Tai Chi, a Life Changing Experience
Marty Kidder, Master Trainer, Canton, CT, USA

Tai Chi has changed my life in so many ways, that as I starting to think about it and then think about Paul’s love of the number three I decided to keep this very simple.

Over the last year my youngest daughter and her newborn son has lived with us, and from the time Mason started crawling and then walking he would make his way into my office every morning and as he was crossing the threshold he would exclaim ‘hiiiiiiiii……..’ Whatever I am doing – stops. I gently and happily ‘yield to the incoming force’ – we play with his own keyboard, his own calculator, cell phone and phone – yes he has all the office stuff and we play. Nothing is more important. That was not the case with my kids when they would roll, stumble or crash into my ‘busy important life’. Tai chi has taught me to be more present in the moment, more attentive to my family and to gladly yield to their incoming forces….

Many of us have personal experiences on the healing benefits of tai chi and I do as well. At my first class I was in pain, on meds and my balance was; err, I had no balance. I was waiting until I was 60 for knee replacements. That way, according to the doctors, it would only happen once. 4 years into my tai chi for health journey the doctors confirmed what I already knew, I no longer need the replacements. I truly believe I have these two guys back to help spread the word about the healing power of tai chi.

I was introduced to TCH in June 2003 workshop in CT where I certified TCA. Stephanie was my teacher. When I returned home to Virginia I had to give my new skill set a try, I advertised a free introduction to tai chi and offered discounts to attract my first TCH students. One student in that very first class was Edith, I figure she was in her 80s, she was cheerful and would come to class in her walker. She lived at the assisted living centre next door to the parish hall where we met. She would stand for some of the class but spend a majority of the class sitting. About 5 or 6 weeks into the class, I asked Edith how the class was going. I was concerned she wasn’t getting what we were doing and falling behind the others. To my surprise, she smiled and said she loved it. Confused, which some of you would happily very is a normal state for me, I asked why. She then told me that when she first came to class she had very little range of motion in her arms. But over the last few weeks that range of motion was improving. She then told me that she was able to feed herself again without the help from the staff where she lived. I was floored, emotional and knew in my heart that this was what I needed to do. This was why I was given back my knees.

Yesterday – and this morning I took a very informal survey – I asked you ‘how has tai chi changed your life’ – here are but a few of the answers:
 
“I don’t yell at my kids anymore” - “The size of my mortgage is greater”
“I’m more independent” - “I’m more forgiving” - “I can be the caregiver, through my passion” - “I’ve met people from all over the world who are so different yet so much alike” - “I don’t get nervous when I have to make a presentation” - “I fell in love”
“I am poorer yet happier”

When I do my intro class I tell the students that if they come to class, practice just a little something will change, they may see an improvement in their balance, or flexibility or their stress level may be a little lower…I think I was expecting those types of physical answers when I asked the question to you how has tai chi changed your life. I was not expecting, “I don’t yell at my kids anymore” - “I’m more independent” - “I’m more forgiving” - “I can be the caregiver” - “I don’t get nervous” - “I fell in love” What I heard from you and what I’ve personally experienced through tai chi is that our journeys have stages. First, it’s the physical change; balance, flexibility, strength and range of motion, and then as our tai chi grows it’s internalized, and as we deepen our understanding, we slowly learn to yield to the incoming forces, to live in harmony with others and within ourselves.

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TC for A and Cooking
Daniela Ostezan, TCA Instructor, Lake Orion, MI, USA 

Growing up my Mom told me that it is good to know how to cook…

When I got married, I mastered how to boil an egg and make a good tea. Not too long into married life, I woke up one morning to a breakfast worthy of a queen. The kitchen table was full of a great spread prepared by my husband. That was the moment I decided to become a basic cook.

Considering a scientific approach, I started measuring ml and grams, paying attention to boiling points of 100°C, and adding or subtracting various degrees of temperature. My food was created by correct mathematics formulas (recipes) and was far for being delicious.

The years went by and life, children and cooking evolved from boiling an egg to fast and frozen foods.

In recent years people have started complementing me on my cooking creations which is rewarding and refreshing. All of this coincides with my daily TCA practice and teaching. The result was that TCA took over my cooking!

When I asked sifu Dan Jones when TCA would end, his answer was that “it is a journey”. So it was!  Going back to the Update and part 2 TCA workshop, I realized that subconsciously, the essential principles of TCA had extended into my cooking.
 
You can obtain Jing by eliminating the phone ringing and the kids interrupting with questions. The quality of what you can cook and serve in 45 minutes will be greatly improved. As Dr. Lam wrote “once attained it will help you deal with not only a martial art fight but with any crisis in real life”.

Song is necessary in cooking. You can’t be tense. When your chi is added to the food it will show in your children’s actions before you know it. ”Once you develop Song, your mind becomes Jing, thus setting up a positive circle” (Dr. Lam). At this point I start paying more attention to the process and not rushing through, I moved from mixing all of the ingredients at once to adding them one by one till completion.  As a result, Chen came into play enhancing stability and chi cultivation. Finally, Huo appeared when I spent time in the grocery store, checking isles and labels for better nutrition.  One needs to be strong with a powerful chi and be in a good mental state.
 
Since my humble beginnings I have learned to use ounces, cups and teaspoons.  Today I am glad to cook for my family. My cooking skills have improved and whatever love that I put in when cooking, or my excitement for Tai-Chi, for teaching it, for touching people’s lives, comes through in my cooking!

With the arrival of September children and teachers face the return to school assignments and of course tests. Read and enjoy some positive examples of humour and have a good laugh reading school children's ideas about science listed below. A Boston newspaper reported them a few years back. Most were from 5th and 6th graders' essays, exams, and class room discussions.