Tai Chi Easy TM Curriculum

Transcription

1 Tai Chi Easy TM Curriculum

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 How to Use this Manual... 3 Tai Chi Easy Summary of Practices... 4 Tai Chi Easy Lectures/Spoken Presentations... 5 Philosophy of Tai Chi Lecture(s)...5 Lecture on Definitions, Purposes, and Method...5 Lecture(s) on Method...6 Lecture on Chinese Medicine...6 Lecture on Body Mechanics and Movement...6 Lecture on Philosophy: Learning Styles and the Mind...7 Lecture on Western Medicine: Physiology...7 Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Principles At-A-Glance... 8 Tai Chi Easy Principles...8 The Phases of Presentation of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi...9 Phases of Presentation Cheat Sheet...10 The Integral Tai Chi Method Short List...10 Phasing the Teaching Practicum...10 The Teaching Practicum Cheat Sheet...11 Order of Events for Real 25-hour Programs...11 A Important Note About Breaks...11 Taking Breaks...11 At-A-Glance Three-Day Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training...12 At-A-Glance Five-Day Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training...15 Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training Sample Script TAI CHI EASY PRACTICE LEADER TRAINING Day TAI CHI EASY PRACTICE LEADER TRAINING Day TAI CHI EASY PRACTICE LEADER TRAINING Day Tai Chi Easy TM is a registered trademark of Dr. Roger Jahnke. IIQTC Confidential 2

3 How to Use this Manual Every training is going to be a different venue, a different population, a different over all goal and even a different moment in destiny. Our goal with this manual is to give you lots of information, guidance, lists, notes, cheat sheets, and scripts to assist you in instructing future Practice Leaders and Teachers. Think of it as a Tai Chi Easy reference. Our sincerest intent is to empower you to know the material and the Integral Way so thoroughly, that you are completely empowered to lead trainings that are comprehensive, intuitive, informative, inspiring and fun. What does this require? There is nothing here that says exactly what to do. Engaging the material deeply and with utmost sincerity will give you the experience and insight that will guide your decisions as you teach and make your teaching come alive. So, you can relax and enjoy in a classic IIQTC context of vigilant attentiveness. For the most part, remember that practice leader training is a teacher training of a vast subject that has many aspects and nuances. Tai Chi is not movement only. It also includes philosophy, cosmology, skill refinement as a teacher, and leadership skills. All of these shine through regardless of the type or duration of the presentation. An analogy may be helpful here. There is a concept from mechanical engineering referred to as PLAY, which is literally a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move. Play is also considered the freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism. When you are teaching and training, you must engage and retain a sense of play with regard to using space, time and energy as your media in which to create the conditions for learning. For this, you must have play or room, permission and authority to use space, time, energy and the curriculum skillfully. Be ready to engage yet another meaning of the word play as you do this play is also the freedom for action, or scope for activity as in, full play of the body-mind-and-spirit or full play of this curriculum. It is a Tai Chi. IIQTC Confidential 3

4 Tai Chi Easy Summary of Practices Tai Chi Easy Curriculum Summary of Practices Three Intenful Corrections 1. Body 2. Breath 3. Mind Vitality Method (Bu Zheng Qigong) Tai Chi Easy Walking Practices Gentle Movements 1. Flowing motion 2. Front and back bending of spine 3. Right and left spine bending. 4. Reaching up and out 5. Spontaneous Qigong Self-Massage Techniques 1. Hands, ears, and feet 2. Shoulders and neck 3. Faces and eyes 4. Abdomen 5. Tracing the Energy Channels 6. Sending Qi to the organs Breath Practices 1. Essential (Abdominal) Breath 2. Blithering 3. Sigh of Relief 4. Remembering Breath 5. Deep Breath and hold briefly 6. Gathering Breath 7. Xi, Xi Hu (In, In, Out) Breathing Meditation Techniques 1. Progressive Relaxation 2. Gathering Nature s Healing Resources 3. Mindfulness and Insight Seated in chair (upper body only) 1. Open 2. Harmonize Yin and Yang 3. Brush Knee, Send Qi 4. Cutting the Path to Clarity 5. Embrace Tiger Transition 6. Watching Clouds Pass 7. Embrace Tiger Transition 8. Gathering Heaven and Earth 9. Close Stationary or Standing (rooting) 1. Open (step out) 2. Harmonize Yin and Yang 3. Brush Knee, Send Qi 4. Cutting the Path to Clarity 5. Embrace Tiger Transition 6. Watching Clouds Pass 7. Embrace Tiger Transition 8. Gathering Heaven and Earth 9. Close (feet together) Walking or stepping version 1. Open (step one foot out) 2. Harmonize Yin and Yang, left and right (two steps). 3. Brush Knee, Send Qi, (left and right (two steps) 4. Embrace Tiger transition (no step) 5. Cutting the Path to Clarity with backward stepping 6. Embrace Tiger transition (no step) 7. Watching Clouds Pass with side stepping, left and right 8. Embrace Tiger (no step) 9. Meditation (arms at sides or palm-to-palm in front of Dan Tian) 10. Gathering Heaven and Earth 11. Closing (feet together) Guo Lin Walking 1. Guo Lin Walking in place 2. Guo Lin Walking in circle 3. Guo Lin Walking in rows or straight lines Tai Chi Walking 1. Tai Chi Walking in circle (spontaneous upper body movement) 2. Tai Chi Walking in circle with some regular movement of upper body 3. Tai Chi Backwards Walking (spontaneous upper body movement) 4. Tai Chi Backwards Walking with Cutting the Path to Clarity upper body movement 5. Tai Chi side-stepping in place 6. Tai Chi side-stepping with Watching Clouds Pass upper body movement 7. Walking or stepping in circle with upper body Tai Chi Easy movements 8. Walking or stepping version in straight lines with upper body Tai Chi Easy movements 9. Walking or stepping with with Tai Chi Easy upper body movements and turns Spontaneous Tai Chi 1. Spontaneous Tai Chi with Tai Chi Easy forms 2. Completely spontaneous Tai Chi IIQTC Confidential 4

