TCC Promotes Emotional Healing

Complied by Julie Heryet, El Dorado, California

David H. – In this T’ai Chi Chih class I feel an internal cleansing, like a shower. I feel grounded and refreshed. I do it every day in my cell. I grew up moving like this in a small village in Fiji with my Grandma and Mom, but I didn’t know what it was. This class has given a face to it. My village was loving and hospitable but other villages were violent and would attack us. I’ve come to Folsom from Level 4 [the highest level in the prison system] and I have over 100 stab wounds on my body. I’m sensitive to people’s energy, and this class is healing the wounds I have on the inside that no MRI will show. Like having a broken heart, like when my wife passed away, no one can see it but it can heal. This class centers and balances me and contributes to my 24 years of sobriety from heroin. It heals the pain from my childhood and the pain from my addiction. I haven’t felt this peaceful in a long time. I wake up and choose to be peaceful. The flow of these gentle movements are the opposite of prison, of how my dad always said, “Get in there and fight.” But now I have softness and continuity, and this is not weak, it is strong. I can’t see myself not doing it every day. It’s my medicine. It’s how I get high now.

Jonathon R. – You ladies [the TCCteachers] are like a little string that connects us to the world out there. I believe things happen for a reason. Sure no one wants to be in prison, but being in this class, it’s like things happening on time. When I saw this practice on the prison television, I knew it was a sign. I started coming, and I experience it as a chance to share a moment of life with others. When I’m doing the practice, I’m not like a sponge, but it creates a filter – filter for bad thoughts all around this place. We keep the practice simple and easy, and everything gets better. This practice is like healing a broken bone. Once healed, it’s stronger than it was before. We develop an inner muscle that balances you: not too strong, not too weak. When I see these guys from class out on the yard, we share a connection. We nod and we know. I’m learning to listen beyond the prison chaos, to the universal energy that connects and completes us. We are the filter for this energy, we have healing power to share with others, we just need to stay connected. This is what I want to do on the streets: share this.

Steven F. – I’ve been in this class for four years and came after the law library closed. Now I have a center point in my life: it’s TCC. On the Tier I mirror Lawrence doing the movements from across the cellblock. Other guys will yell, “Hey, what are you doing? You look funny.” But I don’t care. The pain in my body is gone and I feel good. I used to be filled with anger and hate, and I was very aggressive. Now I’m able to quiet down, pray, and do my movements. I come every week: it’s my lifeline. After Julie started testing us and I got all three certificates, I felt like it said, “I AM T’ai Chi Chih.” Not just in class but on the inside. When I’m here I feel connected with the universe and feel community with the guys. We see each other on the yard, and even though we move in different circles, we know who we are. No words are needed. When I get out I want to be a teacher and pass this along to others, to share this calm. Once you have it, it stays with you. Like your spirit senses you are a part of something.

soft

focus

flow from Chi

weight shift body

of motion

within

soul

poise

posture

within Chi

stays with forever

become part

focus

Chi

I

just don’t

belong here

but I’m so glad

you guys are

in my

life

love

is one

power that

heals all the wounds

of a cruel

turmoiled

life

I

know that

everyone

truly desires

to live in

peace and

joy

don’t

be what

you are not

because along the way

someone will

prove you

wrong

here

with them

I know peace

inside we are

together

simply

peace

– Judy Tretheway