What A Difference

In January 2009 I enrolled in a class I thought was T’ai Chi. Being a Type A personality, I arrived early and said hello to a young man walking in at the same time and asked if he was taking the class. He smiled and said, “I’m the instructor.” Embarrassed, I smiled and sat down. When all the students arrived, Pete demonstrated T’ai Chi Chih. I was amazed, maybe hypnotized, at what I saw and felt – the inner sense of peace and tranquility so evident in his moves. The effortless grace and softness. The quiet practice. He made it look so easy and so beautiful. I wanted to keep this feeling. I thought, “this isn’t what I thought I signed up for,” but I knew I was hooked. When we all stood up and started to practice, I was going left instead of right, totally confused with Passing Clouds. Forget Pulling Taffy; I’d never get that. Geez.

Fast-forward one year: I am able to do all the moves; all the moves have changed the way I feel; my thinking is so much clearer; my memory is getting better; the arthritis that plagued my back is almost non-existent. Before TCC one of my biggest problems was falling. My family was starting to worry; it seemed as though I was down more than I was up. But I haven’t fallen once this year. Amazing. Three years ago I lost most of the hearing in one ear, and the doctors said it would not come back. Well, it has started coming back. My blood pressure has gone down over 30 points. I’m no longer ruled by a clock. I find myself listening more. I find myself quieter, yet a full feeling of life feels like it is growing inside.

Our instructor happens to be the only certified TCC instructor in northwest Indiana. He is humble in his presentation and teaching, patient, and makes every week a unique learning experience. He constantly is working on us getting softer, feeling more Chi; and we are improving. Very few people miss class. You can’t imagine the difference TCC has made in my life.