Greetings. It was Wooden Boat Festival weekend here in Port Townsend. It is one of the largest gatherings of wooden boats in the country. It was so interesting and fun to have the water directly in front of our practice site in Chetzemoka Park filled with a rowing contest as well as sailing vessels. It was a perfect day.
Psychotherapy and Tai Chi
In 2008, I was interviewed by the American Psychotherapy Association for an article which appeared in their Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association magazine, Winter 2008. The topic was Understanding Tai Chi: An Interview with Michael Gilman.
Here is a list of the questions I was asked. I was just going to share the article with you, but I thought it might be more interesting and fun if you had a chance to look over the questions ahead of time and think about how you would answer them. You might even write them down in order to bring it out of your sub-conscious mind into your conscious mind. The instructors might even share these questions and your answers with your students to help your students understand Tai Chi from where you are right now. Then for the next couple of weeks, I will share my answers. Enjoy.
1) For the readers who aren’t familiar with Tai Chi, can you briefly explain what exactly it is?
2) How did you become acquainted with Tai Chi? Please describe your particular background with the practice and how you got to where you are today.
3) Annals reaches out to a large readership of professionals in the psychotherapy field. Can Tai Chi be useful for therapists working with clients?
4) What sorts of general health benefits coincide with a scheduled Tai Chi regimen?
5) Tai Chi is often seen as a means to achieving overall wellness. Along with the physical health benefits, will Tai Chi help to reduce psychological problems in any way?
6) What sorts of participants typically visit the studio? Is Tai Chi for everyone?
7) Michael, thank you for your time. Are there any last words you’d like to leave with our readers? How aabout advice for first-time Tai Chi participants?
Best Wishes,