The Return of TCC

T’ai Chi Chih has been a lifeline and remarkable silver lining during COVID-19. I was introduced to the practice by my longtime friends Lisa Otero and KG. After Lisa moved away from Boston, I practiced faithfully with Carmen Brocklehurst’s video (which, when I started learning, was only available on VHS!). There are no TCC teachers in the Boston area, but Lisa visits me from time to time and offers fine-tuning. As a pianist, I have always been good at practicing on my own, and that is what I’ve done for a decade with TCC. In the last year, however, Iyengar Yoga took over my interest and TCC went almost into retirement. 2020 has made me realize it was merely in hibernation.

Once COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and social distancing became the norm, group yoga classes were out. I had never cultivated a home practice and online yoga classes do not appeal to me.

Instead, I revived my almost–daily, morning TCC, followed by a weekday Zoom morning prayer minyan (a Jewish prayer circle) with regular kibbitzing (hanging out) afterwards in breakout rooms. My routine — TCC, prayer and a coffee klatch — has sustained my body, soul and heart through these long months (and has made me a better housemate to my partner David and our new cat, Eevie).

Thank you, Justin. Thank you, Kim. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, TCC and TCC community. Did I hear anyone say Amen? Amen!