I stood behind a tree and continued to watch. I felt a strong connection to those lyrical movements. I can still recall the intense yearning and desire to join the group. However, I was quite shy then and had low self-esteem. I heard my mind whispering “Don’t even try, you won’t be able to learn this.” I listened to that inner thought and walked away. But at least I discovered they were doing something named tai chi.

 

Three years later, we were living in Miami, Florida. After experiencing the natural birth of my first child and nurturing him, I finally had the confidence to learn tai chi.

 

I heard about ongoing classes being conducted by a Mr. Chow. At that time Mr. Chow was teaching the beginning student. Mrs. Chow was waiting for us to learn the entire “Square Form.” Then she would be able to teach us the more advanced “Round Form.”

 

From the first moment I opened the door to their studio I felt as if I were entering a magical space. For the two years I was under Mr. Chow’s tutelage, he would patiently teach me the square, small circular form. He would always gently correct the placement of my hands, arms, feet and legs. After every session he would remind me to practice whatever I remembered. Mr. Chow moved with grace and fluidity. Sometimes, as I sat in class waiting for my turn, I would glance across the room. Mrs. Chow was instructing the more advanced students. It appeared as if another rite-of-passage was being conducted “over there!”

 

When the time came for graduation, Mr. Chow guided me to Mrs. Chow’s territory. I went there with a great deal of happiness and trepidation. The reason for the apprehension was Mr. and Mrs. Chow’s diverse teaching techniques. I recall standing in front of Mrs. Chow for the first time. She asked me to do the square form that had taken me two years to learn. I began to lift my arms and hands when all of a sudden, Mrs. Chow launched herself from the chair and was six inches from me exclaiming, ”No, no, it is all wrong!” I was bewildered. It took me a few lessons with my new teacher to appreciate her objective. It was to release any extraneous and unnecessary movements. Less was best and she was a gifted editor. Mrs. Chow’s tai chi motions had stillness and quiet strength. It’s as if Mr. Chow represented the Yin symbol (soft, inward and graceful) and Mrs. Chow represented the Yang symbol (strong, outward and powerful). Together they embodied a perfect circle of flowing, shifting motion and intertwined energies.

 

Through the years, tai chi has taught me how to be in the moment. Watching and placing my body in the various, odd positions focused my mind. I move slowly and gracefully. I breathe deeply and I possess inner stillness. The tranquility is astounding.

 

Now that I’m fifty-eight, I can appreciate all the physical benefits tai chi offers. When I practice in the morning I feel my muscles stretching away tightness. My spinal column elongates as it rotates on its axis. My heart muscle is strengthened as it pumps the flow of blood upward to my fingers, which are often at shoulder height. My balance is excellent. Tai chi also supports the immune system. Mr. and Mrs. Chow were never sick. During flu season as their students would be blowing noses, sneezing and coughing they would proudly state, “We never get sick tai chi chuan keeps you very healthy!” And now, I too find this to be true.

 

In 1990, my husband and I were relocating to the British Virgin Islands. It broke my heart knowing I was leaving my beloved teachers. After so many years Mr. and Mrs. Chow were my family. I remember sadly telling Mrs. Chow I was moving and she responded, “If you must go, you must teach!”

 

“Oh, Mrs. Chow, I can’t teach. I’m not a tai chi master.” I replied seriously.

 

“If you leave, you MUST teach!” Mrs. Chow repeated, as she looked deep into my soul.

 

I moved 1,500 miles away and I began to teach. In doing so, I understood the importance of respecting my teacher’s wishes. Mrs. Chow’s wisdom was evident when she insisted I should teach. Being keenly aware that my students were observing my every step required me to pay attention to my own movements. This intense focus has kept me “on track” all these years.

 

Now, that I’ve been teaching for 20 years, I’ve discovered my students are also my teachers. I understand tai chi’s benefits on a deeper level. Every student moves and wears their body uniquely. Many times I’ve seen tai chi opening windows of light for my students to heal themselves physically and emotionally.

