July Live Zoom Recap · Certified Tai Chi Instructors

July Live Zoom Recap

Another informative and fun monthly Zoom in the books. Whether you were there or missed it, here is what you need to know.

Big Announcements 📣

The SOHMA website is launching imminently with a graduate directory so paid teaching opportunities can flow directly to you. Make sure your profile is up to date. Email Kelly at [email protected] to submit your graduate profile and picture updates.

Continuing education credits are now approved for licensed acupuncturists in California (12 CE hours). Chiropractic approval through the PACE program (nationwide) is in its final stage. More to come on physical therapy.

California Meetup: August 9th, Heartwell Park 📍

If you are in or near Southern California, this one is for you. I will be out at the park to review forms, give personal feedback, and of course have fun! We will wrap with an informal potluck. Come ready to practice.

Community Wins 🌟

Certified Instructors Zola and Odie landed a paid corporate Qigong event that came directly through the SOHMA pipeline and successfully negotiated their rate up before the final agreement. This is exactly what being part of this school makes possible. The opportunities are real, they are coming in, and they go to our certified graduates first. 🌟

Certified Instructor Herbert is in conversations about a city contract in Newark, Delaware covering both adult and youth after-school programming.

Ricky is building strong momentum with 15 students per week at the Rec Center and 8 at the YMCA, with a growing Facebook group of 17 members.

Melody is averaging 8 students per week and has been invited to launch a senior center program.

Rogelio has been cleared as ready to test for certification. 🎓

Key Teaching Reminders 📝

A few things discussed that apply to everyone:

When setting your rate, base it on the value of your time including drive time, not on what a rec center typically pays. Your identity and connection with students adds value that goes beyond Tai Chi proficiency alone.

The Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades) is a fixed 8-movement set. If you add warm-up movements before or after, that is great and encouraged. Just know that those additions do not become part of the Eight Brocades set itself. There is no "12 Brocades." Keep the names and boundaries of what we teach accurate to avoid confusion with your students.

Standardized forms like the 24 Form should be preserved as taught. Personal innovations are welcome in your own classes or for your own personal practice, but should always be clearly labeled as such when you teach them.

For kids: lean into pop culture. "The Force" from Star Wars and Chi from Dragon Ball Z are helpful concepts that the kids can relate to. Let them rename the movements in their own words. It works. 🐉Thank you Ricky for sharing how you allowed the kids to make up the names of the movements in your class.

Coming Up ⏳

Certification testing is on the horizon for at least one or two members. You know who you are.

If you have been sitting on your video submissions, now is the time to move.

See you on the next call! 🙏

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July Live Zoom Recap