Teacher Symposium; Pennsylvania, August 2019

What exactly is a T’ai Chi Chih Teacher Symposium? It’s a little conference, a little intensive, a little retreat. I couldn’t agree more with the summations below from several participants. Plus its lots of fun, enriching and unique to the group that gathers.

Carolyn Andrews: “I attended as a newly accredited teacher to continue my TCC journey and better prepare to start my new classes. The nuances I learned in each movement continue to amaze me, benefit my practice and bring new insight and joy. Other teachers and Sandy McAlister shared their experiences and helpful hints without attitude, judgment or competitiveness. I especially enjoyed hearing stories from those trained by Justin Stone and appreciate the connectedness for those of us unable to meet Justin.”

Ron Richardson: “Sandy often used the word wholeness. As a chaplain for many years I identify with this word. We are whole people; we are more than a body. Sandy’s wholeness reference was to getting our whole body involved in the movements. She also talked about feelings as we practiced. We shared experiences with teaching particular movements. We were together with our good and bad, for healing and wholeness, and Sandy challenged us to return to our communities with a newness.”

Steve Koblick: “To learn the movements and benefits of TCC, one must practice regularly. To be a successful TCC teacher we must communicate effectively and make students feel comfortable.”

Lynne Jones-Dietze: “I didn’t expect a mini-intensive but received one, pushing through issues I might have walked away from to reach the other side.”

Deb Wein: “As a recently accredited teacher, I learned about different class formats and what each term meant to different attendees: open practices, drop-ins, continuing, beyond beginners and more.”

Sky Young-Wick: “This is the only event which focuses on teaching TCC. It is enlightening to learn refinements for our own practice, and how to teach students.”

Suanne Lewis: “I learned how to more simply breakdown movements into smaller segments for teaching and to better refine my own practice. The associations among other teachers, stories, sharing, humor and support was delightful. I heard different words to describe movements to students in a more meaningful way.”

Jack Weaver: “It was worth the effort just to learn another way to teach and present Rocking Motion.”

Kathleen McAllister: “It was amazingly helpful to submit discussion ideas ahead of time and have everyone’s input.”

Moving energy

through the universe smoothly

Celebrating Chi

Stillness – letting go

Allowing what’s meant to be

Experience Chi

Gliding energy

as one with the universe

Cumulating Chi

—Ev Hanson-Florin, MN