 

A few years ago, my students suggested I produce a DVD so they could have a teacher “at home” on a daily basis. The Tai Chi for Enlighteners™ seed was planted. As I birthed this program I’ve embarked on yet another sacred journey. Tai chi is more than moving the body. It can touch our souls. Tai chi is an amazing pathway to infinite discoveries. So, I look forward to meeting you in Tai Chi Land.

 

(They’re world-renowned artists and each of their paintings are in the DVDs.) After class we arranged to drive them home. Mrs. Chow ended the conversation by saying, “You will eat with us!”

 

I opened the door to the studio and as always a peaceful, joyous feeling washed over me. Mr. Chow was standing on the far side of the room looking over his student’s shoulder as she was painting. Mrs. Chow was sitting across the room demonstrating how to paint a hibiscus flower, as her students watched. They both looked in our direction and smiled. I walked over to them, reintroduced Leon and gave them hugs. For over 25 years, I always felt marvelous being in their presence…the magic was still there.

 

After offering us tea and cookies they resumed teaching as Leon and I viewed their beautiful paintings, which were displayed on the walls. Ten minutes later, the class was over. As the students helped Mr. and Mrs. Chow empty buckets of water, clean brushes and generally tidied up; I remembered how they had to train us, their tai chi students to be thoughtful and helpful. After a long day of teaching they asked us to move the chairs and tables as we transformed the tai chi space into a painting studio for the next day. I observed their strong movements and marveled at their youthfulness despite their ages. Mr. Chow was 86 and Mrs. Chow 76.

 

We drove to their house, which was a duplex. One side was their personal studio and gallery space. The other side was their living quarters. Mrs. Chow scooted into the kitchen with me asking her if I could help “No, no” she replied as Mr. Chow ushered us to the gallery. He gave us a tour of their newest paintings. In China they were honored as “Chinese Treasures.” They were prolific painters each having their own specialties. Mrs. Chow painted flowers and Mr. Chow painted landscapes, animals and people. Often they painted on each other’s canvases. After viewing the incredibly beautiful paintings I returned to the kitchen wanting to be helpful. Mrs. Chow was frying thirty huge dumplings. She told me where the plates and silverware were so I could set the table.

 

In the past I’ve been invited to many of Mr. and Mrs. Chows’ parties. So, I was fully aware of Mrs. Chow’s propensity to make sure her students ate enough food to fill us up for at least two days. It was amusing to see her delight as she served Leon, who is a strapping six feet, two inches… fifteen of the largest dumplings with the command, ”You are a big man. You must eat them all!”

 

We ate the dumplings, which were delicious. Then had fresh fruit for dessert before Mrs. Chow was ready to be interviewed.

Stephanie: "Today is November 25th, 1997 and here we are in Mr. and Mrs. Chow's home. And we had a delicious meal of dumplings and delicious fruit and I am totally stuffed because I ate 10 dumplings."(Mrs. Chow laughing in the background).

Mrs. Chow: "A little." (Referring to the amount of dumplings I consumed.)

Stephanie: "A little! But I'm here to interview you about Tai Chi Chuan. So if you could introduce yourself and say your full name, since I only call you Mr. and Mrs. Chow. But I want my students and the people who read this to know your full name, where you were born and what your birth date is."

Mr. Chow: "My first name called Chian Chiu. Chian Chiu means thousand years. Why use this for my name? Because in Chinese history the Dynasty is 1,000 years."

Stephanie: "And where were you born?"

Mr. Chow: "Canton"

Stephanie: "What year?"

Mr. Chow: "1910"

Stephanie: "And Mrs. Chow what is your full name?"

Mrs. Chow: "My full name's Leung Chen-Ying Chow"

Stephanie: "Does that have a special meaning?"

Mrs. Chow: "Beautiful veil of crown."

Stephanie: "And where were you born?"

Mrs. Chow: "Canton, China"

Stephanie: "Do you mind telling me when?"

Mrs. Chow: "1921"

Stephanie: "What I'd like to know next, is what does Tai Chi Chuan mean?"

Mr. Chow: "Tai Chi is a circle. Inside is yin and yang. Exchange's exchange.

