Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Dear Linda: I thankyou for this. I feel we give alot of extra's. But at face value, from a brochure, that doesn't show. We never charge for the hours of counseling work we do, or the hospitality. People hang out at our store for hours, drinking the tea, chatting with new friends, getting advice. This is much different than going to a scheduled class at a hospital. But there are many who wouldn't feel compfortable in our atmosphere, and thats why its great that there are more than one way to get good info out there. Unfortunatly, at hospitals, the credentials is everything. They (the hospitals) will send a physical therapist to our Tai Chi lessons for 6 weeks, then hire that person to teach it for them in thier centers for less money. But because this person is a licensed PT, they consider that superior to my husband who has studied the art for over 25 years. Unfortunatly when a patient takes that hospitals tai chi program, after 6 weeks they quit, because there is nothing more to learn. Usually they quit much sooner because of lack of quality teaching. This person does not then come to us. They feel they have tried Tai Chi and its just not for them. This is a huge loss. As our students often stay with us for years, continuely gleening new and wonderful ways to improve thier Tai Chi and thier lives. Many types of things like this the hospitals ruin for the client by doing a diluted, sterile form of the alternative. There are always trade offs. Most alternatives in hospitals are not covered by insurance yet, but when that happens, I think we'll see the programs get better. I hope so for the patients benifit. Thanks Linda for your kind words of encouragement. I love what I do, and have and will do it for free if need be. I know we are helping people and thats enough for us. When it finially becomes enough for Traditional medicine, we'll really have something wonderful. love connie > Connie, > > If traditional medicine kept you here with us, then I am very glad > for it! I agree with what you say - that both systems are needed > to keep the 'check and balances' with each other. The hospitals > may take away some of your business, but I doubt they give the > quality of service you do. I would rather pay more and come to > a center like yours than get the services cheaper at a hospital. > I know some of the 'alternative' programs in hospitals are good, > but from my limited experience, I haven't seen it. They don't have > the depth and groundedness - I guess the spirituality - that I find in > private centers. I think all you're doing is wonderful. > > Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Connie: That is a frustrating reality; many people know just enough to be a hazard, not enough to be an expert, but sell themselves as professionals in a field after taking a short course or reading a book about something. Our society has perpetuated that with its avalanche of self help and do it yourself books. While in some cases that may work out well, in others it can be a disaster. Man talks to people all the time who have " tried Tai Chi " but it " wasn't for them " ... usually because there was more modelling than teaching involved, little preparation or stretching, and no background. There are so many factors of flexibility, balance and body mechanics in Tai Chi that can be valuable, but there is also a meditative component that is its heart, and the ever present aspect of the Chi; it's not just exercise, and I think that is how it is presented to many people who are teaching from a structural background, like Physical Therapy. Most people do not realize that it takes time to develop the postures, because a master can make it look so gracefully easy... like in yoga. I know it can be frustrating, but you can be proud that you have maintained your honor with the work and that the right students will find you without the need to compromise. Eventually I hope that the mating dance of traditional care with complementary therapies will be successful; I don't know how it will work out, but I hope that there is more movement to a deep exploration rather than a superficial tasting of techniques, which as you said, dilutes their value. Respect for experience is part of that. Blessings, Crow CL wrote: > > > > Unfortunatly, at hospitals, the credentials is everything. > They (the > hospitals) will send a physical therapist to our Tai Chi > lessons for 6 > weeks, then hire that person to teach it for them in thier > centers for less > money. But because this person is a licensed PT, they consider > that > superior to my husband who has studied the art for over 25 > years. > > Unfortunatly when a patient takes that hospitals tai chi > program, after 6 > weeks they quit, because there is nothing more to learn. > Usually they quit > much sooner because of lack of quality teaching. This person > does not then > come to us. They feel they have tried Tai Chi and its just not > for them. > This is a huge loss. As our students often stay with us for > years, > continuely gleening new and wonderful ways to improve thier Tai > Chi and > thier lives. Many types of things like this the hospitals > ruin for the > client by doing a diluted, sterile form of the alternative. > There are always trade offs. Most alternatives in hospitals > are not > covered by insurance yet, but when that happens, I think we'll > see the > programs get better. I hope so for the patients benifit. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2001 Report Share Posted July 6, 2001 >Dear Crow: I'm sorry I'm just getting back to this, but I've had a wierd couple of days. This was a wonderful post you wrote and so 'right on " . > > > That is a frustrating reality; many people know just enough to be > a hazard, not enough to be an expert, but sell themselves as > professionals in a field after taking a short course or reading a > book about something. Our society has perpetuated that with its > avalanche of self help and do it yourself books. > > While in some cases that may work out well, in others it can be a > disaster. I've seen a few of these disasters, and fixing a mistake made on someone already sick and now mistrusting is very difficult. > > I know it can be frustrating, but you can be proud that you have > maintained your honor with the work and that the right students > will find you without the need to compromise. I have come to see that as true. Funny how it works out. A old man and woman came to our store, because they went to a hospital tai chi class where they modified the exercises for this elderly couple but made sure to make them both bow before and after each class in keeping with the Tai Chi honor system. (we don't do bowing in our school) They came to us because they wanted to learn real tai chi, as they had seen on thier extensive travels, but they didn't want to bow. He had survived the holicost in Buchinwald, and was done with that crap. LOL. After 6 years Hans is still with us, his wife died 3 years ago. But Hans just turned 80 and comes every week to workout, has learned all the forms well, can swing a sword with the best of them, and is now learning a fan form. He tells all his friends that he owes his vigor to tai chi. We tell all our friends how lucky we are to know him. We do get the good students. And I'm grateful. > > Eventually I hope that the mating dance of traditional care with > complementary therapies will be successful; I don't know how it > will work out, but I hope that there is more movement to a deep > exploration rather than a superficial tasting of techniques, > which as you said, dilutes their value. Respect for experience is > part of that. > Yes, I agree, such a loss to discount the learnings of an ancient master because he doesn't have a Physical Therapist license. And all of those wonderful healers from other countries who can't even share what they know untill they've gone thru the hazing process called internship and boards. There has to be a way to allow them to atleast teach if not practice. The scientific community is finially realizing that they must share thier findings to shoot forward into the next millinum, but we in the west have arrogance about our system of medicine, and don't put much stock in other methods. I do think this is changing however, because I think that all people sincerely want to see things move forward and get better. Thanks again Crow. love connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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