5 Tai Chi Easy Lectures/Spoken Presentations The following are the required topics of lectures delivered to participants of the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training Program. The recommendation is to prepare a twentyminute lecture for each. The order of the presentations below is representative of past training events. Your experience may vary. Some lectures and information can be layered and delivered during a practice session, for example: physiology and biomechanics have often been presented together. Other lectures may require different arrangements and durations, depending on your audience and situation. Philosophy of Tai Chi Lecture(s) What is Tai Chi? What was the reasoning/story that brought Tai Chi Easy about (society and culture lecture)? Recommended reading: The Healing Promise of Qi ; the literature review entitled, A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi by Jahnke R, Larkey L, Rogers C and Etnier J (recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Health Promotion); Harvard Women s Newsletter, Expert Meeting Consensus Report. See the following for where to access: (for internal use only; please do not distribute without permission from the authors) The-health-benefits-of-tai-chi Purpose: Help participants understand that Tai Chi is more than a set of exercises. Objective: Participants should be able to define what Tai Chi is in simple terms ( Grand Ultimate ); begin to describe the difference and similarity between Tai Chi and Qigong. Lecture on Definitions, Purposes, and Method On the role of facilitator/practice Leader and the Concept of Leading a Practice Session Anatomy of a practice session with introduction of Baskets of Practice and the examples from the curriculum Recommended reading: The TCE PL manual Purpose: Help participants understand how to structure practice sessions. Objective: Participants should be able to create rudimentary practice sessions using the Baskets of Practice method of organization of practices. In the teaching practicum, IIQTC Confidential 5

6 participants will apply the Baskets of Practice to their presentation: breath practices, meditation practices, self-massage practices, and movement practices. Lecture(s) on Method The Tai Chi Easy Method of teaching, leading and self-empowerment The Feedback Model and the Bell Curve Applying the method to any form of Tai Chi Recommended reading: The TCE PL manual (latest version) Purpose: Help participants understand that the model of teaching Tai Chi and Qigong in phases. Objective: Participants should be able to define or have a sense of the following concepts: The Bell Curve, Better to do it wrong than not at all idea. During the teaching practicum, the participants should be able to teach anything and demonstrate the feedback model as well as the above concepts. Lecture on Chinese Medicine Medical Qigong theory Brief lecture on Dan Tian areas, some acupuncture points, comments on standard acupuncture points in maps and charts Recommended reading: The 200-hour manual Purpose: Help participants understand that rudimentary concepts of Medical Qigong theory to be able to field questions that reflect the IIQTC position on Medical Qigong: though all Qigong is Medical Qigong, IIQTC Practice Leaders do not diagnose or prescribe Qigong. Objective: Participants should be able to have a sense of Medical Qigong and begin to develop a sense of handling questions from people they may lead in practice. Lecture on Body Mechanics and Movement Grounding, balance and movement Use of body, breath and self during practice Recommended reading: The 200-hour manual, Healing Promise of Qi Optional reading: The Complete Guide to Chi Kung by Daniel Reid (1998 Shambala Press), The Way of Qigong by Kenneth S. Cohen, The Idiot s Guide to Tai Chi and Qigong by Bill Douglas, Tai Chi for Dummies by Therese Iknoian IIQTC Confidential 6

7 Purpose: Help participants understand basic Tai Chi movement and begin to see and experience how it is orchestrated in the body while expressing The Grand Ultimate. Objective: Participants begin demonstrate movement principles in their own Tai Chi movement and understanding. At this point, the participants begin to describe the feel of Tai Chi movement as well as the way movement occurs in the teaching practicum. Lecture on Philosophy: Learning Styles and the Mind Observing one s own mind Language Spontaneous Tai Chi and freedom Recommended reading: The 200-hour manual, The Healing Promise of Qi Purpose: Help participants understand the concept of observer and the effect of language on the mind with regard to learning styles and perspectives. Objective: Participants should be able to begin to vary their presentation during the practicum to include more learning styles or styles other than the ones they prefer. Explore Spontaneous Tai Chi as a way to explore the mind. Lecture on Western Medicine: Physiology Nucleosis pulposus for vitality method, basic anatomy Relaxation response and the autonomic nervous system; stress hormones and the parasympathetic nervous system Recommended reading: Healer Within appendix, Most Profound Medicine white paper Purpose: Help participants understand the physiology of the spine and bones, as well as the role of the autonomic nervous system in the relaxation response versus the stress response. Objective: Participants should be able begin to include physiological terms and relationships in the teaching practicum. IIQTC Confidential 7

