The Vital Force Archive

Judy Hendricks on Carmen Brocklehurst's Seijaku workshop amid June cottonwood snow, Connie Hyde on Sister Antonia Cooper's Albuquerque retreat, and Lois Arrigotti on World T'ai Chi Day in Golden Gate Park.

Dora Derzon gathered the answers of all 29 participants at Carmen Brocklehurst's Albuquerque retreat when Justin Stone demonstrated movements and spoke, describing softer movements, energy shifts and a call to service.

Sheila Leonard hosts Sandy McAlister's three-day intensive in Newfoundland, then Pam Towne compiles participants' notes from Antonia's Santa Barbara monastery retreats, closing with Anne Lovdahl on Justin Stone's "state of Becoming."

Six regular attendees, compiled by Lisa Thorburn and Athene Mantle, say why they come to the annual teacher conference, followed by Diana Welsh Durkin and Donna McElhose introducing the first TCC Teacher Symposium facilitated by Sandy McAlister.

Stephen Ryter sorts audiences into facts, forms, feelings and futures people so a T'ai Chi Chih pitch lands, and Mary Schapker recounts the 2007 conference committee's agenda-free beach reunion in Silver Beach.

Detailed refinement notes from a retreat, covering hand angle and wrist release in Rocking Motion, the Chi between the palms in Bird Flaps Its Wings, and letting the T'an T'ien initiate Around the Platter and its Variation.

Alice Holden recounts hosting Sandy's four-day intensive in San Antonio for fourteen participants, with their comments on softening and effortlessness and a closing poem, followed by Lisa Thorburn and Athene Mantle's reasons to attend Conference 2008.

Co-hosts Jim Shorr and Roberta and John Taggart gather participant comments from the Columbia River Gorge retreat with Sandy, where twenty-two practitioners refined weight shifts, plus Paula Shanks' woven ode from Columbus.

Participants at Carmen Brocklehurst's Albuquerque retreat and Pam Towne's Seijaku training in New Jersey report letting go in the resting pose, feeling the hips swivel, and returning to daily Seijaku practice.

Seven teachers report on the New Jersey conference and its serenity theme, from Diana Bahn's planning-committee whirl and Linda Riska Williams practicing in an airport after a cancelled flight to Caroline Guilott's soft-hands demonstration.

Three conference talks, by Ann Rutherford, Dan Pienciak and Carmen Brocklehurst, on teaching from Justin Stone's Heightened Awareness, Spiritual Odyssey and the CD Justin Stone Speaks on T'ai Chi Chih.

Ann Rutherford recounts Sandy and Justin's Albuquerque Intensive, where letting go brought tears and her own ego loomed like Jabba the Hutt, plus Sheila Leonard's Newfoundland retreats with Dan Pienciak.

Dorene Krause's short poem on waves at Silver Beach opens Siobhan Hutchinson's account of the Sea of Chi Teachers Retreat, where Sister Antonia and Dan Pienciak helped her readjust a practice gone off track.

An announcement for a September 27-30 retreat led by Carmen Brocklehurst, a TCC teacher of 27 years, at the Spiritual Renewal Center in the bosque along the Rio Grande, for those who already know the movements.

Ann Rutherford's gathered quotes from the Albuquerque retreat, including Justin Stone on sinking down and letting the arms fall off, Sister Antonia on present reality, and participants on stillness and caring.

Pam Towne's report on two four-day retreats at Mt. Calvary Retreat House above Santa Barbara, where Sister Antonia Cooper led the theme "Flowing from the Center with Joy," with participants' own comments.

Pam Towne, accredited in 1984 and present at every conference since the first at Asilomar in 1985, recalls group practice with over 100 teachers and urges colleagues to come to Woodcliff Lake.

An invitation to the annual teachers conference as a gathering of people on a spiritual path, paired with passages from Justin Stone's Heightened Awareness on loneliness, compassion and Joy.

Dorene Krause describes what total immersion in T'ai Chi Chih feels like, letting go of ego and mechanics, and invites teachers to four days of it at the 2007 conference at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake.

Sr. Antonia Cooper lists why teachers attend the annual International T'ai Chi Chih Conference, from Justin's DVD message on basics and teacher sharing time to international camaraderie, with details for the 2007 gathering.

Carmen L. Brocklehurst recalls the handmade sweetgrass soap in the welcome packet at the 2006 Minnesota Teachers Conference, and the practice sessions, teaching reports and publicity advice from Good Karma Publishing.

KG notes that the journal is reprinting the handouts from his conference talk on publicizing TCC, asks teachers to email high resolution photos for a press image library, and mentions the GKP product catalog.

Pam Towne Duncan thanks the Minnesota TCC community for the Conference and describes being Encircled in Chi with her fiance Ted, whose blessing ribbons later draped their Encinitas wedding church.

Nancy Werner-Azarski reports on the 2006 Minnesota teachers' conference themed Encircled in Chi, compiling twenty-two pages of breakout notes on building classes, supporting teachers and reshaping the Vital Force.

Nancy Beck recounts Carmen Brocklehurst's September 2006 workshop at the SAS Wellness Center, where Return to Basics, the Seijaku massages and sounds, and meditation drew enthusiastic comments from students and the wellness director.

Gail Syverson recounts a one-day workshop led by Sister Viola Bens at the Franciscan Forest Sanctuary in April 2006, where twelve students of mixed experience fine-tuned weight shifts, heard readings from Justin Stone and shared bumble berry crisp.

Joan Weaver's account of the April 2006 retreat at Spirit of the Desert in Carefree with Pam Towne and Robin Spencer, including labyrinth practices, a wandering javelina, and sacred circle dancing.

Chery Ann Hoffmeyer reports on the first teaching-focused TCC retreat in Canada, led by Sandy McAlister at Edmonton's Providence Renewal Centre, with participant comments from teachers who travelled from as far as Newfoundland.

Glenna Dockery and Suzanne Roady-Ross report on the 2006 Northern California Intensive at Mercy Center, where Pam Towne and Sandy McAlister led nineteen students and Pam's refrain gave the week its theme.

Ron Richardson's workshop group named the obstacles to offering TCC in church facilities, including suspicion that it is evil, and recommended building trust and talking concretely about balance in prayer, relationships and daily life.