I had been looking for a book of daily meditations that reflected my personal and spiritual perspective and had recently found 365 Tao by Deng Ming-Dao. Through the meditations I was introduced to Taoist philosophy which I found confirming and enlightening.

A co-worker mentioned that he was taking a tai chi class being taught by a health instructor at the college where we worked. When I realized that Taoist monks practiced Tai Chi, I knew I had to check it out. As I had with the meditations, I found an immediate fit.

I took the non-credit class three times and was asked to help teach the class, primarily by modeling what the instructor was teaching. I participated in at least two more classes. I wanted more.

My instructor at the time was one of Sifu Calph's students and he brought his class to one of Grandmaster Wong's seminars at Chinatown Tai Chi. I only took part in the beginner's seminar, but I was so engaged that I left the seminar and went looking for a martial arts store with only a vague idea of where it was. I found "The Rising Sun" in St. Paul and bought two Tai Chi books and a wooden Tai Chi Sword. I wanted more.

I tried to arrange some more-advanced lessons with my instructor but we couldn't work out a consistent schedule. By that time I knew the 24 form fairly well and I decided to, on my own, make a practice of that form and some chi kung exercises. Because of the seminar with Grandmaster, I knew of the Chinatown Tai Chi Center and planned to seek out Sifu Calph at some time. I kept my own regular practice of tai chi and chi kung for several years before life and work changes disrupted my schedule.

As I struggled to maintain the practice that I had found very beneficial for me, I realized that I didn't remember clearly how to do some of the postures. Because I had lost my routine, my form felt stiff and awkward, no longer fluid. I needed help to re-establish a regular practice. This was clearly the time to find Sifu Calph.

She said "come in and show me what you can do." I had been practicing very early mornings in a park, often in the dark. It had been years since I was aware of anyone watching me do the form. When I did the form in front of Sifu Calph, she was thoughtful. She asked one of her senior students to come over and demonstrate the form. She asked if it looked familiar to me. I could honestly say that it did, but it was also obvious that what I was doing didn't look like that any more. Now I wish I had a video of that day to see just how far I had strayed.

I was angry with myself for not coming in out of the dark sooner. I made my classes at Chinatown a priority and was able to re-establish a regular practice. I found again the personal presence that I had experienced with tai chi.

Studying and practicing at Chinatown Tai Chi Center has been a rich experience. Learning from Sifu Calph and different advanced students is valuable because they notice and instruct me on different things that they see in my form. Different teachers can describe a movement in different ways and the different perspectives are helpful in learning. Now when we practice two-person sword work, I pull out the wooden sword that I bought the day of my first seminar with Grandmaster. I'm glad I came in from the dark.

As I have studied and learned several empty-handed forms and weapons forms, I have been asked to help teach at the Center. I hope I am able to help some of our current students embrace tai chi as an important part of their lives.

Currently I am teaching a physical education course in tai chi at the college where I work. It is a challenge being the only instructor for a group of 25 students. I am trying to develop teaching strategies that more deliberately make a connection between mind, body and spirit; and to develop strategies that provide effective feedback to improve a student's form. These are things that develop more naturally at the Center. I'm enjoying teaching the college course, but it also makes me appreciate even more the learning community at Chinatown Tai Chi Center.