Things That Make My Chi Smile

A woman came to a first beginner’s T’ai Chi Chih class. She looked around and started walking out. I asked what’s wrong? She said it wasn’t for her. Another student overheard her and struck up a conversation. She stayed. During the class introduction I discussed that the movements could be done seated if necessary, and I demonstrated. During the first two warm-up movements the woman who had almost left became short of breath. She proceeded to do the remaining movements seated but stood for the last review movement. The Chi smiled the next week when she returned.

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During another class, a student who’d been practicing for several months approached me after class. She mentioned that her severely handicapped adult son visits every other weekend. Since practicing she has begun holding her hands on both sides of his head and on his body. She feels energy when she does TCC and is sharing it with her son. Thank you for another Chi smile.

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Attendance varies for another TCC class within a retirement facility. After the students and I did several movements and ended our practice, one regular resident smiled and said, “Of all the classes offered here, this is the only one where I feel something afterward.” I felt a Chi smile.

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Jennifer had taken a class last year and returned for another. After one class she waited to share that because of practicing last year, she was able to stop taking her anti-depressant medication. Since then, though, her father had passed away, she stopped practicing and resumed the medication. She returned to take another class to hopefully help her reduce the need for medication. Smile Chi. Smile.

I am so grateful for these moments.