Longtime T'ai Chi Chih teacher Sharon Sirkis has been observing and sharing in The Vital Force the Lighter Side expressed by her TCC students since 1999. Enjoy! When I announced the next movement, Daughter in the Valley, one of the ladies at the Senior Center started singing "Down in the Valley." This resulted in the [...]
People who practice the moving meditation of Tai Chi Chih count many benefits, including increased serenity, joy and health benefits. Here, a TCC teacher describes following sessions of TCC with sitting meditation as well. TCC for Meditators By LR, Seattle, Washington For the last three years I have enjoyed doing T'ai Chi Chih with a [...]
As a person who doesn't like heights, I was facing the possibility of an extremely frightening experience - as well as one of profound beauty. Both opposites are often found in life experiences: birth, death and even marriage can seem frightening. A Daughter On The Mountaintop Experience, By T & J S, Minneapolis, MN My husband wanted [...]
Learning TCC is more than learning a set of movements. It’s also welcoming a growing awareness of the movement of the Chi and the wonderful cumulative effects of practice. Below, two newly accredited TCC teachers translate these unique experiences into words to inspire us all. TCC Accreditation in Pennsylvania Compiled by AL, Prospect Park, PA [...]
A TCC student explains why sometimes doing "less" is doing "more." By L.S., Fort Collins, CO Reprinted by permission from the May 2016 issue of the TCC journal, The Vital Force. I'm one of a group of women in Northern Colorado on the path toward T'ai Chi Chih teacher accreditation in June. A few weeks [...]
Reflections On Learning TCC … One Year Later By GH, Atlanta, Georgia I was introduced to T’ai Chi Chih at a retreat for women. In a beautiful mountain setting, with light streaming through the windows, I was amazed I could feel the energy. About a year later when another opportunity arose, I knew that despite [...]
By AL, Prospect Park, PA Justin has said that if we do T’ai Chi Chih regularly, we will begin to enter into the Cosmic Rhythm. In fact we are all already in the Cosmic Rhythm, however practicing TCC consistently enables us to be consciously aware of being in the Rhythm. It’s been said that when [...]
Balance and leg strength are critical elements of healthy aging, research shows. Here, TCC teachers and students tell how the practice has helped them with both. A Gift Beyond MB, TCC student, Oxnard, CA A fall in Tanzania, another in Spain, and another in Vietnam. These were not harmless tumbles quickly forgotten; each caused significant [...]
These articles from The Vital Force tell students’ stories of T’ai Chi Chih’s gifts. “I did my practice to find peace” By RH, Parma, Ohio Without a doubt, the last 18 months have been the most difficult in my life. My son was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2012. From that day until [...]
Watching someone practice TCC, the grace is evident. Doing TCC, the benefits are clear. Teaching TCC, we pass on to students these precious movements in many ways beyond language. Teaching How To Let Chi Flow From The Center By C N-S, San Luis Obispo, California Letting The Form Move The Chi Teaching T’ai Chi Chih [...]
A TCC student describes her sudden awareness that “Chi is spreading like rings in water to other aspects of my life.” By MSK, Seal Beach, California To be Present One of my close girlfriends asked me why I liked this T’ai Chi Chih so much and what it was all about and it got me [...]
"T‘ai Chi Chih has changed my life,” say many people who practice TCC regularly. In fact, it's one of the most common statements of gratitude TCC originator Justin Stone heard from students over many years. Improvements in physical, emotional and mental health are enjoyed by students of all ages – children, teens, young adults, mid-lifers and seniors. [...]
This longtime TCC teacher reflects on her current practice in Hawaii as well as her history as the first TCC teacher in Chicago. All Benefit 100% By HH, Mountain View, Hawaii I treasure our teacher community beyond words; the organic evolution keeps me Chi-ful. My practice and approach to teaching change as I "mature" (at [...]
Reflections On Learning TCC ... One Year Later By GH, Atlanta, GA I was introduced to T’ai Chi Chih at a retreat for women. In a beautiful mountain setting, with light streaming through the windows, I was amazed I could feel the energy. About a year later when another opportunity arose, I knew that despite [...]
