CANCELLATION
POLICY:
If a class series is cancelled by 6th Dimension, you will
be refunded your fees. If you confirm your registration and do not
attend any or all of the classes, a place has been held for you
ahead of others who also would like to attend, so fees are non-refundable.
6th
Dimension reserves the right to postpone or interrupt continuation
of a class series for legitimate reasons affecting 6th Dimension.
Classes will be resumed at the earliest possible date.
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SOME
BACKGROUND - SO YOU WANT TO DO TAI CHI...
Studying
Tai Chi really is worth doing. It becomes a resource that you hold
in your body and consciousness for life. My aim is to develop a
close knit, mutually supportive group of people who are willing
to enter into an older, more traditional approach to Tai Chi study.
Because of the duration of teaching required to draw anyone through
the entire Tai Chi form, and the many subtle layers of learning
and realization along the way, I necessarily make a long term commitment
to the people I teach.
Before
embarking on this wonderful adventure that is Tai Chi, please take
a moment or two to ponder the following.
It
is natural to be excited about something that you want to learn
and I would like to bring to your awareness that it is a good idea
to think through whether this is the right time for you to begin
Tai Chi. It's okay. Take your time. Decide. I am here to teach the
people who find their way to me when they are ready.
First,
finding a teacher is often quite a feat in itself. When
I was really quite young, I knew I wanted to study Tai Chi and my
search for a teacher led me first to someone who had done a bit
of Tai Chi during travels around Australia. The group foundered
after only a matter of weeks. This gentleman was not sufficiently
developed in his own training to teach. (Erle Monatiague makes the
point that if a teacher has less than 6 years experience in Tai
Chi, walk away, because while they might be able to teach you the
sequence of movements, they are not in a position to impart the
essence of Tai Chi.) My search then led me to someone who had established
a more commercially oriented franchise-style school, complete with
a contract for a particular period of study, very expensive up front-fees,
the requirement to buy their uniform, and other paraphernalia. Their
approach was a very "hard", martial approach. They soon
ran into financial difficulties and closed. I then found a wonderful,
sincere, and very skilled Tai Chi practitioner who was also teaching...
with no requirement for a study contract, exorbitant fees, or buying
a uniform from him, or anything like that. He was teaching in "the
old way". Sadly for me, he retired from teaching a few months
after I began and had just finished learning the Ching Chung "Praying
Mantis" style with him. I learned a great deal from him, and
now I knew I was on the right trail as to what to look for in a
teacher.
Eventually,
I found a teacher about whom the local paper had written a feature
story. He did not want to be too easily found (and now only teaches
closed classes), so he refused to own a telephone. To eventually
enter his training, I ended up leaving hand written messages on
the door of his school. He did not respond to the first hand written
note. A few weeks later, I tried again, another hand written note
on the door. Another few weeks after that, one of his advanced students
called me, on the teacher's instruction. I was interviewed over
the phone and later re-interviewed at the first open class that
I attended. Yes, interviewed. No student was admitted to their group
without first being thoroughly screened for a genuine commitment
to learn, willingness to accept direction and willingness to follow
through. Ultimately, after a long period of training with the larger,
public group, I was invited into the private group of dedicated
students who were serious about their training. No-one gained entry
to this group simply because they wanted it. One did not ask. One
did not expect. One was invited, after being observed for a long
time. As I said, "the old way". Later, through this teacher's
relationship with Erle Montaigue, my training advanced and I was
on my way, accepted by Erle Montaigue and ultimately graded as instructor
by him in 1986, eight years after I had taken my first Tai Chi class.
Second,
because Tai Chi long forms, including Yang Cheng Fu Tai
Chi, have a definite beginning and end, and each week's training
builds on the previous week's learning, it is important to join
the class from the beginning date and time. (For the same reason,
it is important to be punctual.) Also, keep in mind that there are
three major thirds within the long form and I do
ask that you make the commitment to yourself to complete the First
Third even if you are undecided as to whether you wish to continue
with the entire Tai Chi long form or not.
Typically,
it takes approximately 3 - 4 months to learn the First Third and
about a year to learn the entire Tai Chi long form. Not altogether
surprisingly, therefore, it is very common that approximately 60%
of people who commence a Tai Chi long form do not complete the full
form. Completing the First Third is one way to see if Tai Chi really
is for you while also completing a sub-part of the form for your
health and well being. By completing the First Third, you will have
set in motion some energy principles and pathways that will nourish
you regardless. As for whether to complete the entire Tai Chi long
form, energy and life don't judge.
Neither do I. When the time is right...
For
those of you who do decide to continue through the entire long form
of Yang Cheng Fu Tai Chi, having already completed the First Third
with me means that you already have the foundation to continue training,
as this First Third
provides important building blocks for the next two thirds of the
entire form.
Once
the shifting composition of class has worked itself out, as people
have decided whether to continue their training or not, things settle
into an integrated, close knit class which is very rewarding for
those who continue. A truly wonderful and unified group energy develops.
I still count among my warmest and fondest memories, and continuing
friendships, the people with whom I took my own training and people
whom I have trained since then.
NOTE:
Completing the first third is a matter of individual commitment,
class attendance, and practice between classes. The movements are
taught in sequence. Each class builds on cumulative knowledge from
previous classes in the series. Past experience has proved to me
that when people are able to attend regularly and fit at-home practice
into their schedules, they really do get through the First Third
in about 12 weeks. The opposite is also true if people are not able
to attend class consistently and practice regularly between classes.
They fall behind and flounder, which is an unsettling and discouraging
experience for them, and leaves them with a less than positive impression
of Tai Chi. (It is also disruptive for the people who have committed
to regular attendance and practice.) So... the point is, before
joining class, give some thought to whether you can make the commitment
to completing the first third, and possibly to the entire long form.
As
I said a moment ago, studying Tai Chi really is worth it as it truly
does become a resource that you hold in your body and consciousness
for life.
Having
read all this, I hope you will also make the time to read this article
by my mentor in Tai Chi: "The
Way of the Warrior" by Erle Montaigue. It outlines
beautifully what Tai Chi is really about.
Looking
forward to meeting you in class.
Ranna.
Ranna's
art work from 2000 - 2004: www.ranna.com