8 Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Principles At-A-Glance The following lists in this section represent important information and concepts that you will impart to participants at real training events. Think of these lists as things you already know from teaching Tai Chi Easy. However, they are not just simple reminders, but checklists that can help you think of the material and stay on track. You weave the principles into your presentation of the Tai Chi Easy practices, always aware that you are not just teaching moves, but that you are teaching Tai Chi, The Grand Ultimate and guiding others to share that. Tai Chi Easy Principles The Tai Chi Easy core principles are spelled out nicely in the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Manual. However, they are not all located in a single place, all together, for easy viewing. For the most part, the principles are presented and modeled by the teacher over the entire training period. Here they are in a short format for your convenience. 1. Both Tai Chi and Qigong make you strong and vital by maximizing function. The corollary here is: Tai Chi and Qigong are functionally equivalent. 2. Relaxation is the key to all practices. 3. The Three Intentful Corrections. This is a Qigong all on its own. 4. Aligning. This is also a Qigong all on its own as well. In some traditions this is known as Wuji meditation the practice of standing like a post. There are entire chapters in books and entire books dedicated to this alone. Aligning is part of everything we do in Integral Qigong and Tai Chi. We have referred to this as sitting on the horse, being rooted or having our Tai Chi movement be a moving pole or moving in alignment. All movement proceeds from here. 5. Opening and closing a sequence is important. Have clear beginnings and endings to your sessions, practices and movements. 6. Spontaneous Qigong a pure example of the idea of reconnecting to the part of oneself that is eternal. This is yet another practice unto itself and very dear to the IIQTC. Spontaneous Qigong is a great example of what is ultimately very important in the IIQTC: honoring the uniqueness, freedom and sovereignty (complete independence, inner authority and self-government) of each person and all beings. 7. The sincerity of your practice is what brings you closest to fulfillment of the healing promise of qi. Your sincerity is what translates to moving and practicing with intention, balance and harmony. 8. Be clear in your presentation that Tai Chi Easy is an approach to Tai Chi, and not Tai Chi. 9. Use the Baskets of Practice to organize and present your classes and lessons. All of the practices in the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader training can be summarized this way: breath practices, meditation/relaxation practices, gentle movement practices, and self-massage practices. 10. In addition to being a set of practices, Tai Chi Easy is also a method of teaching that is primarily reflected by a varied delivery of a skilled practitioner who makes IIQTC Confidential 8

9 learning fun, approachable and non-intimidating by addressing differences in learning styles and presenting information in small steps to accomplish measurable goals. 11. Adapt and modify the movements as well as your presentation, your words, images, and language to suit your audience best. 12. Communicate to participants and students repeatedly and creatively that it is better to do it incorrectly than not at all. 13. Remind participants often about staying in the comfort zone and relaxing. 14. Inspire students when the time is right. Focus first on showing them what they can do, rather than on you can do. 15. Honor the form, but always practice principles. Keep this in mind especially if and when you offer students corrections of any kind. 16. Great respect for the teachers and traditions goes hand-in-hand with a lightness of heart that comes across through full permission to be human, make mistakes and laugh. The Phases of Presentation of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi The following is an illustration of the Integral Qigong and Tai Chi method for teaching any form of Tai Chi or Qigong- long, short or otherwise to make it easy or easier. Use the Integral Qigong and Tai Chi Teaching Method to teach the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader how to teach: notice the emphasis is taking small steps that make the student successful right away, and the student can then build on their successes to add complexity and integration. You will notice that this method can be applied to teaching anything, including teaching others how to teach! 1. Emphasize Easy. Emphasize the easy part of the IIQTC approach (way, politic) by remembering to take it easy, have fun and enjoy what you are doing. The teacher models this for the students through the use of spontaneous humor and a light attitude deconstructing the hard part of Qigong and Tai Chi lowering the bar to make it easier and more accessible at the beginning. 2. Define True Tai Chi. Teach Qigong and call it Tai Chi - Call all Qigong Tai Chi, being mindful that Tai Chi is not a set of exercises but the balance of yin and yang, a phenomenon in the universe. People want to know what they are doing is Tai Chi. 3. Tai Chi as Sitting Qigong. Teach Tai Chi sitting to focus primarily on the arm and head movements, relaxation and breath as a soothing and healing Qigong method. 4. Tai Chi as Standing Qigong. Teach upper body Tai Chi standing to focus on being rooted and in alignment while moving the upper body: weight shift, torso rotation and arm movements arising from the center. 5. Teach Tai Chi Walking Qigong. Teach Tai Chi Walking as a Qigong walking method without emphasis on particular Tai Chi arm movements, to feel alignment and natural movement of torso in the movement and the natural tendency of the arms to be moved by the center with stepping. IIQTC Confidential 9

