Monica Murphy - Your Tutor

My Teaching Philosophy

I think it's fair to say that teachers tend to choose to teach in the manner they would like to be taught.

In my case, this translates to a recognition that each human being is wired differently to the next, therefore the task of learning a complex mind and body art is a different challenge for each of us.

I believe in...

• Allowing each student to learn at their own pace:  too many students feel obliged to try to keep up with the fastest learners; too often the bar is set unrealistically high; commonly insufficient repetition is offered to those who need it

• Reducing what some students have referred to as ’the mumbo-jumbo’: whilst I have huge respect for the abstract concepts and ideas that are the bedrock of Qigong, my experience is that many brand new students find a lot of the information a bit 'off the wall' and a distraction.  Which means it can be less than helpful, if not actually off-putting.

• Trying to put people at their ease by focussing more on the positives, on what is being done 'right' rather than solely pointing out mistakes.  Students often focus on their incompetence and I remind them to consider also how far they have come.

The big point to be understood, though, is that Tai Chi Chuan is not as easy to learn as it looks.  Unless of course you happen to have a flair for it, or have youth on your side. 

Nevertheless, in a relatively short time (i.e. a few weeks) some students report significant improvements in important areas: e.g. better balance, better posture, better sleep and a calmer outlook; the easing of aches and pains.

It certainly helps to take the long view, and to accept that learning tai chi chuan is a rewarding lifelong project – more like learning to paint: no beginner seriously expects to be producing canvasses to rival Turner or Picasso in a matter of weeks. 

Bear in mind it is a very different form of exercise and will feel a bit strange to start with, so I suggest giving it a bit of time to grow on you. 

A note about the nature of rest and relaxation:

These words can suggest a wide spectrum of ideas, anything from an intense physical workout to a couple of hours spent simply making jam, or reading poetry in the garden.  A recent New Scientist article (Sept '23)  on the subject of rest, offered the acronym DRAMMA:

D for physological detachment - distancing yourself from negative thoughts

R for relaxation, be that a massage or just lounging around

A for automony, meaning you have chosen this activity, rather than it being prescribed or imposed.

M for mastery and M for meaning, both of which add a sense of value to what we are doing.  Mastery can be learning new skills or getting fitter; Meaningful can include volunteering or advocating causes.

A for affiliation - a sense of social connectedness with co-workers or people outside of work.

For me, teaching tai chi encompasses all these points.  I hope learning tai chi does pretty much the same for my students.

Tai Chi - My Journey

I started seriously learning Tai Chi in 2006 and the following year began the 5-year (and more) curriculum of tuition in routines, gradings and assessments required for the teacher qualification. 

It was a while before I realised that not everyone who tries Tai Chi is smitten in such a profound and mesmerising way as I was.

I fell in love with Tai Chi around 12 years earlier, when I was invited to attend a weekend tai chi retreat in Norfolk.  At that time in the early 1990's I couldn't have been more ignorant of what Tai Chi was, so had no idea of what I might be letting myself in for.  But went along because I couldn't think of a reason not to.  No-one spoke of health benefits at all over the weekend, and indeed at that stage of my life, I doubt that I would have cared – might even have been put off.

But it turned out to be a life-changing experience, and I knew that even though my work commitments at that time made attending a regular class impossible, I would eagerly grab the chance when it came my way.

I have now been practising Tai Chi for 18 years and teaching it for 13.