Workshop: That Which Knows

In Spring 2014, I found Marie Dotts’ beginning T’ai Chi Chih. In the first class, I knew I needed the practice, the people and the peace. I didn’t know that was prajna. Six months in, when Marie explained accreditation and talked about conference, I knew I needed to attend conference, meet teachers from beyond our local community. I didn’t know that was prajna.

Accreditation came in June 2016; my first conference was just two months later. The first new person I met was April Leffler. I was standing with Marie, and April walked up and was so excited about the birth of the Northern Colorado community. She used words like teh and prajna; she seemed mystical. The next day she gave a presentation about teaching at a university. One evening, she joined a conversation about next year’s conference. Her suggestions came from something I now know to be prajna. It would be another year until I saw her again in Boulder.

Following Seattle, I spent some time with Caroline Guilott and Lisa Otero. Right there, I made plans with Caroline for her to teach a workshop in my home studio a couple months later. I also spent the following year on weekly conference calls with Lisa Otero, planning the 2017 Boulder conference. Was that prajna?

After the Boulder conference, I had made plans with Caroline to play in Boulder for a couple extra days. When we headed out, Caroline asked if April could join us. It was more than okay; I wanted to ask April to lead a workshop in early December. She agreed and suggested the theme: “Prajna and Heightened Awareness.”

Once word got out to the Northern Colorado community, the number of students wanting to attend was more than my home studio would hold. Just one week prior to this, another area teacher found a restored barn that served as a community center just one mile from my home. I didn’t have a flyer prepared, but I knew there would be enough students for April’s workshop. I immediately reserved the barn. Prajna? I wasn’t sure yet.

I look forward to meeting more teachers at conference and hosting more workshops in Northern Colorado. Prajna tells me that is my current role and for that I am grateful.