10 6. Teach Tai Chi Walking In Place. Tai Chi movements done in place (especially Harmonizing and Send Qi) in place, lifting the unweighted foot, to practice weight shifting and coordinating arm and torso movement. 7. Integrate Whole Body Tai Chi. Teach Tai Chi upper and lower body with coordinated walking to fully integrate upper, central and lower body movements. Phases of Presentation Cheat Sheet The phases of presentation is basically your outline for an entire presentation of the practices featured in the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training. The cheat sheet is an abbreviated version of the list above: The Integral Tai Chi Method Short List 1. Teach Qigong and Call it Tai Chi 2. Tai Chi as Sitting Qigong 3. Tai Chi as Standing Qigong 4. Walking Tai Chi Qigong with Spontaneous Arm Movement 5. Tai Chi Walking in Place 6. Integrated Whole Body Tai Chi Phasing the Teaching Practicum The Teaching Practicum is the tool for learning and experimentation that will give participants an opportunity to play with and learn the material. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when you present this part of the program: The practicum evolves from minimal to maximum over the training cycle. In the beginning the point is to teach something, anything, briefly. The intended end is that each person be able to lead entire practice sessions. The phasing from simple and unprovocative at the first to focused, orderly and comprehensive at the last is gradual. Recall your own II Teacher Training. At first you are invited to relax and not worry. Later you are encouraged to relax and not worry while perfecting the presentation of the practices. The feedback grows, with your encouragement, from all positive and supportive to more constructive. When people know each other and are constantly reminded that they can learn faster with constructive critiques, those critiques are transformed from critical to inspiring. The instructor is the wisdom keeper and spreader of good Qi around the power of constructive feedback. Make it fun, collegial, collaborative like peer coaching. Create the teaching practicum groups right away to support the participants in teaching/sharing these practices with others right away. Sharing these ways and practices with others is the whole point. Always encourage that. Observe the groups closely and notice how people are progressing with the material. The information you glean about the IIQTC Confidential 10

11 groups and about the progress of individual participants will guide you in the decisions you make regarding the curriculum. To deepen the practicum process and give participants a chance to present to new people, change the groups at least once during the training. Be the authority that eases everyone s HeartMind so that the obstructions to learning are dissipated for the good of all. The following cheat sheet is an abbreviated version of the list above: The Teaching Practicum Cheat Sheet 1. Form groups right away. 2. Start with short teaching sessions and relaxed, easy progress. 3. Encourage supportiveness. 4. Observe and change groups. 5. Encourage constructive feedback for rapid progress. 6. Progress to longer teaching sessions. Order of Events for Real 25-hour Programs The following tables and final script at the end of this document are examples and models of how the material might be presented. Again, this information is meant as an example only, and not the prescribed way you must present this information. The idea is to show the versatility you can bring to this 25-hour curriculum. It is always different, and always the same, depending on such subtle factors as the venue, the days of the week, the audience, and energy levels at the time the training occurs. As an exercise for yourself, come up with a timetable, game plan or script of your own. What do you need to do in order to accomplish that? What will you learn as a result? A Important Note About Breaks As you go through these at-a-glance tables, please notice the clear allotment of time towards breaks. There are many ideas and philosophies for taking breaks. Some venues, for example, require that there be a break of some kind every two hours. Many breaks can cause a problem in continuity. Too few breaks will wear people out. Keep the following in mind when it comes to taking breaks: Taking Breaks 1. Observe the group and declare a break time whenever you feel people need one. 2. Allow learners to eat and drink to promote learning. Research confirms this. 3. Encourage people to practice self-care with the intention to stay involved. 4. Breaks other than meal breaks will generally be between 5 and 15 minutes long. IIQTC Confidential 11

12 At-A-Glance Three-Day Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training Day 1 Min Note Social Rapport 30 Learning participant names, participant history, and introductions. Philosophical 30 What is Tai Chi? Exercise and MORE: The Tai Chi Tu and Tai Chi concepts review: Wuji Map; What is the difference between Tai Chi and Qigong? Philosophical 30 What is Qi? What is Qi in relation to Tai Chi and Qigong? Philosophical 60 Feeling the Qi and tracking internal experience; Observing the body s capacity to do the unusual (Qigong masters): Forward and backward movements; side-to-side bending. Movement 60 Three Intentful Corrections (presented throughout the whole 25 hours of instruction). This is central! Movement 10 Spontaneous Qigong intro: blithering and sigh of relief introduced here to illustrate above concepts. Philosophical 60 Method 60 Movement 75 Method 90 Break Operational Definition of Qigong: Maximizing function by getting in touch with and experiencing directly the part of yourself that is never not well. Qigong makes this part more prevalent, more present in your every movement, feeling, and thought. Lunch Teaching Methodology for liberation. Permission to do it wrong ; on adapting the practice (philosophy of practices being for all, not chosen few) by simplifying AND by making it complex in order to challenge and match experience. Owning your authority as a teacher. The only source of truth is personal attentiveness. Healer Within Practices in a chair as may be presented not just to people with physical limitations and mobility challenges, but to all people wanting to engage in the practice of radical self-observation. Simple movement practices turn on the internal medicine and promote its flow. 30 Teaching practicum The Bell Curve and addressing student populations; seniors, children, pregnant women. Once you know your population, you can determine the best order of presentation, so you reach the highest number of people possible. End of First Day IIQTC Confidential 12

