Can I Join Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners in the Park?
Yesterday, I was at the University of Oregon. My partner was giving a workshop and I was on my own for three hours during which time I wandered through the on-campus graveyard and checked out the art museam. Then I spotted a group of people standing very still. It was a Tai Chi class.
After a Qigong warm up, the group began working through a form. I wanted to join them. I didn’t know their form but did know the movements—they were doing Yang style Taiji. I sat on a bench directly in front of them, well within view. I hoped the teacher would invite me to participate. He did not.
After several rounds I seemed to be making some of the group self-conscious. When the teacher turned his back to me and announced, “If you’re watching yourself do the form you’re outside of your body and not doing the form,” I decided to walk someplace else and practice alone.
Since I was not invited, I did not just jump in the back and start working with the group. What would happen if I did? Probably nothing. However, there was a time when I was in Beijing and spotted a small group practicing their morning exercises. I just took a spot in back and followed along. The expressions on their faces lead me to believe that I wasn’t welcome. They said nothing, as would be the way, and neither did I. Then I left. From that moment on I decided to always wait for an invitation. If there is no invite there is always plenty to learn from just watching and there’s never anything wrong with watching. Curious onlookers are to be expected when you practice in the park.
Follow me on Twitter!