Thank you for this, Anne. As you know, closing the studio was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Success always comes mixed with failure and it’s not always easy to separate the two.

Hi Atticus. I have a bunch of certified instructors in the Gainesville area. You can find them below.

If you’re looking specifically for tai chi, then I believe Arun is the only choice right now:

http://flowingzen.com/certified-flowing-zen-instructors/

Thank you, Cindy. And yes, I agree.

I have been teaching tai chi since 2000 at various locations and cities in my area. I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to have my own studio, but I was never able to accomplish that on my own financially. The more I thought about it, the more stress I began to feel of being committed to all the responsibilities involved. Thinking about it not only brought on stress, but I began to visualize the paperwork involved and keeping financial records and I could see the stress I would encounter. My thoughts then showed me that my students may feel my stress which in turn could affect their performance.

As time passed, I began to appreciate teaching at our local community centers. I was not confined to four walls because I had the freedom to conduct my classes outdoors at a local park by the river, when the weather permitted. There my students learned to connect with nature and experience the true feeling and meaning of chi, as they stood in the wu chi posture.

It was then that I realized I no longer wanted a studio, because the great outdoors with all its natural beauty was my universal studio. En Plein Air, En Plein Jour, in the open air, in broad day. The greatest place to be when practicing Qigong and T’ai Chi. I believe you would now agree.

Anthony, everything happens for a reason, and it was meant for you to be in a studio environment because that is what it would take for you to learn two lessons. How to let go and how to move forward and welcome the great outdoors as part of your world. A world without structure, and without walls.

From this day forth, leave your past behind, a past that made you reject change because you fell into a daily routine. Remember the students, and let all else fade away. Now is the time for a new beginning, feel the freedom and enjoy what lies ahead. Comfort and peace.

Hi Cheryl,
It’s me Carolina. We started about the same time. I learned a great deal from Sifu Anthony!

Thank you, Candice. I would love to teach in Colorado some day. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the Rockies.