13 Day 2 Min Note Movement 60 The FIVE Tai Chi Easy Moves introduced while sitting; a discussion of modified forms. Method 60 Vitality Method/Bhu Zheng Qigong: Healer Within Practices layered presentation. Going from the simple to the complex as a method for teaching and presenting. Method 30 Baskets of Practice and How to Design classes: The Vitality Class-- 4 baskets Body Practice/Breath practice/self Massage/Meditation-Mind practice. Organizing the baskets: follow the leader ; mirror the students while standing/sitting in front with students seated/standing in rows; one big circle or a circle within a circle. 30 Teaching practicum Medicine 60 Physiology lecture: oxygen, lymph, nervous system; see TCE PL manual for discussion of bodies of energy and form; Comparison of Chinese medicine system vs. western model (ATP Kreb s Cycle). Lunch Movement 30 Tai Chi Walking intro as a Qigong form (short intro early on Day 1), then integrated with upper body forms; including spontaneous Tai Chi walking (changing direction, weight shifts). Yi Chuan discussion, feeling and moving from the center discussion. Breath 60 Xi, Xi Hu intro (in chair); review; Xi, Xi Hu and the Gathering Breath (nose versus mouth breathing, fast versus slow), abdominal /essential breath, remembering breath. Medicine 30 Medicine Teaching practicum Dosing Qigong; what is the minimum dose for the maximum effect? What can the buyer tolerate when other forces are at play? When to practice? Spinal health bending side to side and backwards and forwards; nucleosis pulposus. Movement 30 Vitality Method individual movements introduced with variations: HOW to use the body. End of the day IIQTC Confidential 13

14 Day 3 Min Note Medicine 30 Movement 30 Medicine 60 Movement 120 Movement 120 Choline-based neurotransmitters, the immune system and the stress response. Tai Chi Easy: hand and arm positions, movement from center, hands move because core of body moves. This is setting up the logic in the body for moving the entire body when doing the movements particularly WALKING with hand movements. Falls prevention balancing on one foot. Self-massage. Acupuncture Easy ; the Qigong Facial (tapping acu points). 30 Teaching practicum Tai Chi corrections and refinements. What are these? Why do they matter, if it s better to do it wrong than not at all? When do you offer these to your students? Lunch Review of all Practices (at least three full reviews of all the practices). 30 Teaching practicum Movement 60 Class member and assistant demonstration of Tai Chi forms. 30 Closing remarks hours total IIQTC Confidential 14

15 At-A-Glance Five-Day Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training Day 7:30-8: : Introductions What is Tai Chi Easy DAY 1 What is Tai Chi Practice (seated, upper body, 3 Intentful Corrections, Gathering, Wave Hands) DAY 2 Practice with Assistants Introduction to Teaching Tai Chi Easy Practice [standing Bu Zheng (movement is Flowing Motion and Front/Back Bending of Spine) and Baskets (Movement, Massage, Breath, Meditation)] Discussion Questions Review of TCE PL Guide Practice (Standing TCE. Review: Flowing Motion, Front/Back Bending of Spine. New: Five TCE moves) Questions (Why these five Tai Chi moves?) Discussion Questions and Discussion Practice (stationary standing movement basics, Flowing Motion, Spine Bending, five TCE moves) Questions Practice (Spontaneous Qigong) DAY 3 DAY 4 Practice with Assistants Practice with Assistants Practice Teaching Groups (one minute each -- teach anything) Questions and Discussion (200 hour certification) Practice (Baskets) Practice Teaching Groups (start feedback and teach TCE) Questions (What is the difference between Tai Chi and Qigong?) Practice (sitting TCE with transitions) Discussion Practice (review all of today's TCE) Practice Teaching Groups (no feedback, just teach a TCE move) Questions and Discussion Practice (practices for particular problems) Practice Teaching Groups Questions and Discussion Practice (walking TCE and mirroring) Discussion (TCE DVD review) Practice (introduction to Tai Chi Walking) No meeting. Students are burned out. Practice Teaching (teach two moves) IIQTC Confidential 15

16 DAY 5 Practice with Assistants Practice with Assistants Questions and Discussion (what makes a TCE PL?) Practice (sitting TCE) Questions and Discussion Practice Teaching Groups * Note: Session is 9:30-11:30 Questions Discussion Practice (Tai Chi Walking in a circle) Practice Teaching Groups Bonus Extra Talk (200 hour certification trainings) Demonstrations (from teachers and participants) DAY 6 Practice (Walking Qigong) Questions Practice (run through of everything) Closing Circle IIQTC Confidential 16

17 Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Training Sample Script The following script is based on real events as they occurred during a three-day curriculum for nurses. The suggested times and durations are approximate. Total training time for this training was approximately 21.5 hours of face time, not including transitions and introductions, which accounted for more time beyond what is described and suggested here. TAI CHI EASY PRACTICE LEADER TRAINING Day 1 8:30-9:30 INTRODUCTION: Background for this Course The instructors provide the definition of Tai Chi Easy and identify the goal of this training. It is important to make Tai Chi simple so that everyone can receive benefits in a short time, e.g., stress reduction, heart disease, metabolic disorders, aging population, falls prevention. Provide the social and academic underpinnings of Tai Chi Easy: Tai Chi and Qigong research (the work of Drs. Jahnke and Larkey) The Consensus Report from the Expert Meeting (to view a copy, go to: Facts to consider: $3 trillion a year spent to treat preventable illnesses! Approximately 75-80% of disease is stress-related and therefore preventable. Goal: Teach Tai Chi that is so easy that everyone believes that he/she can learn it. Learn something new here that you can keep for yourself and be able to share with others. The Practice Leader s role is not so much the role of a teacher, but the role of a coach and enthusiastic supporter. In this case, you are learning skills that will help you to help others manage their stress and improve their health. In China, Tai Chi is traditional exercise that is learned over a long period of time. It is also used for philosophical and military reasons and martial arts. Put your mind to rest--tai Chi is easy. "Functional Maximization"--Chinese medical system basis, preventive instead of curative. Tai Chi is a kind of qigong or yoga stress-reducing methodology. It changes your brain chemistry (like drugs). Teach people (children) at a young age to "make medicine with their bodies natural chemistry using Tai Chi or Qigong. This is simply caring for our natural capacity for well being. Even though the methods are rooted in Chinese thought systems and philosophy, know that the purpose of Tai Chi Easy is not to promote a philosophy, religion, or point of view. The purpose is to help people to live healthier lives. The goal is confidence, ease in living and less worry. Everybody gets there in a somewhat different way, and this is to be respected. In your work, Tai Chi can be a novel idea that may or may not appeal to your community or your audience. Always remember that a new idea is simply space and consciousness. The key to a new idea is to apply it. Tai Chi Easy is an application of a profound idea: Tai Chi! Participant Introductions: Name, where you are from, agencies/organizations/affiliations, what you want to accomplish with this information. IIQTC Confidential 17