Mrs. Chow: : "Never stop!"

Mr. Chow: "Tai chi movement is also like a circle. Sometimes large, sometimes small, big, right, left, up or down. Everything is circles so called Tai Chi Chuan.

Stephanie: "Does the circle represent a movement of energy?"

Mr. Chow: "Yes, yin and yang to keep the circulation flowing. If you practice tai chi you never sick."

Stephanie: "You are never sick?"

Mr. Chow: "Keep you in good health. I eat lots but I'm not fat!"

Stephanie: "One can definitely say you are not fat. That is true. So besides being good for circulation and inner energy (which is called chi in Chinese), why is tai chi good for your mind? Does it calm people down? You know how we are so uptight in this world and stressed out. So why is tai chi good for that, too?"

Mrs. Chow: "Makes you relaxed."

Mr. Chow: "Relaxed is important. Makes your mind happy and peaceful."

Mrs. Chow: "When you do Tai Chi Chuan you cannot think other things. You must be relaxed."

Mr. Chow: "You know when I practice Tai Chi Chuan my eyes doesn't blink, because I concentrate."

Stephanie: "So you're focusing on one point?"

Mr. Chow: "Yah!"

Stephanie: "And your body has form but does not have muscle, it's not tight. It's gentle form."

Mr. & Mrs.: "Yah!"

Stephanie: "When we practice Tai Chi Chuan, are we supposed to breathe a certain way?"

Mr. & Mrs.: "Just natural."

Stephanie: "It just will become deeper once we relax. But we don't have to worry about breathing. Where and when did tai chi begin?"

Mr. Chow: "In the Song Dynasty one thousand years ago, the Taoist, Chang San-Feng moved down from a mountain in Middle China. He saw the crane fight with the snake. He watched the movements and he created Tai Chi Chuan."

Stephanie: "So he saw by the movements of the crane and snakes."

Mr. Chow: "Fighting!"

Stephanie: "So, the crane had straight movements and the snake's movements were more circular?"

Mr. Chow: "Yes."

Stephanie: "Did the snake win the fight?"

Mr. Chow: "No one won. Got the idea, the inspiration to create Tai Chi Chuan."

Stephanie: "When was your first introduction to Tai Chi Chuan?"

Mr. Chow: "When I was young in school, I learned the Shouling Cheng."

Stephanie: "Fighting?"

Mr. Chow: "Boxing, Kung Fu! After forty years, I learned boxing I never fight with other people. (Laughter) After forty years a person's capacity peaks. We don't want to fight but we want the health. So, I started at age of 40 until now, Tai Chi Chuan in Hong Kong."

Stephanie: "So you moved from Canton, China and at that time were you married?"

Mr. Chow: "Yes, we both started Tai Chi Chuan in 1949."

Stephanie: "Who was your teacher?"

Mr. & Mrs.: "Dr. Young"

Stephanie: "He was teaching Wu Style Tai Chi?"

Mrs. Chow: "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Stephanie: "Because I know Yang Style is very popular now."

Mr. Chow: "Dr. Young was last student of Mr. Wu who started Wu Style Tai Chi in Hong Kong."

Stephanie: "Why and how is Wu different from the other forms? How is it different from Yang or Chen?"

Mr. Chow: "Mr. Wu, he was yang (master) with big steps. After sixty years he developed smaller steps."

Mrs. Chow: "He thinks when you getting old you don't like to do big steps. See?"

Mr. Chow: "Don't expend the energy. We want to get more energy not to expend."

Stephanie: "So, the circle (in Wu Style) is smaller. Does that mean the energy intensifies inside? You once told me, Mr. Chow that our style is the healing tai chi and you can feel warmth emanating through the fingertips and sometimes people lay hands and make people feel better. I've seen you do that."

Mr. Chow: "Yes, yes."

Stephanie: "And you get it from the chi?"

Mr. Chow: "Energy."

Mrs. Chow: "Tan-tien." (Area of chi energy)

Stephanie: "Which are about two fingers beneath the navel?"

Mr. Chow: "Important with this energy is your angle and timing, co-ordinate."

