Do less to achieve more. 

This is the mantra by which West Chester University’s Professor Mitch Goldfarb lives.  Surprisingly though, he is anything but lazy.  Goldfarb wears many hats, and could be considered a master of many trades. 

He is a music producer and songwriter.  A professor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Kinesiology department of West Chester University, and some semesters, a professor of music at Immaculata University.  He is a website and e-commerce marketer and designer.  A photographer.  A writer.  A husband, father, and grandfather. 

But it is his Tai Chi practice and teaching that informs the rest of his life and career.  The art of Tai Chi is a soft martial art from China that focuses on meditation, internal strength, and wellness of the mind, body, and spirit. 

Goldfarb practices the Short Yang form, introduced by Chinese scholar and professor, Cheng Man-Ching.  Goldfarb began practicing in 1997, upon reading a book in which a character experienced life-altering results from practicing Tai Chi.

            “In Tai Chi, we celebrate laziness,” says Goldfarb, a small middle-aged man, as his eyes gleam beneath wire-rimmed spectacles.  “It’s about seeing where we can let go, and learning where we’re doing too much.” 

Tai Chi is a spiritual practice not only for its meditative qualities, but for its Taoist philosophy, which promotes the idea that chi, or life force, runs through each of us and can be awakened or depleted.  Tai Chi aims to replenish this chi through slow and deliberate movements, and to bring awareness into the body. 

Goldfarb strongly believes that when we are aware of our bodies and minds and we work in harmony with our surroundings, work becomes effortless.  This lends an explanation as to how he maintains his geniality and enthusiasm for life, even in the midst of his busy schedule.  Pursuing his passions, Goldfarb genuinely enjoys his busy work schedule.

“I love everything I’m doing,” he says, and his tone softens.  “That’s really been the blessing of my journey.  I keep doing stuff to feel good, and it makes the phrase ‘without effort’ ring true.  If you are engaged, it’s not effortful.”

“Mitch understands the secret,” Goldfarb’s student Randy Edwards says.  “He’s discovered how to live life, and I wish I could internalize it.”

It is precisely for this reason why so many of Goldfarb’s students keep coming back to his Tai Chi classes, both within and outside of the university.  It’s the classic “I want what he has” syndrome from the high school days all over again; fortunately, these people can have what he has.  In fact, Goldfarb’s purpose in teaching is to bring his students exactly what he has found, and it may be simpler than one would expect. 

“My goal,” Goldfarb says, “is to empower the gifts that are already in these students.  It’s about helping them connect to the magic that is already within them.  I’m a conduit.  They give themselves the gift.”

And many of his students are receptive to this, seeing how this secret has worked for Goldfarb.

“I try to have a positive attitude,” says another of Goldfarb’s West Chester students, Seth Shriner.  “But Mitch is genuinely vibrant and cheerful all the time.  That’s a person I want to learn from.”

Not all students take so readily to Goldfarb’s teaching, however.  While some students remain in awe and show eagerness to learn what Goldfarb has to teach them, others are turned off at first by the slowness of the movements, the thoroughness of his teaching, and the spirituality of his practice.

“I don’t get it,” says one student after his class.  “It’s so slow, and I don’t feel like I’m doing anything.”

All lip aside, this is a view that seems to be shared amongst a fair few of his university students.

“His class is not for everyone,” says Shriner.  “Sometimes I think those people just don’t get it, but I realize it’s a very different way of thinking, and it takes careful examination and acceptance of yourself in a way that may not be easy for everyone to do.”

Although the task of slowing down and becoming present may be daunting to some, Goldfarb comes equipped to show students the way.

“It’s my responsibility to interest my students; to make it entertaining, and fun, and creative, so they can have a taste of what it’s all about.”

Indeed, Taoism and Tai Chi are contrary to Western thought; in an action-oriented society, many people may feel guilty about slowing down to focus on breathing and the body.

“While I’m doing Tai Chi, I think of all the other things I should be doing, and I feel like I’m wasting my time,” another frustrated student expressed early on in the semester. 

Perhaps, though, this is exactly why the class should be offered.  When so many of us cannot seem to escape the daily grind, there is something refreshing about setting down the burdens of the day to simply experience the here and now in order to put everything else into perspective.

Goldfarb is the prime example of this.  Morning to night, he is out and about, teaching classes, taking classes, and working on his latest projects.  For many it would easily become overwhelming, but as Randy Edwards stated, Goldfarb seems to know the secret to handling it.

Goldfarb approaches everything with a bright smile, a playful sense of humor, and an eager, “That’s great!”  Wherever he goes, he remains present and alert, absorbing and sharing whatever joy is to be found in his midst.

Listening to Goldfarb spew his schedule from memory, one is amazed by how perky he sounds. (“In the morning I work on my music projects.  Then I teach three university classes during that day, then I go to Philly to take three classes from one of the grandmasters, Maggie Newman, and one of her students.  Then I go home for dinner and I take a three mile walk with my wife.”) 

It seems so contrary to his mantra, “Do less to achieve more,” yet it fits for him, as his passion is evident.  Everything Goldfarb does is play.  Instead of worrying about the next place he has to be, he enjoys every moment he has to do the things he loves. 

His careers are in line with his passions, and he has human interaction all day long.  Even in the midst of work, he maintains a playful environment and, most importantly, leaves room for everything to take its own course under his guidance.

“We’re so focused on control in our society,” he says.  “I used to be all about control.  Even the door to my music studio said ‘control room.’  When we realize we’re not in control, we’re able to find greater enjoyment in our lives because we can finally let go.”

This is reflected, too, in his Tai Chi practice.  Much of the art focuses on letting go of the muscles, and allowing chi to move you.  As I watch him guide his students, his constant suggestion is, “You’re doing too much!  Let go in the shoulders.  Just take a deep breath and relax.”

He then holds the student’s arms up by the wrists as he suggests she stop holding the arms up.  Her arms collapse, her shoulders sink, and her wrists remain raised in Goldfarb’s fingers.  The room goes silent and still.  Goldfarb then flashes an encouraging grin.

          “It’s so easy,” he says.  “We’re bringing laziness to an art form."