18 Lecture: Part I Philosophy of Chinese System What is Tai Chi? Yin-Yang balance = Tai Chi Tu and the Wuji map [Teacher draws the picture or uses an existing graphic representation.] Tai Chi means The Grand Ultimate. What does this point to? This is a Phenomenon of Nature and how Nature tends to balance itself always. This is the idea of harmony being the natural state of things. How do you make THIS easy? The philosophy is to engage the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously. Tai Chi is thus a philosophical investigation into the nature of life. In this investigation, you naturally build the muscle of mind focus, consciousness, and awareness of the present. The teacher speaks to the relationship of Tai Chi Easy to Qigong. Qigong is the Grandmother of Tai Chi. Cite the evidence from Drs. Jahnke and Larkey in their joint research paper, entitled, A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi on taking recent research: Research has demonstrated consistent, significant results for a number of health benefits in RCTs [randomized controlled trials. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a type of scientific experiment most commonly used in testing the efficacy or effectiveness of healthcare services (such as medicine or nursing) or health technologies (such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices or surgery).], evidencing progress toward recognizing the similarity and equivalence of Qigong and Tai Chi. (page 2) In the current state of research on Tai Chi and Qigong, when you consider the two together, the body of evidence suggest that Tai Chi and Qigong both have compelling health benefits, many of which are the same benefits across diverse populations of Americans. The Consensus Report from the Expert Meeting was created by the National Blueprint Office at the University of Illinois, the National Council on Aging, and Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi and funded by the Archstone Foundation. The goal of this report is address the challenges of integrating Qigong and Tai Chi programs into the aging network and to identify the necessary components of a program to meet diverse population needs and functional abilities. In this report, it was concluded that a practice leader having a certain level of minimal training could offer mind body practices (breath, gentle movement, and meditation) that are sufficient to promote and preserve health. To quote page 6 of this report directly: Ideally, prior to leading classes or practice sessions, lay leaders should have practiced Tai Chi or Qi Gong for about six months in an institutional setting with a qualified Tai Chi instructor, or have received 20 to 50 hours of initial formal training from a recognized Tai Chi or Qi Gong organization. The experts were willing to concede that a short, high intensity weekend course (14 to 16 hours) with a clearly defined internship or practicum may substitute for longer formal training activities for individuals with prior knowledge in exercise/health and well-developed teaching skills. (Page 6) This was a significant motivation in the creation of Tai Chi Easy. Tai Chi Easy is an integration of basic Qigong and Tai Chi methods for the purpose of cultivating health, vitality and inner tranquility. It is also a method of teaching we will be exploring together. Given this, we offer you the operational definition of Qigong: Maximizing function by getting in touch with and experiencing directly the part of yourself that is never not well. Qigong makes this part more prevalent, more present in your every movement, feeling, and thought. IIQTC Confidential 18

19 Lecture: Part II Society and Culture: What is Tai Chi? Chinese traditions and systems evolved over time. China is old and China is big. Many systems and many forms of Tai Chi were created. A set of Tai Chi moves is referred to as a form. Masters make up forms people like you and me who practice consistently and deeply. Over time, these master types make observations and discoveries. These get codified and passed down to students. And the students rarely question the meanings and principles. Some forms are long and elaborate and complex. Qigong is the ancient overarching principle behind Tai Chi and other martial arts. Yes, Tai Chi is a martial art. It was developed for and by the military. Historically, at the height of the development of Tai Chi, around 1644 A.D., it became highly valued for its slow movements that are meant to expand the mind and focus the body's energy. At the time, the Manchurians invaded the Chinese empire and created the Ch'ing Dynasty. When the new emperor saw the health and vitality of Tai Chi masters, he demanded he be taught the secrets of Tai Chi. Culturally, only the rich and the elite, the people in positions of leadership could do Tai Chi. But over time, this came to change. Ordinary people started doing Tai Chi in the last century as a matter of health preservation in China. It s a cultural phenomenon in China: You get up in the morning and practice in the park with your friends. You will find as we learn and practice the Tai Chi Easy forms that it is easier to practice in groups. Memorizing forms and movements requires skill, and it develops over time. For this reason, Tai Chi is said to be good for your brain. Today, Tai Chi has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of Tai Chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun. The origins and creation of Tai Chi are a subject of much argument and speculation. However, the oldest documented tradition is that of the Chen family from the 1820s. [from Wikipedia: That s where Tai Chi comes from socially and culturally. Over time, more and more people have started doing Tai Chi. New forms keep getting created. Tai Chi Easy is considered a new system of forms, because it was created over the last ten years. Roughly, the forms featured in the Tai Chi Easy system resemble the Yang style (from the Yang family). The forms featured in Tai Chi Easy are simple and elegant forms that are featured in many styles of Tai Chi. Forms of any kind can be put together to create longer forms. We will be teaching you a set of forms and a suggested order in which to do them. Keep in mind, however, that you may very well be inspired to play with the forms you learn in these three days, and you might create something new. Be open to that. We will be organizing the practices categorized as either body movement, breath practice, self-massage, and meditation. We like to refer to the categories as baskets, so that you have a sense of Baskets of Practice with a body movement basket, a breath basket, a self-massage basket, and a meditation basket. You can center and focus a practice session around one basket. However, you will notice that the practice sessions you experience during this program feature practices from all the baskets. See if you can identify the baskets and the practices that fit into the basket. As you get comfortable with the concept, you will easily put practice sessions together and lead your groups comfortably. IIQTC Confidential 19

