The Vital Force Archive

Oreann Kempadoo recounts becoming accredited in 2015 and struggling to introduce TCC in Rockland County until an adult learning center called, followed by testimonials from students including a woman recovering from a head injury and C-spine surgeries.

Mary Kay Chavez, who lives three hours from her teacher Lorraine Lepine, describes how Zoom practice gave her the frequency, control and versatility that Facetime sessions could not.

Doriane Tippet compares the T'ai Chi Chih community to a forest where trees communicate through mycelium at the roots, crediting Northern Colorado's teachers with nurturing her from a weak seedling into a stronger practitioner.

Sue Bitney, practicing 18 years and teaching 15, describes the pandemic quiet that deepened her practice, learning Zoom for her classes, and a masked Saturday group at Lake Harriet with pinwheels marking six feet.

Terry Johnson's first T'ai Chi Chih class, set for April Fool's Day 2020, was cancelled by COVID-19, so she worked her local food bank instead and now practices in the park with a staff member who would have been her student.

Jim Hecker recalls Justin Stone asking him whether he had done T'ai Chi Chih that day, once or twice, and the answer Justin gave when asked why nine repetitions.

Sandy Roerig's November 2019 visit to fellow teacher Lisa in St George led her to sell her house, move within two months, and finally commit to a daily practice.

Rick Davis writes during the pandemic and civil unrest, finding emotional footing in the Bubbling Spring at the soles of the feet during Rocking Motion, Justin Stone's noonday shadow image, and the 13th century mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg.

Lesley Nell describes how she and Laurin McDonald, accredited in 2018, ran a Discovery Workshop in Banbury for wellbeing coaches and therapists in March 2020, just before lockdown.