Mrs. Chow: "Together."

Stephanie: "Your angle and timing. And that's why our tai chi takes such a long time to learn when compared to other styles. Our angles are very important?"

Mr. & Mrs.: "Yes, yes."

Mr. Chow: "This is very scientific."

Stephanie: "When we learn, we're taught Right Hand Square Form first."

Mrs. Chow: "Mr. Chow, you tell them why! Must teach them square using numbers (counting the steps) because it's easier to remember."

Mr. Chow: "Never gets lost!"

Stephanie: "Mr. Chow it was your idea to count while you were teaching?"

Mr. Chow: "Yes, I started. Even square. The old fashioned don't teach square! When your teacher decided you were very good student and you could become teacher, then would teach you square."

Mrs. Chow: "Square is good foundation."

Mr. Chow: " We turn it upside down (referring to teaching square before round). The square let the student really understand first (the tai chi form.)"

Stephanie: "So you did that or did your teacher turn it around?"

Mr. Chow: "Ya, ya."

Stephanie: "So your teacher Dr. Young. "

Mr. Chow: "Mr. Wu's family even now, only teach round, no square!"

Stephanie: "They bend deeply and it looks different from our round."

Mr. Chow: "Mr. Wu when Japanese attacked, (he) came from Shanghi to Hong Kong. My teacher lived in his house all day long. He taught one student at a time. He (Mr. Wu) taught our teacher square first and ordered him to teach square first."

Stephanie: "So that's how it started. That was a big change. Now, we learn Right Hand Square first, then Right Hand Round. People think that round is beautiful but I think square is beautiful, too. But the most important aspect is to always practice both. Then the student is taught Left Hand Square and Left Hand Round. Why is that?"

Mrs. Chow: "Because of the circle, you know!"

Mr. Chow: "Because of yin and yang, contrast and balance."

Stephanie: "I think that's good, it exercises the other side of your brain."

Mrs. Chow: "Yes, yes!"

Stephanie: "I remember when I learned Right Hand Square and then when I began to learn Left Hand Square, I thought I should know what I was doing. But I would get very mixed-up as if I was exercising some other part of my brain. And I do feel more balanced now."

Mrs. Chow: "Some people difficult to learn the left."

Stephanie: "You have to once again have the patience."

Mrs. Chow: "Yes."

Stephanie: "What was the school's name in Hong Kong where you learned tai chi?"

Mr. & Mrs. "No, no. No name, just Mr. Young."

Stephanie: : "How long were you students of his?"

Mr. & Mrs. "Seventeen years, sometimes two times a week."

Stephanie: "When did you both start teaching?"

Mrs. Chow: "Teaching?"

Stephanie: "Teaching."

Mr. & Mrs. "After we moved here."

Stephanie: "So you never taught in Hong Kong, tai chi?"

Mrs. Chow: "No! We were too busy to teach art."

Stephanie: "What year did you move to America?"

Mr. Chow: "1967"

Stephanie: "In 1967, you came to Miami?"

Mr. Chow: "No, no, no. We came to New York."

Mrs. Chow: "The end of 1968."

Mr. Chow: "We came to United States invited by TWA for art exhibit in Kennedy Airport."

Mrs. Chow: "A gallery in the airport."

Stephanie: "So they brought you over and you decided to stay?"

Mr. Chow: "Umm yah and when we came, the New York Times Magazine and NBC videoed our art."

Mr. & Mrs. "We had exhibition in Manhattan City Bank. We were on television, the video, and the newspaper. Wow!!"

Stephanie: "Did you speak English then?"

Mrs. Chow: "Not that good. (Laughter)"

Stephanie: "How long did you live in New York?"

Mr. Chow: "I think three months."

Mrs. Chow: "Ah, one winter."

Stephanie: "Too cold, eh?"

Mrs. Chow: "Ooh, too cold! I can not stand it!" (Phone rings and Mrs. Chow answers it.)

