The Pros & Cons of Zoom TCC

I have offered a Zoom T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) practice four days a week since March 2020. Most students and teachers in the group join at least three times weekly. This consistency helps them integrate TCC practice into their lives. It gives them the opportunity to meet practitioners, learn concepts, and read Justin Stone’s writings. It’s like we are attending an ongoing retreat.

Over the years, I have always journaled and read about TCC. My regular TCC practice has brought insight and a deeper understanding of the movements on multiple levels. One advantage of Zoom is that I now share my knowledge, insights, skills, and joy of TCC.

It also helps me be consistent in my TCC practice because I offer a silent practice where students integrate their own learnings or simply practice at their own level, whatever their intention and inspiration. I have no desire to teach during the TCC practice, as the Chi is the ultimate teacher. However, I do offer my perception on questions, comments, experiences brought before or after the practice and optional meditation.

I translate Zen writings and Justin’s writings into the TCC movements, especially in the principles of how to move. The teaching occurs at many levels: body, mind, emotional, and spiritual.

The coming together is inspirational and requires discipline, as I go through the highs and the lows of my own life. I practice and integrate with integrity my own teaching. The gatherings allow the Chi to do its work within each of us in its own way, whether for healing, clarity, joy, having time for group practice, learning, integrating, or simply to feel good.

I am constantly reminding myself to get my ego out of the way. I serve the Chi, and I do not need to know what that exactly means or where it leads. I simply allow my inner wisdom to lead the Zoom practice wherever it needs to go.

I always ask participants and my inner wisdom (prajna) if it is for my highest and best good — and the highest and best good of the participants — to continue the weekly practices. The answer has been a big yes. I give myself a rest or pause, a month here, a week there, but once I have committed to continue a series, I am present with the participants and organize my life around it.

The optional meditation is where everything comes together. Whatever the participants bring prior to the practice, or I bring as written words or insights, or the Chi brings during the practice combines for a deeper experience of the Chi, the joy in every cell, and an increased awareness of coherence within the body, mind, heart, and spirit.

We are becoming more evolved, more compassionate human beings from this experience. I see only advantages to the live, group Zoom TCC practices.

Zoom Followers Share:

“When you were away and I was not practicing as regularly, I noticed I was doing T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) even when I was not doing it. It has become such an integral part of my being and nervous system that I feel it has re-wired me. I often respond to life with an internal registering of the TCC principles that I have learned and been practicing. It does confer a peace and calm previously not known. It is a connection to something deeper and unknowable, but very knowable.” — Melissa, Kansas City

“Reflecting on the past year, and after becoming an accredited TCC teacher, I have experienced greater generosity and compassion. I also have a new inspiration for paying it forward by valuing and sharing my skills while gaining personal satisfaction knowing I am contributing to bettering others and myself.” — Steve Geer, California

“This last year of TCC has led to significant growth in awareness. “Letting go” has haunted me but practicing it has sparked an inner joy and an increase of curiosity for more. The movements and principles have become a feeling rather than a knowing; I experience the Chi and tan t‘ien as real. Affirmations and meditation are new tools to enable me to learn of myself. The breath, the heartbeat, and the machine we call our body is a miracle. To be awake has led to a growing appreciation of this life. Discovering and building a relationship with my higher self is setting my course. Recently, a sensitivity to changing vibrations has emerged. What a year. TCC is the spark that ignited this fire of awareness.” — John Marquez

“The month Lorraine left to be with her family in Canada, each morning I performed the massage and set the timer for 20 minutes per Justin Stone’s instructions and did 18 repetitions of each movement, stopping when the timer went off. It was very fulfilling to do 18 reps even though at first, I could not imagine having the patience to endure it. But there was a different rhythm, slower and more flowing, that came with 18 reps. Of course, I never made it through all the movements. When the timer went off, I meditated. During the time Lorraine was away, a classmate and I touched base nearly every day, which helped me be faithful. Checking in was a highlight of each day. When Lorraine returned, it was also lovely to see other group members return. Seeing their Zoom squares was invigorating. Practicing together felt like a real community.” — Nicky Mendenhall