Newsletter #126 - February 2012

I learned a very valuable lesson early in my teaching career.  My first class started off as a roaring success. It commenced with twenty students in a hall too small for this number. However I was delighted with the response and all progressed just fine. I had a few drop out, as expected, and the class settled at a consistent fifteen. We had started in the September and as we approached holiday season and the long break the atmosphere in the class was very upbeat, so much so the group organized a picnic for our last class. We all had a ball, and everyone was returning the next year.

So on the first class of the following year, all excited, I stood in the hall with three students. Where had I gone wrong? After much talk and beating of breast, and analysis, I reached the conclusion that while the students had enjoyed themselves, however, they had not taken ownership of their tai chi. My challenge!! How do I encourage my students to own their tai chi.

Now I would like to share with you something I call, “The Cement”-“Winning the confidence and respect of your students” This is the glue that keeps my classes together and everybody winning. It is easy to say but not so easy to put into action, so this is how I work to achieve it.

I try to Listen to what my students are saying, not only to me but also particularly to their fellow participants. I try to listen with my ears, eyes, heart and mind, not only to what they are saying but also to their body language, for this really tells me what their real attitude is. I work to be open and honest in my dealings and what I say at all times. I involve my students in as much of the process as possible and encourage them to have their input. I encourage them as often as possible and always use positive comments. I praise them as a group and especially individually, as this helps them to feel good about themselves and works to build a culture of a positive and welcoming environment. Laugh - and laugh often, builds a happy and enjoyable classroom.

So how has all of this worked for me? Well I have started a number of classes since the awakening, I am teaching approximately ninety to one hundred students per week across the TCH menu, and Yang and Sun styles, a little qigong, and my classes are located in community halls and private and government organisations.

My Impressions of Sydney 2012
Aileen Moxon, scholarship recipient, Pukekohe, Franklin, NZ

When I learned that I had won a scholarship from the Tai Chi for Health Community (NZ), I was delighted, and terrified all at the same time! What would it be like, how would I cope, and above all could I handle a whole six days of tai chi?

The answers - Fantastic, I would survive to tell the tale, and “yes‟!

Rather than prattle on as my husband would say, I thought I would abbreviate my impressions:

• A sense of expectation from the moment I walk through the gates of St Vincents College.
• Enthusiasm that oozed out of every pore, of those I met, similar to the geothermal energy that bubbles from the earth in Rotorua. (One of NZ‟s premier attractions)
• The powerful sound of silence, as we listened and absorbed the energy generated from demonstrations.
• The fluidity of movement, as mind and body coordinate together in physical and mental poetry.
• The openness of participants to learn and their ability to share.
• The harmony among participants and instructors that undulates outwards like waves rippling on a pond.
• The wonderful sensation that felt like “controlled floating”.
• The positive focus, as opposed to stress, which allowed us to learn and enjoy.
• The smiles, the noise, no, not of the City, rather the sounds of sharing experiences, the laughter and occasionally tears of emotion, and the hugs - so healing.
• The fellowship, meeting new friends, renewing old friendships.

So visiting Sydney was memorable in many ways, and I think everyone I spoke to had a common goal, that thirst for knowledge, and like them, the more I learn, the more I know I need to learn. From the bottom of my heart, I give thanks to all those who made it possible. Until the next workshop ...

ACSM Recommends Tai Chi
Jim Starshak, Master Trainer, Shawnee, KS, USA

Master Trainer Jim Starshak has been involved in fitness for most of his life.  He is recognized by the IDEA Health & Fitness Organization as an Elite Personal Fitness Trainer and is “Re-Certified with Distinction” as a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  He currently teaches in Kansas, USA.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organization.  They promote and integrate scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance individual’s physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.  For most of us probably know them best for their standardized exercise protocols used health, fitness, and rehabilitation professionals throughout the world.  When ACSM speaks, people listen!

In 2011, ACSM added a new exercise category – Neuromotor – to the familiar categories of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Muscular Fitness, and Flexibility.  Neuromotor—or Functional Fitness—incorporates motor skills such as balance, coordination, gait, and agility along with proprioceptive training. ACSM recommends that all healthy individuals participate in a neuromotor exercise two to three times each week. This is significant to all of us as ACSM specifically includes tai chi as a neuromotor exercise.

In order to improve and maintain physical fitness and health, ACSM states that it is essential for most adults to participate in a program of regular exercise that is beyond their activities of daily living and includes cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility, and neuromotor training.  Multifaceted physical activities, such as tai chi, inherently involve all of those exercise categories.  According to ACSM, neuromotor exercise training is especially beneficial as part of a comprehensive exercise program for older persons to improve their balance, gait, agility, muscular strength, and to reduce their risk of falls and fear of falling

Although designed years ago, our Tai Chi for Health programs each dovetail perfectly with ACSM’s new guidance.  Our programs also comply with ACSM’s additional guideline that exercise programs should be easily modifiable to meet any individual’s habitual physical activity, physical function, health status, exercise responses, and goals.  Both these facts should be mentioned when promoting your Tai Chi for Health class.

ACSM readily admits that we need much more research on tai chi. However, they also recognize that tai chi is already the most widely studied functional fitness program, and, that it has been shown to be effective in improving balance, agility, motor control, proprioception, and quality of life.  Although limited by the number of tai chi studies on younger populations, ACSM’s evidence still suggests that exercises that involve balance and agility—such as tai chi—may reduce anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and recurrent ankle injuries in men and women athletes. Tai Chi for Health really does have something to offer just about anyone!

Reference:
Gerber, CE et.al. Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults: Guidance for Prescribing Exercise.  Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise:  43:7 July 2011, pp 1334-1359. 
Accessed at: http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2011/07000/Quantity_and_Quality_of_Exercise_for_Developing.26.aspx.

In Terre Haute when I saw the Push Hands demonstration Saturday, I knew I wanted to uproot the tree myself so I invited instructor Mearl Thompson, to come to North Carolina for some training with my students. The workshop was a huge success and the information was precious.  One student, Philip Griffin, expressed it this way: “The thing that struck me is that push hands is the essence of yin and yang in action.  In our tai chi forms we display yin and yang principles in postures, and yes even feel yin and yang through the expression of our body movements.  But push hands “Is” different.  Yin and yang are fully concrete, completely visible and felt, and entirely expressed in every movement of push hands.  I think push hands makes the interplay between yin and yang clear and easy to grasp and understand.  Solo tai chi postures take on new meaning and feeling with that deeper understanding.”

Paul Finkel, another participant, described the experience this way: “Although I thought I had a good comprehension of tai chi walking and weight shifting when doing a form, that is, putting down the heel then the toe and then shifting the weight into that leg, the Push Hands method of drawing the knee forward, then relaxing into the posture allowed me to feel the energy flow down my back and into the heel of the back foot and into the ground for the first time.  As a result I know now that I need to have more moments of relaxing into the postures when I do tai chi.”

Betty Akiba realized after the workshop that the spiral energy and the figure eight movements we were practicing in Sun style “would provide the power that was needed in martial arts applications. For example, Mearl demonstrated how to pull an opponent slightly downward toward him and then push up from the heels while straightening the arms to get his partner off balance.  It was an “a-ha” moment to connect the dots between martial art movement and what we strive for in tai chi for health and energy.  Spiral movements are not only beautiful, flowing and efficient; they are strong and powerful, without being effortful.”