tjameswhite.com

This summer marked the first time I didn’t attend t’ai chi classes on a regular basis. Last night, the new semester began.

While it felt really good to be back in class, it didn’t. I’m not the best study when I’m on my own, so class offers 3 hours of instruction and motivates me to get in at least one good workout a week. Also, working with other students, we take the time to explore little nuances of our form — something, again, I’m not the best at doing when left to my own devices.

And yet, I didn’t miss some of it. I think it’s mostly the corrections class and that it has something to do with the class size and commitment. The corrections class has about 30 students, compared to about a dozen in push hands and even less in sword. Selfishly, more students means less individual time. Also, there are a number of students who don’t seems to improve or care about improving. They are there for their once-a-week t’ai chi session (they don’t practice outside of class).

Of course it’s great that they are there and I feel like a heel for expressing “displeasure” with them. I guess that’s why I’m writing this — as a cathartic exercise for me to get over it. Part of t’ai chi is relaxing and letting go.

Push hands and sword don’t have this problem (for me) simply because their very nature attracts more dedicated and serious students.

I really need to just let go and let others do what they want to do. Anyone else have this problem?