Interview with Patty Riehm, Tai Chi instructor at Laurel Grove
Panlexcie Riehm, "Patty" has been teaching T'ai Chi at Laurel Grove every Saturday since April. Dressed for class in soft, Asian-inspired slippers and flexible cotton clothing, she appears as calm and relaxed as the martial art movements she implements. Many Laurel Grove residents enjoy her mesmerizing instruction and find the health benefits of her class invaluable.
April: Tell me about yourself. (Where you are from, kids?, etc..)
Patty: I'm originally from Northern Virginia, but lived in Richmond, VA for 11
years after college, and have been here for 17 years. I am still married to
my college sweetheart, and have two children, Alex, 19, and Gracie, 15. We
also have a crazy dog named Millie.
April: What got you interested in T'ai Chi?
Patty: I have been teaching Tai Chi for 7 years, and first started practicing Tai
Chi 12 years ago. From the first time I saw it being practiced (and I have
no idea when that was) I wanted to learn it. I was so fascinated by the
beauty of it. I still am. Sometimes when I watch other people practice I
have that old "gosh that's pretty, I wish I could do that" feeling, but then
I remember that I can!
April: What do you like about teaching T'ai Chi to seniors?
Patty: I love teaching Tai Chi to anyone who will listen to me for long enough.
What I like about teaching to seniors is basically the same thing I like
about teaching anyone. I love to see people get turned on by this, and just
enjoy the process.
April: Do you see improvement in the group that you are teaching here at Laurel Grove? Are they making progress as a class?
Patty: The group that comes regularly here is making progress
every week, even if they don't think so.
April: What is the most important skill needed to be successful in this martial art?
Patty: It's such a different way of moving, that sometimes you can't see the progress that you yourself are making, but I can see it. That's why patience is the most important skill
needed to be successful at Tai Chi. We don't measure success by how "good"
you are at it, but by how little by little it starts to make sense to you,
and you are enjoying the process. That's really all that matters.
Patty teaches T'ai Chi on Saturdays at 10:00am in the activity center
April: Tell me about yourself. (Where you are from, kids?, etc..)
Patty: I'm originally from Northern Virginia, but lived in Richmond, VA for 11
years after college, and have been here for 17 years. I am still married to
my college sweetheart, and have two children, Alex, 19, and Gracie, 15. We
also have a crazy dog named Millie.
April: What got you interested in T'ai Chi?
Patty: I have been teaching Tai Chi for 7 years, and first started practicing Tai
Chi 12 years ago. From the first time I saw it being practiced (and I have
no idea when that was) I wanted to learn it. I was so fascinated by the
beauty of it. I still am. Sometimes when I watch other people practice I
have that old "gosh that's pretty, I wish I could do that" feeling, but then
I remember that I can!
April: What do you like about teaching T'ai Chi to seniors?
Patty: I love teaching Tai Chi to anyone who will listen to me for long enough.
What I like about teaching to seniors is basically the same thing I like
about teaching anyone. I love to see people get turned on by this, and just
enjoy the process.
April: Do you see improvement in the group that you are teaching here at Laurel Grove? Are they making progress as a class?
Patty: The group that comes regularly here is making progress
every week, even if they don't think so.
April: What is the most important skill needed to be successful in this martial art?
Patty: It's such a different way of moving, that sometimes you can't see the progress that you yourself are making, but I can see it. That's why patience is the most important skill
needed to be successful at Tai Chi. We don't measure success by how "good"
you are at it, but by how little by little it starts to make sense to you,
and you are enjoying the process. That's really all that matters.
Patty teaches T'ai Chi on Saturdays at 10:00am in the activity center
posted by Laurel Grove @ 9:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home