People who've done TCC for decades have experienced, and seen in others, a wide range of physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. Here, a TCC teacher from Maine tells his story. My Story By RR, Portland, Maine This is my journey. I went to my first T’ai Chi Chih class in Montclair, New Jersey, thinking it was [...]
From aiding recovery after two knee replacements to guiding a student navigating "on thin ice," Tai Chi Chih aids in balance and in moving through life a little more smoothly. "TCC Appears in Everyday Action" by CW, Tupelo, Mississippi A competent young orthopedic surgeon recommended T'ai Chi Chih as a resource in my recovery from a total knee [...]
A TCC student describes how gradually this moving meditation practice became easier, softer, more grounded, and eventually effortless at times. As TCC originator Justin Stone recommended, "the effort of no effort." By DD, Arizona “A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings … a marionette’s puppeteer is called a marionettist.” (In our [...]
The process of becoming a T'ai Chi Chih teacher helps make our practice stronger, more accurate, and of more benefit to ourselves as well as future students. It's also a process supported by members of the TCC community worldwide, bringing new friends and surprises along the way. Passing The Test by SQ, Poinciana, FL What in [...]
"My brother Patrick was terminally ill with multiple myeloma. He needed an outside donor for a stem cell transplant. I was a genetic match. If he could just get well enough for the transplant of my stem cells into his marrow, and survive the procedure, he would be cured. "One day during my personal T’ai [...]
From better balance to a stronger immune system, the benefits of TCC help people of all ages stay healthier. Here, TCC practitioners explain in their own words how this moving meditation has improved their health. To read more stories, consider subscribing to the TCC journal, The Vital Force. A Miraculous Recovery - TCC Makes Retirement a Time [...]
Scientific research shows TCC improves immune system The strong relationship between the practice of T’ai Chi Chih and improvements in the immune system have been studied for many years, initially led by Michael Irwin, MD at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). (See list of links to academic research articles lower in this post.) [...]
As winter arrives in much of the U.S., Canada and Europe, days are shorter, temperatures are colder, and opportunities for outdoor exercise are fewer. For some, this time of year is a time of feeling lower energy, less vibrant than in summer when long days of sunshine provide a boost. The antidote? T'ai Chi Chih [...]
What motivates someone to practice this moving meditation for so many years? Marie Dotts of Colorado tells what brought her to Tai Chi Chih and the many benefits that keep her going, year after year. Thanks to Peggy Freeh at SimpleDailyPractice.com for this interview. Download or listen to the podcast here. From their website: Starting [...]
Sometimes learning more about the science behind the benefits of T’ai Chi Chih is helpful in explaining the positive benefits so many teachers and students experience. Still, there’s a lovely bit of mystery in considering what the Chi is, and how it works, to bring about the scientifically-explained results. Beneficial Healing Of Hands By Diana [...]
Sometimes learning more about the science behind the benefits of T’ai Chi Chih is helpful in explaining the positive benefits so many teachers and students experience. Still, there’s a lovely bit of mystery in considering what the Chi is, and how it works, to bring about the scientifically-explained results. Beneficial Healing Of Hands By Diana [...]
“From start to end, I have grown mentally, physically and, especially, emotionally. I am so very thankful that I can maintain my positive attitude and keep myself motivated. I am also more focused than ever.” By TAM, Ellicott City, Maryland When signing up for a T’ai Chi Chih summertime class, I thought it would be [...]
“I used to do everything for everyone and kept forgetting about myself.” Sound familiar? To Speak Or Not To Speak By Dr. Pauline Bacani Quimson, Pittsburg, California One my physical challenges has been repeatedly losing my voice. And it’s not just a figurative thing of not expressing myself. I literally start saying something and nothing [...]
It Takes A Village: Evolution Through Chi By CLB, Albuquerque, New Mexico One day during the last month of his life, Justin leaned over to me as I was leaving his home and said, “Be sure to tell all of them how grateful I am for all they have done.” My heart felt as if [...]
