The Vital Force: Updates and New Teachers Insights
New Teachers in November
During the recent teacher accreditation in late 2024, candidates jotted down observations towards the end of their training, as they are asked to do. But for this February issue, seven of the 15 have also shared their experiences of teaching their first classes. The writing reflects a special metamorphosis. Hope all readers enjoy the new teachers and teaching. See pages 8 through 11 for individual sharing and then page 21 for the event summary.
Special Projects: Update
Thank you to all who donated to our project to make more of Justin’s teaching accessible to our community and the public by digitizing Justin’s archival videos and audio tapes. Phase 1 (digitizing) has been completed and Phase 2 (carving up the talks into digestible bites, titling them, and writing a summary sentence for each) is underway. Phase 3 (uploading the content and sharing it on social media) has been budgeted and stands ready when we are. We appreciate you, dear funders.
New Ongoing Idea?
Teacher Terry Jennings has suggested a quarterly idea: teacher contributors send a favorite one-liner used when teaching a particular T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) movement. I would then collect these into a column. Terry writes, “We teachers use many of Justin’s favorite sayings about Joy. I would love to read, for instance, teachers’ personal favorite sayings about Rocking Motion in the next issue of The Vital Force.” Let’s try it. Teachers: What one phrase or pithy instruction do you love to share while teaching Rocking Motion? Students: What one thing do you hear your teacher saying repeatedly?
Vital Force Gold: Archives
There is a rich storehouse of TCC experiences and knowledge in past issues of The Vital Force. They are found at taichichih.org/free-archived-past-issues. Lisa Stroyan is not the only teacher who uses previously published articles in her classes, but she is the most recent teacher to share her favorites with me — including the articles on pages 1 and 5. Stay tuned for more on pausing between movements in May. What articles do you continue to return to for inspiration?
Recurring Donations
Vital Force Board Member Guy Kent makes a case for supporting The Vital Force (a non-profit 501(c3)) with monthly recurring donations (via taichichih.org/donate) on page 4.
Change of Address
For your records, The Vital Force journal has changed its physical mailing address to The Vital Force, c/o Kim Grant, 7701 Cedar Canyon Pl NE, ABQ, NM 87122.
