The Vital Force Archive

Aphorisms excerpted from Justin Stone's out-of-print 20th Century Psalms, ranging from unasked-for advice and locked church doors to the story of Zen Master Tokusan telling two quarreling monks both were right.

Justin Stone explains why he refuses to write a book on ultimate truth, then offers a sample of it: nature's disregard for the individual, vibratory rates, and the Lotus Sutra's answer.

Brenda Fisher credits T'ai Chi Chih with carrying her through two major losses, first with grief counselor Sharon Edwards in Arizona and again after 15 years away, leading her to accreditation with Daniel Pienciak.

Linda Braga welcomes new students with a mock travel brochure: a one-way ticket to the State of Serenity, payment accepted only as daily practice, baggage packed light, and insurance made of teachers, classes and retreats.

Lisa Stroyan recounts the nervous system collapse that left her unable to walk or drive, practising almost reclined in a gravity chair, and entering accreditation with walking sticks only to walk out normally.

Michele Dapelo set her intention for the Pennsylvania accreditation week and received an image of an open door, which became her lens on yin and yang, unlearning, self-doubt and her fellow candidates' support.

Holly Trenary recounts the sleepless 2:30 a.m. fears of accreditation week, her teacher Marie's advice to hold the frightened part of herself, and the chi she felt in her heart area while playing with Push Pull.

April Leffler compiles reflections from five of the nine teachers accredited at the June 2016 Pennsylvania course with Pam Towne, including Janet Starr on befriending Carry the Ball to the Side.

JoEtta Heck, a registered dietitian worn down by stress and constant left shoulder and neck pain, found Marie Dotts' recreation center class and went on to accreditation.

Annette McNeil's rhyming poem recounts the Pennsylvania accreditation course: nineteen movements and a pose, the worry doll under her pillow, tears and stitches of laughter, and storing chi in the bones.

Rebecca Paulson recounts Daniel's nightly readings and questions during accreditation week, and the words that kept her awake before she told each candidate they were unique and worthy.

After 33 years of practice, Sandy McDonald describes paring each movement down to two or three key points, using Daughter in the Valley as her example, and quotes Justin Stone on teaching without rote or dogma.

Eliza Fulton, living on Colorado's Western Slope with no local teachers, drove three hours to Denver monthly for mentoring with Leya Cragin and earned her accreditation in June.

Daniel Pienciak passes along the techniques he uses most in accreditation courses and intensives: sliding down the wall to loosen the waist, starting beginners on Rocking Motion seated, and leading the weight shift from the knee.

Sandy Roerig, newly accredited two years after her first class, credits Justin Stone's Spiritual Odyssey and its echoes of her own Baha'i Faith with drawing her into teaching.

Pam Towne explains why Justin Stone refused to mandate re-certification, and describes auditing an accreditation course in Denver in June that deepened her grasp of the hip swivel.

Nikol Price traces her path from a teenage T'ai Chi Chih class with Della Alberson in Bullhead City, through years of solo practice, to Saturday mentoring in Prescott and accreditation.

Carmen L. Brocklehurst audited a Denver accreditation course hosted by Marie Dotts and taught by Dan Pienciak with Pam Towne Duncan, finding in the candidates' preparation and shared practice the meaning of TCC community.

Julie Anongos recounts opening her required 12-minute presentation with a silent demonstration and a declaration of love for T'ai Chi Chih, and describes the bonds formed with fellow candidates and trainer Daniel during the Colorado week.

Michael S. Isaacs lists twelve keys to moving the Vital Force as seven S's, three C's and two P's, each with a caution, followed by poems from Diana Daffner and Diana Bahn.

Rebecca Paulson recounts the meals, late-night talks and community-style presentations of her teacher accreditation course, and answers the question of why she wanted to teach with "How could I not?"

Becky Watkins arrived at her family's beach vacation burned out, angry and sorrowful, and found that eight days of swimming, news-fasting and practicing in the sand left her healed and light-hearted.

Dr. David Parrish traces his move from years of sitting meditation to TCC as moving meditation, settling and grounding in the rest pose, dropping attention to the soles of the feet, and teaching students to let go between movements.

Donna Deffenbaugh strings together lines from Paul Simon, Nancy Sinatra and the Roman poet Ennius to call attention to the soles of the feet, the overlooked connection between earth and everything we do.

Julie Heryet previews her conference presentation on teaching at Folsom State Prison, describing the noise and stress inmates face and giving practical steps for approaching a correctional facility about a moving meditation class.

Kathy Starrick, a former technical writer, compares the silence between musical passages and the white space on a page to the pauses she takes after each movement to absorb its peace.

Sharon Sirkis recounts Martin, a skeptical new student at a retirement home who predicted class would worsen his headache and then admitted he felt more relaxed, plus a college student inspecting his fingernails.

Lisa M. Otero, a yoga instructor, recounts how studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita after Justin Stone's death revealed the Raja Yoga roots behind his seemingly obscure teachings.

Susan Sobelson describes thirty-two teachers, students and passersby circling on Raspberry Island in the Mississippi for World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day, a singing bowl marking each movement as barges and trains passed.

Stu Goldman, uneasy about repeating what "Justin would say," describes building his own teaching phrases like "I came for the movement; I stayed in the moment," and recalls a silent correction from Carmen Brocklehurst.