The Vital Force Archive

Paul Ciske recalls the breeze he felt between his hands at a cardiac rehab demonstration, his 1991 accreditation with Steve Ridley, reversing his arms in Working the Pulley, and the veil lifting in a Hong Kong park.

Christina Tillotson traces her first TCC practice in a grassy circle at Asilomar in 1983, her 1993 accreditation, and a newer Encinitas Senior Center student who said this omnipresent energy would have replaced her hippie-days substances.

Kathy Grassel recounts being one of the "November Nine" accredited in 1994, her 2005 interview with an unanswerable Justin Stone, Saturday meditations at his house, and the day stiffening the back leg changed her practice.

Ann Rutherford recounts joining Justin Stone's Turiya meditation group in 1996, being hospitalized after touching an ungrounded student's feet, and Justin's call for teachers to loosen up.

Tara Stiles, accredited by Justin Stone at Green Gulch Zen Center in 1978, recounts a beach seal watching her practice, her 'chi drawing' crayon exercise, and letting a joyful student flow uncorrected.

Dora Wiemann, accredited in 1989, recounts losing her fear of public speaking and teaching wrong, Justin calling out "You're doing arm exercises, dear," and his bookshelf question about awareness.

Caroline Guilott recounts her 1999 Albuquerque accreditation, Justin Stone telling her "Higher dear, higher" and "There is nothing to do," and the roadside open house that began it all.

Linda Robinson recounts her 1999 accreditation in Albuquerque, the presentation to bereaved students that grew from her daughter's death, and the sitting period she adds after each class.

Margery Erickson recalls hiding behind a tree at her first outdoor class, hosting her accreditation in her home weaving studio, and Justin shaking his head at her Daughter in the Valley.

Nancy Jo Bleier recounts her 1997 accreditation in Albuquerque under Ed Altman with Justin visiting daily, teaching seated sessions to stroke and mental health patients, and starting monthly Practice by the Sea in Sitka.

Janet Oussaty recounts her 1999 accreditation at the Carmel Retreat Center with Ed Altman, how a Japanese friend's talk of ki led her to TCC, and teaching the practice at her university.

Senior teacher Nancy Werner-Azarski of Minneapolis recounts seeing Justin's face when she sat to meditate before practice, his silent standing answer at an Albuquerque conference, and how hip pain led her to two long-avoided projects.

Hannah Hedrick recounts her 1985 classes with Theda Gillespie in Mexico, the unprepared California accreditation Justin embraced, and the s-e-l-f breath guidelines she developed for students with COPD.

Christeen McLain recalls recognizing an alpha brain wave state while going Around the Platter with her teacher Jean Katus in 1975, and later dropping a grounding exercise that made students fall over.

Carmen Brocklehurst recalls her 1980 Albuquerque accreditation on Justin Stone's birthday, Justin correcting her Carry the Ball hip swivel, and learning TCC from Rev. Helen Brungardt Pope.

Lynne Roberts recounts moving from a dancing career and USO shows into TCC, her one-on-one preparation with Corinn Codye, and the 1988 Morro Bay accreditation where Justin interrupted her presentation.

Linda Braga recounts seeing a newspaper photo that led her to Valerie Lawson Smith's class, her 1985 San Leandro accreditation with Justin Stone, Partner Practice teaching, and the frigid Green Gulch retreat.

Pat Hill of Golden, Colorado recounts finding a T'ai Chi Chih class taught by Steve Ridley in 1985 after her marriage ended, her 1986 accreditation in Santa Clara, and the backyard training sessions she later ran for candidates.

Carmen L. Brocklehurst recalls Justin Stone's refusal to write instructions for Seijaku, his direction to teach it only to the best students, and a teacher who sank into deep meditation at a conference introduction.

Sheila Leonard of Newfoundland recounts the 1989 autoimmune and environmental crisis that led her to TCC, her flyers, brochures and "Beyond Beginners" classes, and the travel costs that deter Canadian accreditation candidates.

Marie Dotts traces 17 years of teaching, a six-year pause while caregiving, and building the Northern Colorado community through a retreat with Pam Towne and monthly principle sessions for teacher candidates.

Hannah Hedrick describes pairing pursed-lip breathing with the weight shift for students with COPD, modifying Light at the Top of the Head, and bringing TCC to Red Hat Society women, cancer and HIV/AIDS groups.

James Hecker recounts being expelled from the Knights of the Altar for asking questions, his Wisconsin farm boyhood, and the Navy corps schooling and Special Forces assignment that followed.

Accredited by Justin Stone in 1979, acupuncturist David Fuess talks about his twelve key acupuncture points, alternate nostril breathing, polarity therapy, diet, and why yinning and yanging returns the practitioner to one.

Travel writer KG describes the frog that sent her from Boston to Albuquerque, her plans to take Good Karma Publishing's books, DVDs and CDs to the wider market, and the 30-day challenge from Carmen that hooked her on daily practice.

Linda Braga honors Bay Area teacher Lois Mahaney, who kept the TCC database for 15 years, mailed the Vital Force, designed the Ou Mie Shu bird shirts, and retired in her mid-80s.

Sandy McAlister describes her shy Mormon childhood, her ski-bum years, the gentle exercise and seated T'ai Chi Chih she teaches in convalescent homes and senior centers for two school districts, her Nepal and Africa trips, and her fifth year of Sierra Club hiking-and-practice weeks.

Marking 20 years accredited, Pam Towne recalls Justin using her as an example of how not to do Pulling Taffy, learning from Corinn Codye at Asilomar, and choosing teaching over a conventional job.

Sr. Antonia Cooper, OSF, newly named Guide of T'ai Chi Chih, recounts her mid-life crisis, learning the form in St. Paul, pairing it with Centering Prayer, and conservative sisters' fears she would become a Buddhist.

Three retirement letters: Ed Altman steps down as Head of the T'ai Chi Chih Community, citing Justin Stone's lack of support, while Noel Altman leaves The Vital Force and Jean Katus leaves Good Karma Publishing.