Learning Lab for Resiliency®

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The 18 Therapies are a series of gentle movements for cultivating inner body awareness in relation to your thoughts and external stimuli, including impacts from the past. It is a practice for developing equanimity and peace of mind, supporting your physical, mental, and emotional capacities to be resilient in the circumstances of your life.

This 20-week online course supports tuning in to the tensions held in your body and slowly learning how to release those tensions through subtle yet powerful practices of alignment, relaxation, and centering. Specifically, this course is taught from the perspective of Steph’s learning from oral teachings about the Yang style principles of tai chi chuan brought to the west in the 1960s by Cheng Man-ching. This course is framed as preparation for pursuing the 37-posture form, yet it can also serve on its own. It is particularly suitable for anyone wanting a less demanding opportunity to learn while still focusing on the core principles.

Steph has learned the 18 Therapies from Rich Iannuzzi, whose teacher for this exercise was Maggie Newman. The approach will be interpretive, emphasizing the principles of tai chi as experienced during the movements of the 18 Therapies. Each week will focus on one therapy, slowly stringing them together until all 18 are practiced in a fluid sequence.

Bio

Steph has been practicing tai chi since 2007, when her dear friend James Cumming recommended it. Starting class with Jimmy Ilson was revelatory, inspiring her to carry the practices of tai chi into all spheres of daily life. This includes nearly three decades as a professional interpreter of American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and a longer span of activism toward improving dynamics of egalitarianism in informal groups, formal organizations, and society overall.

Last summer, Steph realized while substitute teaching in local classes that it is time to begin formally teaching tai chi, but didn’t want to teach the same classes that everyone else is teaching. This is characteristic: functioning as an interpreter — synergizing, synthesizing, finding bridges of understanding between things that are different yet have underlying points of connection — generating joy, hope, and possibilities. Steph is looking forward to the experiment of this first course and eager to see who will join.

Language Accommodations

The registration form includes a field to inform the presenter of your preferred language. The course will be taught in English and interpreted into ASL. We will also (hopefully) be experimenting with Zoom’s automated translation technology to produce captions in other requested languages, if available.

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Learning Lab for Resiliency® provides this workshop as an opportunity for safe, respectful learning, fostering an environment of mutual respect and inclusion that is free from harassment, bias and discrimination.

Refund Policy

You can get a full refund before the first session, a half-refund before the 4th session, and no refund if you cancel after the 4th session.

For Professional Development and Continuing Education Credit (CEUs)

CEUs are available to interpreters (signed language and spoken language) who recognize the potential of tai chi to contribute to healing from stress or overuse-related injuries or prevent them in the first place. Earn up to 1.5 General Studies CEUs.

Educational Objectives

• Participants will be able to do the moves of the 18 Therapies (or modifications suitable to your body).
• Participants will be able to describe personal, experiential changes in their circulation.
• Participants will be able to describe which muscles and joints have become less tense as a result of these practices.
• Participants will be able to explain how these practices support their focus and range of options for dealing with/responding to group dynamics before, during, and after interpreting assignments.

Criteria and Requirements for earning CEU credit

• You can only earn credit for sessions you attend.
• You are responsible for completing the sign-in form.
• You must attend at least half of the sessions to earn any credit.
• You must complete the pre-test.
• You must complete the post-test.
• You must submit an evaluation.

Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (TSID) is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This General Studies program is offered for 1.5 CEUs at the Little to None Content Knowledge Level.