disease? Jerry Bumbalough presented this topic at the conference and my husband and I visited one of his classes two weeks later.

Twice a week, Jerry teaches 40-50 students at The Wisdom Adult Day Health Care Center in Salinas, California. When we arrived, we wondered how a TCC class could be taught in such a huge room and busy environment with hundreds of people moving around. Jerry had created a calm, secure place for practice by placing chairs in a corner and bringing serene music to play.

When he volunteered to teach TCC here two years ago, he expected students to be English-speaking senior citizens. The Center also provides day care for Spanish-speaking patients with Alzheimer’s, however, and when many attended his first class, he wondered how it would be possible for him to teach, given that he speaks only English. Antonia provided part of a solution, he said, suggesting he start class by saying, “Copy me.” From here, he began an ongoing process of trial and error.

Jerry teaches the group seated TCC, with students’ feet flat on the ground and no rocking of the torso. He omits sideways movements and makes each movement very definite. He said, “I complete a movement, go to the rest position (hands on thighs) and then look around to see how everyone is doing.” The benefits are clear: a Center psychologist’s report noted that people who had attended class were “less agitated and more relaxed after practice” and “were eager to practice.”

We saw how Jerry’s compassion enables him to connect with participants who are anxious or have difficulty communicating. It was heart opening to see people with such profound disabilities trying TCC movements, participating in most, as their expressions became more peaceful. Perhaps the most moving moment for me was when a young man with little control over his limbs joined the class and did Pulling Taffy the best he could. Jerry projected a strong quality of unconditional acceptance and nonverbally gave encouragement to each student. As the session ended, students gave themselves a hug, clapped, cheered and praised their efforts, calling out two words in English: “Good job!”

Three-Part Harmony

Lynne Roberts Missoula, Montana

Justin’s Caretaking

I would like to personally acknowledge and express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the caregivers, especially the T’ai Chi Chih teachers and students, for their kind and compassionate care for Justin.

the

black cat

moves at night

calms my stress and

refreshes

busy, still

soul

Conference

The conference is always a very special time for me to refresh and renew friendships and of course my T’ai Chi Chih practice. As the only active teacher in Missoula, I crave time to move with my fellow teachers, who otherwise seem so far away. I am so grateful that, despite some inner turmoil, I decided to arrive a day early. I had the privilege of joining a TCC practice with Antonia, Pam and Sandy overlooking the Columbia River. The next morning, 69 of us came together for a TCC practice in the Lan Su Chinese Garden. This was a fabulous experience and wonderful beginning to our conference. Thank you to all who took part in putting “Bridges to Joy” together. Well done.

Seijaku

One of the first things Pam said at the Seijaku training that I audited was, “Listen to your body, sit down, do fewer reps, take care of yourself.” With that said, the second day I wrote, “What’s causing me to be so sleepy, especially during sit-down teaching sessions? My eyes get so heavy and want to close? I want to discover the deeper meaning here and in my self-process I know I won’t know until I know, which is usually revealed hours or days later. More to be said.”

Day 1: I felt good moving, I felt more energy moving through my right hand. “This is good,” I thought, surprised since it had been months since I last practiced Seijaku. It came back to me; I was delighted.

Day 2: I lost that good feeling. What am I doing? I’m not sure. I’m too thought-filled: soles of feet, resist, let go, oh yes, and remember Ann’s Seijaku talk at the conference … let go of something that doesn’t serve me anymore … hmmmm, fear, judgment … give it color, texture – oh my, where am I? Move soft/ hard/soft. Breathe. Relax, your breath will follow in accordance. Push though resistance with both feet on the floor, more with intention than muscular, okay, got that. But where’s my effort of no effort? Practice, practice, practice.

Back to my sleepiness and heaviness … what I know is I’m in the process of letting go of having to have things a certain way, and yet knowing that taking care of myself also means setting boundaries in my life. I will remember Justin’s comment that Seijaku helps us make progress in our growth of learning who and what we are and according with reality. In closing, the sweet words “I love you, Justin” are enough.