Teacher Training via Zoom with Daniel Pienciak; July 30 – August 8

Hosted by April Leffler, Prospect Park, Pennsylvania

Host’s Note: There seemed to be a greater flow in the implementation of this T’ai Chi Chih Zoom course than previous ones. Perhaps more people are deepening their Zoom experiences. In preparing for the graduation ceremony, new teachers were asked to share a personal Mission Statement with regard to teaching after Dan had displayed their certificate on the screen. Listen to and feel their teh.

Personal Mission Statements from New Teachers

Barbara McAnamy: As an accredited T’ai Chi Chih teacher I will continue developing my own regular practice, and I will reach out to the many TCC resources available, experienced teacher classes, and mentoring opportunities to hone my abilities. My deepest passion is to share my love of this simple yet profound practice — helping others find this deepening awareness of inner joy, serene calm, and gratitude. Justin’s words in his Folsom Prison video deeply affected me in that I want to re-visit going to our local women’s prison to offer classes. The benefit to society is far reaching.

Cindy Nelson: My mission as a teacher is to promote the personal practice of T’ai Chi Chih following the principles set out by Justin Stone. I will support students by providing engaging and fun classes and recognizing each person’s unique life journey.

Debbie Keatley: My mission is to work very hard to find my words so that I may move forward in teaching T’ai Chi Chih more fluently. I look forward to meeting and working with new people so that I may share with them the many benefits TCC has to offer – be it health, self-awareness, or enlightenment – and to live in harmony with everyone, including themselves.

Eileen Skinner: My mission in sharing T’ai Chi Chih is to bring awareness to this valuable wellness practice. People will become aware that we have the ability to help ourselves to manage stress and relax as well as balance and circulate our energy.

Kay Rydeen: My mission is to continue to nurture the practice of T’ai Chi Chih within myself, with students, and with the TCC community, and to honor the integrity of TCC and preserve it.

Mary Kay Chavez: My mission is to bring the joy of moving meditation, known as T’ai Chi Chih, to my community with openness to the possibility of healing in mind, body, and spirit.

Nel Beaman: My mission is to spread the practice of T’ai Chi Chih in the Bay Area of California, and especially to seniors. I hope our seniors will learn to balance the Chi (Vital Force) and as a result, enjoy good health. This practice improves flexibility and balance thus allowing our seniors to live independently and gracefully age in place. I would like to introduce TCC to musicians, especially violinists, and allow them to discover the enhanced creativity derived from the balanced Chi. The softness of the practice should allow musicians to relax while playing their instrument. For violinists, soft hands translate to allowing the bow to glide from one string to another without effort, playing that beautiful music that soothes the soul.

nia rose: My mission is to share T’ai Chi Chih and its benefits with those who would not otherwise encounter it.

Patty Stupca: My mission is to teach T’ai Chi Chih and share how to find and experience balance in one’s energy and life.

Veronica Joseph: As a T’ai Chi Chih teacher, my mission is to keep evolving and learning so that I may share TCC the best I can. And to empower others by teaching them how to maximize the benefits of TCC, so they can optimize their wellbeing and live their best lives.

Victor Dougherty: As a T’ai Chi Chih teacher, it is my mission to maintain involvement in the TCC community, stay fresh through evolving educational opportunities, and to share the practice with anyone interested.

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PAGE HEADER: New Teacher Experiences

Accreditation Week Experiences (July 30 – August 8)

Barbara McAnamy, Wilmington, Delaware

The two months before T’ai Chi Chih accreditation were really intense: I did everything I could to work with teachers to get details for all the movements. Going into accreditation, I still felt a bit unsure of my front weight shift. Daniel caught my uncertainty and asked me to work with Marie Dotts, who is known to have a keen eye for spotting issues. During my second session with her, she asked me to practice very slowly, meditatively walking to notice the full front weight shift.

Now, alone in my kitchen I began practicing the new slow walk awareness. I suddenly had a new understanding of the shift and of the tan t’ien. As I began practicing Bass Drum using this new knowing, I felt an incredible overall sensation throughout my body, as if orgasmic. The sensation continued in each movement. The same thing happened in my practice the following day. Much to my delight, I enjoyed the Zoom training with a whole new awareness and inner joy. Once I had this experience, everything in the accreditation had deeper and more profound meaning. Much gratitude to Miracle Worker Marie for helping my TCC movements soften and my marriage bed to experience more Joy Thru Movement.

Eileen Skinner, Allentown, New Jersey

It was very rewarding to complete the TCC accreditation program. The activities were challenging but I felt supported. I gained a new awareness for the subtleties of the TCC movements. It was interesting to spend time with readings, videos, and hearing interactions that Daniel had with Justin Stone. I felt like I got to know the originator of TCC. Much gratitude goes to Daniel Pienciak, April Leffler, and the auditing teachers. They provided strong leadership while being very caring. The morning after completing the program, I observed geese paralleling the week of accreditation: gathering, refining, finding harmony. Nature is a wonderful storyteller.

Kay Rydeen, Rochester, Minnesota

Besides expanding my awareness to nuances and subtleties during movement, accreditation week further expanded my appreciation of the exceptional TCC community. 

Patty Stupca, Rochester, Minnesota

Breathe in and breathe out joy. Build joy through movement. Feel joy in life. I found joy in the week of accreditation. I became aware of the joy that was always there waiting for me.

Veronica A. Joseph, Albuquerque, New Mexico: Let Go & Let Be

Let go of the ego mind.

Surrender to the tan t’ien, the Teacher.

Feeling the soles of the feet and the tan t’ien.

Allowing them to guide me how to move as one,

with softness and continuity.

Flowing with the Cosmic Rhythm… Hahhhh…

The Universal Life Force — Source of all Energy

Is filling my body, mind, and spirit

with love, serenity, and harmony.

Our True Divine nature — Unlimited Potential.

Transcending from an ugly duckling

to a Beautiful Peacock. My “Eureka” moment.