Mr. Chow: "After TWA invited us, and after the bank, then University of New York State, very famous, ahh, Darthmouth, Princeton and many universities invited us. We travel America for whole year. The winter we come down to Miami. Invited by U of M (University of Miami) in 1968. Then I set up my studio (art) in 1969 January first!"

Stephanie: "In the Colony Hotel on Biscayne Blvd, which is no longer there. How did you get students?"

Mr. Chow: "The students come to find me. No advertising. Even now I teach more than sixty years in art and Tai Chi Chuan I never take advertising, all the students come to find me."

Stephanie: "I know your students and the people who know and love you all attended the art show you recently had at the Lowe Museum. A lot of people came. I think your fame is spreading even here in America!"

Mrs. Chow: "We have a lot of students, that makes a difference. Your name is by mouth to mouth."

Stephanie: "Back to tai chi, when you came to America and were living in the Colony Hotel, Mr. Chow was teaching first, right?"

Mrs. Chow: "Right! You know why?"

Stephanie: "Why?"

Mrs. Chow: "Because eh, one of our art students I think they have a friend that studied at U of M, that's why! The friend asked for Tai Chi Chuan. He was introduced to Mr. Chow. They wanted Mr. Chow to go to U of M to teach. But Mr. Chow said, "No, I have no car. So if they want to learn they come to my studio." So that's how it started."

Stephanie: "Mrs. Chow, I remember when I first came to the Colony, and Mr. Chow taught us. You made almond cookies for the students then."

Mrs. Chow: "Yes."

Stephanie: "Because you didn't have students, yet?"

Mrs. Chow: "Now, I don't do. The students bring cookies."

Stephanie: "What I'm trying to say, as students of Mr. Chow we didn't' know you were a teacher, too."

Mrs. Chow: "At that time he teach. I don't like to teach."

Stephanie: "So when did you start teaching?"

Mrs. Chow: "After, you know more and more people come, so then I must teach!"

Stephanie: "What year?"

Mrs. Chow: "Oh, a long time ago, after about one year."

Stephanie: "When did you move to Coral Gables?"

Mrs. Chow: "We move to this house in 1979. We had studio off Le Jeune."

Stephanie: "So, Mrs. Chow you started teaching the advance students after Mr. Chow taught beginners?"

Mrs. Chow: "No, no! At that time no advance (students)."

Stephanie: "When did you decide Mr. Chow would only teach beginners and you would teach the advance?"

Mrs. Chow: "Because when the students learned longer, some would do good. So that's why. So I say, you (Mr. Chow) teach beginners so I could then teach them to do left hand side. Then I taught them Push- Hands."

Stephanie: "What is Push Hands?"

Mrs. Chow: "Push-Hands? After you learn the form, you learn to put forth more energy."

Stephanie: "Mr. Chow is very patient. You're very patient, too. (Laughter) How would you describe your teaching style?"

Mr. Chow: "Peace and happiness."

Stephanie: "What is the difference between your teaching methods and Mr. Chows'?"

Mrs. Chow: "You know, I tell you, once a student can understand when we tell them you should do this, you should do that."

Stephanie: "Right."

Mrs. Chow: "But the beginners cannot understand."

Stephanie: "So you like it better when they have an understanding?"

Mrs. Chow: "Yes."

Stephanie: "Is there anything you want to add about what tai chi is and what it means to you?"

Mrs. Chow: "Like Mr. Chow said, tai chi is a circle. So, I just say, left hand, right hand you must learn. Then it is a complete circle."

Stephanie: "You should always practice your two forms."

Mrs. Chow: "Every morning I practice one left, one right side, both. If I don't practice left, it's easy to forget."

Stephanie: "I just want to thank you on behalf of all your students, and I mean all your students..."

Mrs. Chow: "We are very happy to have you, too. Because it is not easy to have students to continue to do, then teach."

Stephanie: "Well you forced me into teaching. I didn't want to teach."

Mrs. Chow: "Yes! (Laughter) Good!"

Stephanie: "But I had to listen to you. You're my teacher."

Mrs. Chow: "Because I want, Tai Chi Chuan is good for everyone."

Stephanie: "Everyone, any age."

