Relaxing Exercise which Engages the Mind
– interviewed by Instructor Lis
About fifteen years ago, Lynda suffered through a terribly traumatic period involving deaths in the family. She began looking for some way of easing the pain and dealing with her emotions. In her search, she discovered the Rosen Method, “an approach to wholeness and well-being through the body.” The integration of the inner and outer self is very important, the mind/body connection, and this is what Rosen therapists work towards with their clients. Lynda became a Rosen Therapist in 2004. She also studied remedial massage.
At the time she was working in the Public Service. She has since retired and works four days per week treating clients. “I’ve never been happier. I love what I’m doing now.”
Lynda has always read widely about Buddhism and Taoism. “I want to take in as much information as possible about the way the mind and body work together. To make changes and shifts in consciousness takes exploration and effort, movement. I’m always seeking ways to improve. Rosen involves movement as well as bodywork but there was no one trained in Australia at that time for me to have regular lessons.”
“I knew about Tai Chi, I’d always associated an image of Brett with it for some reason, perhaps because I’d seen the pamphlets about town for so long, but I’d never got around to actually doing it. My partner started first and brought home the DVD and book.
When I did finally go along to a class, I was immediately hooked. Tai Chi was exactly what I’d been looking for. I wanted something where all the joints were moving, was gentle, calming and involved the mind.” 
“In my work, I need as much focus and equanimity as possible. Some people can divulge great pain during treatment. In that respect, Tai Chi is a support for me as a therapist. But I would do it anyway, therapist or not.”
At her first class, Lynda didn’t take her eyes off Brett, trying to figure out how he was moving. “I’m sure he wondered about that woman who stared at him all the time! It’s very difficult to copy, to try and make my body move all the joints smoothly. And I always stood in the middle of the group so I could see where to go next because I had a lot of trouble remembering the sequence.”
Lynda did the Beginner section twice and then Fontane encouraged her to try Level 2. “Now I’m in Refinement, I still watch Brett really closely. It’s very subtle. Brett’s movements are small but he’s clearly moving everything. I’m seeing and appreciating more and more all the time. It’s such a revelation when something starts moving more in my body that hasn’t before – movement deep in the chest, hips and legs – it’s so freeing. Feeling and sensing movement in one’s own body is quite different to seeing it in others. Tai Chi increases resilience and springiness in the body, something which otherwise declines as we age.”
“Twice now, I’ve done the Eight Section Brocade Qigong course which is really good. And will do again this term. Sometimes I stay on and visit the Beginner class which starts immediately after. Occasionally, Brett or Fontane has asked me to stand in the front so people can follow more easily. The first time I completely froze. I was really self conscious, lost focus and became quite anxious because I knew I would forget where I was up to. And I did! But with practice, the pressure I put on myself trying to ‘get it right’ and being seen has shifted.”
Although Lynda recommends Tai Chi to her clients, she does Tai Chi herself as a complementary practice, for her own nourishment. It has become part of her daily life. She has no goal, it’s just there.
“The core element is truth. Brett is dedicated to presenting the best information he can to students. I really appreciate this aspect of the Tai Chi Academy classes.”
There is also a wealth of other complementary courses available to Tai Chi students wishing to enhance their knowledge.
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