Götzens Tai Chi Weekend March 2024

by

Peter Kennedy

For those of you who may not know, there was a Tai Chi Weekend in Austria at the Tai Chi School in Götzens at the beginning of March 2024. This was organized by Maria Gandler and Franz Stumpf. I want to share my reflections and encourage you to visit. To clarify, the weekends called Tai Chi & Tai Ski are for apprentices and students and are held in the spring and autumn. For your information, the European Winter Training 2025 will be in Götzens, Austria!

When I arrived back in Götzens and met the local apprentices, I felt like I was being welcomed by family. Warm smiling faces and lots of hugs abounded. Leading the weekend was Els Eijssens from Amsterdam, who came with her husband Dick Pot, who was taking B3. We also enjoyed welcoming two apprentices who came from the UK: Ikuyo Mitsuzono and Lindi McAlpine, who came with husband, Grant McAlpine, who was in the PH1 class.

The weekend started on Thursday evening and finished on Sunday evening. The planning was flawless, with plenty of time for class preparation. We had three hours of apprentice classes led by Els and me, which focused on “How to Adjust,” what helps, and what can be challenging. We also did hands on adjustment practice focusing on quality of touch, listening, and intention.

We participated in “Giving Feedback on Teaching” to our teaching partner after class. We discussed how to find the best way to give and receive feedback. Maria and Franz did a wonderful roleplay, displaying behaviors we would like to avoid while team teaching. This was hilarious and a great way to illustrate what could happen in class. It brought up some of the things we may do without even realizing it.

We offered B1, B3, and PH1 classes. PH1 was very much like a workshop taught by four of us working together— Els, Maria, Franz, and myself. Each of us brought something from our own experience and shared it with the group. We focused on softness within ourselves, expanding our awareness and inviting, including our PH partner, into our “sphere of influence,” and our dantians. This felt inspiring.

We had Time in the Art classes with guided meditation and relaxation sessions for everyone. These were very much appreciated by the students, and many said that they felt a change in their bodies, their awareness of heaven and earth, and their dantians.

Something special about teaching in Götzens is that we have an opportunity to teach in more than one class and level, meet all the students, and work with most if not all, other apprentices.

One might think that the language barrier may have been an issue, but it wasn’t. The local apprentices took turns translating when needed in both directions (English ><German), which made teaching very interesting and amusing. It was an enjoyable experience for both apprentices and students alike.

Covid caused class numbers to drop in the school, but I was delighted to see a large group of students, with 16 people in the B3 class alone! The total participation at the weekend was 32.

The students had such a good time together that they suggested we go out for dinner on Saturday night which we did. We had great fun and a very enjoyable meal at a traditional Tyrolean restaurant in Götzens. The food was simple but delicious, with great service and a very friendly and cooperative staff.

With the weekend over and an extra day, on Monday, we went for a drive up into the mountains and for a lovely walk in the snow. It was spectacular, with snowcapped mountains rising high on all sides of us, showing evidence of recent avalanches high above us. The snow was a little too crusty to make snow angels, but not for the want of trying! There is something about the gravity of the mountains, the fresh mountain air, and crystal-clear water that is unforgettable. Of course, the general friendliness of the people was part of it, too.

I want to thank Maria and Franz for having organized the weekend so well. Thank you to Ikuyo and Lindi for coming from the UK to help out. Thanks to the local apprentices Gabi Sponring, Claudia Gebhart, Doris Haderer and Anita Reinalter for their strong teamwork which, had everything we needed in place. Also, a big thank you to Maria, Claudia, and Franz for their translation skills, which were clear and inspiring for the students. Most of all, thanks for all the hosts’ warm welcome and joyful enthusiasm for learning, sharing, and teaching tai chi.

A huge special thank you to Els for her lead, and for how teaching with her felt effortless and inspiring. Thanks for the support, encouragement, and great conversations.

I am very much looking forward to returning to Götzens soon and hope to see you there for Winter Training in January 2025.

Photos by Maria Gandler

Peter Kennedy started tai chi studies with Patricia McNally in STCC Dublin Ireland in 1988. He became an apprentice in 1998. Peter has taught in the Dublin school and at European Summer and Winter Trainings, tai chi weekends and online classes. Now based in Nantes France, Peter has continued his apprentice studies in Amsterdam, the UK and the USA.

Peter served on the Board of Directors of the Tai Chi Foundation (TCF), and with the help of Margaret Matsumoto was instrumental in the creation of the TCF Certification Committee and the TCF Teacher Certification Program.

Tai Chi Foundation 2024