{"id":4423,"date":"2014-03-03T15:24:47","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T20:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/?page_id=4423"},"modified":"2014-03-13T10:57:40","modified_gmt":"2014-03-13T14:57:40","slug":"student-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/student-perspectives\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]\n

Why did you start Tai Chi?<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text]
<\/i>
To have better balance, gain agility and have a more peaceful mind.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
I heard it was good for long term health. After a couple of classes, I continued because it didn't require any special equipment or clothing, practice took 15-20 minutes a day and I could do it in my kitchen.<\/h5><\/blockquote>[vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” thickness=”1″ up=”20″][vc_column_text]\n

What benefits have you experienced?<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text]
<\/i>
I was able to begin healing a spinal cord injury and drop my addiction to prescription pain killers. It helped to stop my chronic nerve pain.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Learning to relax individual muscles eliminated all pain from a whiplash injury, after having stiffness and lack of movement for 20 years and no success with treatments.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Tai Chi has given me mental relief during difficult times in my life. It has been the means of expanding my world by meeting many interesting, talented and warm friends. <\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
More flexibility, a much better awareness of my body, more patience with myself to trust in the process, and I love the meditative quality of practice.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Overall I am physically healthier. It\u2019s good for my osteoporosis and I keep growing ever closer to being relaxed. I also often think of the principles of push-hands as a metaphor for life and relationships. I like the idea of yielding and find myself telling myself to do that.
\n<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Tai Chi helps me to stay more present in the moment, which is something I've always struggled with. And my legs are much stronger than they've ever been.<\/p>\n

The most surprising benefit was something I was not aware of when I started. Several years ago I had significant hearing loss in my right ear. After having many tests with ENT doctors and other specialists to determine what could be done to help me. I was stunned by a question one of them asked. He wanted to know what I did for work and what else I did. I told him about my daily Tai Chi practice. He said that the reason he asked was because people with my condition have trouble keeping their balance and walking. I believe that without Tai Chi I would have problems in those areas. <\/h5><\/blockquote>[vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” thickness=”1″ up=”20″][vc_column_text]\n

What interests you most about Tai Chi?<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text]
<\/i>
I just can't escape the feeling that it makes me feel like I am always striving to be a better person, in every way.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
I understand downhill skiing quite well. I'm not in the Olympics because I have various mental and physical limitations. Tai Chi...I cannot really figure this thing out so that keeps me going. Plus the occasional times when the fog clears and I get a glimpse of its possibilities.<\/p>\n

I also believe Tai Chi is something that helps me become more awake and see more clearly.<\/h5><\/blockquote>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_gallery type=”nivo” interval=”0″ images=”4578,4676″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ img_size=”600×400″][vc_column_text]\n

What are the top reasons you chose this class?<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text]
<\/i>
Fred and I had crossed paths in the Tai Chi community and I I knew he was a serious student of the art.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
We work slowly and on the basic principles of Tai Chi.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
To be honest, it fit into my schedule and the cost is very reasonable.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
The idea of continuous movement appealed to me. From the very first class it felt right.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
I think Fred is a good instructor for both beginning and more advanced students. He can teach the traditional form, give principal based instruction and is a good bridge between classical thinking and modern times.<\/p>\n

Fred remains curious about the art rather than becoming doctrinaire and exclusive.<\/h5><\/blockquote>

<\/i>
Other teachers I had were more interested in having everyone learn the form by rote. Here, I feel like I'm learning the fundamentals that go to the essence of Tai Chi. <\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Fred is an excellent teacher. Even though we meet in groups, he always finds a way to focus on individual needs.<\/h5><\/blockquote>[vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” thickness=”1″ up=”20″][vc_column_text]\n

Have you recommendations for new students?<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text]
<\/i>
I would recommend new students study with Fred because he is very skilled at what he teaches. I have been around other teachers and I think Fred is very gentle and wants us to learn the correct way. No matter how long I go to his classes, I learn something new every time.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
There is so much more to it than you might imagine at the beginning. It never stops getting deeper and more profound. No matter how committed a student you are there are rewards, though obviously the more you practice, the more you feel them.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Be patient, give it time.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Try it. If you feel better, then come back. If you don't, then go do something else.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, I'd suggest not being in a hurry; if increased skill and insight are in your future, you need not be in a hurry.<\/p>\n

Finally, one needs a teachers who are committed to both the art and teaching and whose approach works for the student.<\/h5><\/blockquote>

<\/i>
Practice, practice, practice<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Be there for yourself. Don't compare yourself with other students.<\/h5><\/blockquote>
<\/i>
Empty your mind of preconceived notions of what Tai Chi may or may not be. Put your trust in the process and in the teacher.
\n<\/h5><\/blockquote>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text] Why did you start Tai Chi? [\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” thickness=”1″ up=”20″][vc_column_text] What benefits have you experienced? [\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” thickness=”1″ up=”20″][vc_column_text] What interests you most about Tai Chi? [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_gallery type=”nivo” interval=”0″ images=”4578,4676″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ img_size=”600×400″][vc_column_text] What are the top reasons you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4423"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4423"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4675,"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4423\/revisions\/4675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartmindtaichi.org\/taichi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}