20 9:30-9:50 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: Movement Basket To get started, the first exercises the participants go through focus on the gentle movements found in the Healer Within practices to illustrate the above concepts. The goal is to focus on the Tai Chi attitude and energy. What is your state of mind as you practice? The Practice Three Intentful Corrections Body, breath, mind I am deciding the direction of my mind s focus. Align Open--step out, flowing hands, step out, and step together Flowing Motion Upwards and Outwards Forward and Backward Bending Side to Side Bending Tracing the Energy Channels Spontaneous Qigong When any part of the body moves, the whole body moves. Develop an awareness of how much the whole body is involved in keeping balance. Practicing Tai Chi is cultivating a mindset or attitude toward existence, including your own existence. Here are some helpful suggestions for you and the groups you will be facilitating: Become more aware of your real self right now. Consistent practice helps you to become associated with a beautiful part of yourself that is deep, interesting, knowledgeable, and compassionate and always present. Make yourself available to this part of yourself. Give yourself a lot of permission to make mistakes. In Tai Chi meditation the body is still yet the inside is moving. Turn your attention inward and notice the sensations of your body working. Being quiet is best if you focus on the present movement. Notice what are you grateful for in this moment. Set your judgments aside to be completely present to the process. Trust the process with these exercises, and know that they have a cumulative effect. Don t be fooled by the simplicity of these exercises. 9:50-10:15 LECTURE: Teaching Method The Tai Chi Easy Method of teaching and leading As the teacher leads participants through the practices, the subject matter is the pedagogy of Tai Chi Easy as a method of teaching that includes the following ideas: 1. Keep the material fun and easy to lower barriers. IIQTC Confidential 20

21 2. Articulating concepts so that they are meaningful to your population. This is respecting your audience in the highest possible way. 3. Engaging the whole person in a respectful learning environment is Tai Chi. 4. Exercises are just the trigger for the learning, and not an end in and of themselves. 5. Make mistakes. Mistakes are a sign of engaging the process in an honest manner and truly testing the material on one s own. 6. Baskets of Practice idea is a way of organizing the material into meaningful segments. 7. The practices and deep states of relaxation are available to all, not just a chosen few. 8. The practices can be adapted. 10: 15-10:30 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: Self-Applied Massage Basket Abdominal massage is perhaps the most useful massage that we teach. The benefits can be experienced with light to medium pressure. Some students report results with hands barely touching the skin. Imagine the face of the clock is on your stomach area with the 6 position located down by the pubic bone, and the 12 position just under the sternum. With these landmarks, there are a few options as to how to proceed: Place hands, one on top of the other, on your sternum or at the 12 position, breathe in, and then as you breathe out, rub hands in a slow clockwise circle. Repeat several times with the breath or without, being sure you stay relaxed. The idea is that this direction traces the natural metabolic flow of the abdominal area. Going in a counter-clockwise pattern of massage tends to slow the metabolic flow, which is considered a natural remedy for ailments like diarrhea. Variations: Using bunched fingers with both hands, you can slowly outline the circles, taking a breath at each point in the clock pattern. Going clock-wise : Start at position 12, breathe in, and press gently with fingers as you breathe out. Move on to position 1, breathe in and press gently with fingers as you breathe out. Continue. The process is mindful and gentle. Take your time. Observe how you feel. Be sure to rest afterwards. 10:30-10:40 BREAK 10:40-11:00 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: Breath Basket Focus Introduce the practice session with breath as a focus. This practice is playful. Introduce the concept of Spontaneous Qigong. Add blithering and sigh of relief as breath practices. IIQTC Confidential 21