Mrs. Chow: "Yah, yah."

Stephanie: "Our form is very obscure compared to the other forms. There are not too many teachers (Wu) out there."

Mrs. Chow: "And you know our form is good for different ages. If you a man or a woman, of any age. But, especially for older people, I think our form is a good form."

Stephanie: "That's true, we don't bend as deeply. And it takes about a year to learn."

Mrs. Chow: "At least!"

Stephanie: "And the rest of your life to perfect. At least! (Laughter) Do you want to add anything I haven't asked?"

Mrs. Chow: "You can something, what you want. You can create."

Stephanie: "Oh. I'm going to say a lot of things."

Mrs. Chow: "Good, good, good, good!"

Stephanie: "Mr. Chow, did you want to add anything about tai chi?"
(Mr. Chow has been sitting on the living room couch showing Leon an art book with their published works.)

Mrs. Chow: "Mr. Chow! Come over here, "(they exchange a brief interchange in Chinese with one another. Mr. Chow comes back to the table).

Mr. Chow: "I can write a book about art, because I have something to create. I have my idea. But Tai Chi Chuan I only follow the tradition. No new way. My contribution was that I added the numbers."

Stephanie: "That was your contribution adding the counting as you teach your students. That was very important and we thank you. I have one more question. Was it hard to teach Americans to honor the teachers? I know in China you have a tradition of honoring your teachers."

Mr. Chow: "Ah, ha!"

Stephanie: "Where as in America, there is none. But you taught us. A lot of us have learned to honor our teachers because of you."

Mrs. Chow: "In China very important to respect your teacher. But this country, no."

Mr. Chow: "To me, the Chinese way. One day you learn from your teacher. One day you respect him as your father."

Mrs. Chow: "Your parents!"

Stephanie: "Well, Mom and Dad thank you very much. (Laughter) I respect you both and I love you both."

Mr. Chow: "It is Chinese culture. (Laughter)"

Stephanie: "I'm always learning from my teachers. I have to say something, even though you say you strictly follow Tai Chi Chuan, you have your own styles, both of you. I always say Mr. Chow is like Fred Astaire. Do you know who Fred Astaire was?"

Mr. & Mrs.: "No, no."

Stephanie: "He was an American dancer in the 1930's, 1940's. He was very graceful. And Mrs. Chow, you like everything to be clean with no flourishes." (Laughter)

Mrs. Chow: "No." (Laughter)

Stephanie: "You both have your own forms and for me that's the balance. Because we had both of you as teachers we learned both ways. Which is great."

Mrs. Chow: "Even in painting and Tai Chi Chuan, I still have my own style, he has his own style. Ha! Painting, too."

Stephanie: "Sometimes you paint on each other's canvases."

Mrs. Chow: "Harmonize."

Stephanie: "That's true, the yin and yang that you both speak about. Besides being painters, Mr. Chow you write poetry about the paintings and Mrs. Chow you do the calligraphy."

Mr. & Mrs.: "Yes."

Stephanie: "It just amazing, the harmony you both have.

Mrs. Chow: "Harmony. "(She smiles)

Stephanie: "You've done so much, you're an inspiration."

Mrs. Chow: "You know, I can tell you, the time is limited, only so many hours. You can do better if you focus and concentrate. You must practice. Spend time to practice. It is not easy so I choose what I really like, then, I do it all the time. Repeat, repeat."

Stephanie: "Well you both are having a wonderful life and are inspirational to so many people you meet and I got lucky!"

Mrs. Chow: "Not easy to have your own (time). When you're married your time belongs to your husband, belongs to your family, belong to your family, and then yourself, but last. It's true, ah?"

Stephanie: "Now it's changing, we're getting older."

Mrs. Chow: "Now the children grow up. Now have more time and now you can teach. You are still young!"

Stephanie: "Maybe by the time I'm sixty-five, I'll be a master."

Mrs. Chow: "Yes."

Stephanie: "I want to thank you."

Mrs. Chow: "Take some more food. (As she pushes the fruit my way.)

Stephanie: "I love you both and want to thank you both for being who you are."