How an ATCQA-Accredited Program Guided My Journey
By Meg Fortune McDonnell (ATCQA-certified Associate Instructor)
Grandmaster Liang Tung-tsai once said:
“At first I take up Tai Chi as a hobby, gradually I become addicted to it, finally I can no longer get rid of it. I must keep on practicing for my whole life.”
Every time I read these words, I smile . . . because they so aptly describe my own experience. I’ve definitely become a Tai Chi addict!
Over the past few years, Tai Chi and its benefits have spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, even beyond the times when I’m actively doing Tai Chi or Qigong. I marvel at the way Tai Chi has informed how I move, how I perceive things, how I manage my time, even how I participate in my relationships. I am more grounded, calmer, physically and emotionally stronger, and less prone to stress.
That’s why I feel compelled to “pay it forward” and teach. A great gift achieves its full power only when you share it with others.
Meg Fortune McDonnell
Learning from a Certified Master Instructor
For many centuries, Tai Chi has been faithfully passed down from teacher to student, master to disciple. For me, it feels empowering to be part of such a long-standing lineage tradition, and I’m grateful for all the teachers who carried this ancient wisdom forward so that we can benefit from it today.
I’m especially grateful for my own teacher, Linda Henderson, whose instruction, mentorship, and example have shaped my Tai Chi practice so wonderfully.
A Certified Tai Chi and Qigong Master Instructor, Linda has a remarkable ability to create a Tai Chi community where students support one another and celebrate each other’s progress. Belonging to this wellness community has become something I treasure.
Shortly after starting Linda’s classes, I fell in love with Tai Chi and knew I wanted to learn it well enough to teach.
Right away, ATCQA’s certification program helped me get there. As the first step, I worked toward becoming an ATCQA Certified Practitioner. In December 2024, I reached that goal, which gave me a real sense of accomplishment and encouragement.
Once we realized that we could earn that certification, many more of Linda’s advanced students also became ATCQA Certified Practitioners. This has brought a feeling of pride and distinction to Linda’s whole Tai Chi community; we celebrate each time another one of us becomes certified.
Now, Linda’s program has been accredited by ATCQA and she has the most Certified Practitioner students of any teacher in the U.S.!
An Apprenticeship in Teaching
Soon after my own certification as a Practitioner, Linda gave me opportunities to teach, which allowed me to start working toward certification as an instructor.
Because her beginning classes had grown so large, during a portion of each hour, Linda divided students into smaller groups, or “pods”. Under Linda’s close supervision, along with a couple of her other advanced students, I began mentoring students in those pods. This allowed pod members to receive more individual attention, and Linda was always nearby to observe, answer questions, and provide correction or context when needed. Additionally, every week, she met with us mentors to discuss teaching techniques and individual student needs.
As enrollment continued to grow, Linda created a transitional class for beginning students ready to move to the intermediate level and invited us to mentor students in those pods as well. For me, all of this has been, and continues to be, an extraordinary learning opportunity.
Seeing the Benefits through My Students
Beyond mentoring students in Linda’s Tai Chi community, I teach a small class at a lower-income housing community and offer private lessons in my home and local parks. These experiences have shown me that teaching Tai Chi as a wellness practice is about understanding each person’s needs and helping them progress at a pace that works for them.
Meg Fortune McDonnell leading a Tai Chi class
One woman came to my classes after a successful career as a yoga teacher. She already had excellent body awareness, but she was drawn to the continuous, flowing movements of Tai Chi because they complement the stationary poses of yoga.
At the other end of the spectrum are older adults recovering from traumatic falls. Together, we focus on Tai Chi walking, Qigong breathing, and simple movements that help them rebuild balance and confidence.
I’ve also worked with a former international Frisbee champion. Although she is far stronger than I am, it has been rewarding to help this athletic woman soften the edges of her movement by applying the Tai Chi principle of effortless action.
Another woman, a math instructor at our local community college, says the precision of the form engages both her body and mind in just the right way to quiet what she calls her “over-active mind.”
Others are recovering from serious illness or surgery. For example, an occupational therapist recovering from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) told me that Tai Chi has become an invaluable part of balancing her nervous system. If she misses a week, she feels the difference.
One student with a ministerial background describes the calm of Tai Chi practice, together with its philosophical depth, as being very much like prayer.
At the senior housing community where I teach, a couple of long-time participants say Tai Chi has reduced their anxiety while improving their flexibility and endurance. They now encourage their neighbors to join the class.
In my private lessons, I sometimes record short instructional videos for students to practice at home. One couple tells me they enjoy sharing those videos with their grandson, passing along their enthusiasm for Tai Chi to another generation.
Hearing these testimonies inspires me and renews my commitment to sharing Tai Chi.
Celebrating the Certification
Meg Fortune McDonnell practicing Tai Chi on a beach
As a result of all this, I was able to complete the requirements for certification as an Associate Instructor. When the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association confirmed my certification, I couldn’t have been happier. But it wasn’t just me. Linda’s entire Tai Chi community and all my private students were excited about it too, because we all worked together to make this possible.
I’m thankful to Linda for believing in me and generously sharing her amazing knowledge. I’m thankful to my students for helping me grow as a teacher and as a practitioner. And I’m thankful to ATCQA for providing professional support to those of us who want to continue learning and sharing Tai Chi with others.
Above all, I’m grateful for Tai Chi. I agree with Grandmaster Ma Yueh-Liang: “Once you see the benefit, you won’t want to stop.”
