The Vital Force Archive

Direct quotations compiled by Pauline Quimson-Tong from Justin Stone's 2006 CD, in which he defines chi through Lao Tzu and the Lotus Sutra and insists that words and passive listening cannot substitute for practice.

Justin Stone urges teachers who lack understanding of softness, circularity and polarity to audit classes and ask questions, and explains why he never took a cent from teachers.

Elaine Peterson, a music professor at Mississippi State University, describes using T'ai Chi Chih to help singers and instrumentalists move from the center, ease tension, and stay fully present while performing.

Marie A. Myszkier pairs her love of Bird Flaps Its Wings, wrist circles and all, with the story of Bird, the New Mexico Center plant that sprouted a leaf for each year of her training and now has nineteen.

Michael Isaacs practices in airport waiting areas and visualizes the movements in cramped plane seats, Pete Gregory draws squad cars twice while practicing outdoors in Indiana, and Stephen Thompson finds stillness within the shifting.

Justin Stone answers his own terse questions on truth, rain, old age and compassion, declaring darkness positive, arguments foolish, and chi the greatest influence on our lives.

Diana Wright interviews Dr. Jennifer Pike about UCLA's rheumatoid arthritis trial comparing TCC to relaxation therapy, followed by Judy Hendricks recruiting co-workers for a child-parent class and Tony Johansen's first class.

Editor KG announces that the Community Calendar is now open to any member offering TCC retreats, workshops and intensives, sets a 100 percent TCC test for listings, restricts the email database to urgent announcements, and lists submission guidelines and deadlines.

Connie Stevens took T'ai Chi Chih for a physical education credit at UMBC days after laser eye surgery, and her ophthalmologist was astonished by better than 20/20 recovery; Patty Friddle adds her own account.

Lisa Otero concludes that Life balances itself and TCC balances her reactions rather than her circumstances, followed by Hannah Hedrick's account of easing computer-related forearm spasms with Rocking Motion and Bird Flaps Its Wings.

Ann Marie Wyrsch recounts a June workshop with Sr. Antonia in Warrenville, including outdoor practice and getting discombobulated in Anchor Taffy, followed by Pam Kamholz on recovering from a severe head injury.

Jan Arrott recounts Sr. Antonia's correction to let the knees straighten before the heels rise in Light at the Top of the Head and Rocking Motion, plus Jerry Bumbalough on teaching seniors to balance before stepping.

Pat Flynn recounts how Lyme disease left her nearly blind and crippled, and how T'ai Chi Chih ended her night pain and restored ninety percent of her damaged shoulder movement.

Lois Broome connects faithful T'ai Chi Chih practice to the Serenity Prayer as a way back to inner and outer balance, with a companion note from Ginny Morgan on a husband's move to Kansas City, a lost golden retriever and a new puppy.

Three reader poems: Bryan Fine, student of Donna McElhose, on silence and swimming in the sea of Self; Jerry Bumbalough on walking steadily after a workshop; and Sharon Sirkis on loud music.

Sr. Antonia Cooper describes eight days of silent annual retreat at Stella Maris on the New Jersey shore, greeting sunrise and sunset with practice and finding honeysuckle blooming above the beach.

Ginny Morgan announces registration details for the November 17, 2007 Celebration of Life marking Justin Stone's 91st birthday, with a full practice, a talk by Justin, movement refinement, and an evening potluck.

Sandy McAlister gives a back-to-basics exercise for keeping toes and heels down through the weight shift, plus Pam Towne's announcement of new six-month practice requirements for Seijaku accreditation.

Sue Bitney tells how a lighted sign outside a Minneapolis community center brought Carol in after days of driving past, plus Sr. Antonia Cooper's note that TCC has no recertification, only teh.

Carmen Brocklehurst restates Justin Stone's guidelines for keeping the movements pure and TCC distinct from martial arts, and recounts how his question "Do you think this is just for you?" led to the booklet Evolution Through Chi.

Anita Vestal offers a jumping rope image for the wrist circles, Daniel Pienciak links knees to wrists with a paper cup balanced on the head, and Linda Braga lists six purposes of Bird Flaps Its Wings.

Dora Derzon teaches Bird Flaps Its Wings as the second movement, right after beginners have stirred the Chi with Rocking Motion, and Dorene Krause compiles tips from the New Jersey Teachers Retreat, including the pelvis as a basin of water and softness kept al dente.