22 Spontaneous Qigong Benefits the lymphatic system Lift heels, swing arms, turn torso, shift weight, bend arms and let wrists flop, breath deep slow-relaxed; faster or slower as wish... let it become spontaneous for 4 deep breaths Add Sigh of Relief while continuing above STOP and pay attention to how you feel Where in your body are you feeling function/qi Return to Spontaneous Qigong Repeat Sigh of Relief Move a bit faster, move your head, snap all fingers deep breath and sigh of relief x2 STOP What are you feeling? Describe any changes. the point is to notice is that things are changing in your body Blithering breathe in deeply and shake all over x3 Turn your attention inward and notice what you re feeling... share You can turn it on (this healing medicine) any time, you can feel it and feel the changes it produces Introduce Remembering Breath as a segue into meditation that follows Can do the above while driving, ironing, ing, anywhere business meeting (can also do hand massaging at same time) requires only conscious awareness changing neurotransmitters, decreasing adrenalin in system 11:00-11:20 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: Meditation Practice Basket People return to their seats. Introduce the ideas of clearing the mind and doing radical self-observation. What do you notice? If you notice your mind wandering, notice where it goes, be there for a second or two, and then return to simply observing. Guiding people to a deeper state, it is appropriate to talk about the relaxation response and its corresponding physiological effects. 11:20-11:30 TEACHING PRACTICUM: Pairing Up The instructor does a brief introduction of the teaching practicum and communicates to the participants that they will be doing a lot of practice teaching during this training. To encourage the participants to participate and get used to this, and phase it in, do this simple exercise first. Have participants choose, one practice they just did from the body, breath, massage baskets and share it with a partner. Each participant practices the leading of a simple practice at this time. Later on, for the rest of the planned teaching practicum sessions, the instructor will organize the participants into groups to do the teaching practicum. IIQTC Confidential 22

23 11:30-11:55 LECTURE: The Feedback Model and the Bell Curve The instructor presents the following information to orient and prepare the participants for the teaching practicum. The goal is to have each participant giving and receiving useful feedback from the group, so that they progress through the material quickly. This material offers a great opportunity to introduce the concept of Heartmind and Xin. Qi is mind. Where the mind goes, Qi flows. In the Tai Chi Easy way of things, this points to a thirst for truth or seeing things as they really are, not so colored by our own perceptions. In practical terms, this means we value feedback from others. Sometimes feedback is direct, and other times feedback can be indirect. There s something about being drawn to Tai Chi that makes us want to be better somehow. Getting feedback is a way to get better both at Tai Chi and at life. Be open to feedback! There is always a better and more easeful way to do things. In the practice teaching sessions, practice giving one another feedback and receiving feedback gracefully without attacking the person you are giving feedback to or defending yourself when you receive feedback. Other feedback comes in the feel of your groups. This is the Bell Curve idea. Sometimes it s only a few individuals in the group who are not satisfied with what is happening in class. At the same time, there is a small group that is highly pleased. In the middle the so-called top of the Bell Curve is the group that is neutral and engaged. Teach to THEM. Don t spend your energy on reeling in people who are the squeaky wheel or teaching only those that always want more. 11:55-12:15 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: Practice in a Chair Demonstrate the Tai Chi Easy moves in a chair. Opening Harmonizing Yin and Yang Brush Knee, Send Qi Embrace Tiger (transition) Cutting Through to Clarity Watching Clouds Pass Gathering Heaven and Earth Closing 12:15-12:30 TEACHING PRACTICUM: Setting Up the Practice Groups The instructor chooses a method for dividing up the large group into smaller groups either by having the group count off aloud or by whatever other method is chosen. Participants will gather very briefly to meet one another before lunch with the option to have lunch together in order to get to know one another. This is your group, the people who will be both your practice leaders and students/followers. Say hello for now. Since forming groups and having people break into groups can be a chaotic process, give this process a little time and be ready to answer participant questions. 12:30-1:30 LUNCH IIQTC Confidential 23

24 1:30-1:40 PRESENTATION: Assistant Talks About the Teaching Path Assistant shares experiences leading groups and what inspired them to lead and become a teacher of Tai Chi Easy. 1:40-2:25 GROUP PRACTICE LECTURE: The Role of Practice Leader and Leading a Session This discussion centers on the role of the practice leader. Remember that the practice leader is not an instructor or a teacher, but more of a coach and enthusiastic citizen who can bravely and generously take a turn at the front in order to lead a practice and encourage others to do so. In this regard, the practice leader has memorized some practices and has practiced them on his or her own. Leading a group is a matter of sharing one s practice with a community of like-minded individuals. What you need to do is simply practice! Practice is the teacher and the master. That said, here are some helpful recipes or formulas for how to put your practice sessions together either for yourself alone or for the groups you will lead: 1. Remember your Baskets of Practice: body, self-massage, breath, and meditation. 2. Choose exercises from each of the categories. Perhaps one from each in the order. Why this order? This honors body or the physical first, the body in self-massage, then the breath or the mind, and finally the spirit. 3. Relax and be yourself. Embody the practices by not worrying and enjoying yourself. Others will enjoy the practices as well. 4. Manage time. Even though you are deeply relaxing and stepping into timelessness as you practice, the practice leader s role is to mind the time. This means consciously opening and closing the practice. See The Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Secret section in the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Manual for more detail on creating segments for practice sessions. Sample Practice Session To encourage the participants to learn by doing, the instructor leads this sample practice session. See pages of The Healer Within for a detailed version of this session. This is an example of the Community Practice Sessions in Santa Barbara happen every Wednesday at the Health Action Clinic for the last 20+ years. Notice that a practice session does not need to be complex. Your enthusiasm makes it fresh. All of this can be done standing or sitting. Begin by focusing the mind and becoming still and intentful. Segue into the gentle movement or body practices: Flowing motion Right and left sideways bending Front and back bending of the spine Trace the Energy Channels IIQTC Confidential 24