The Vital Force Archive
Forty years of The Vital Force (1985-2025), the journal of the T’ai Chi Chih community. Search for a word, a teacher, a movement or a place, or browse by category and topic.
December 1994
The December 1994 issue lists Justin Stone’s key points for correct movement, from flowing from the t’an t’ien to the 60-40 emphasis, with notes by Steve Ridley. Carmen Brocklehurst reports on the November meditation retreat with Justin Stone in Albuquerque, Steve Tang recounts his first year after accreditation, and Ed Altman warns that checkpoints useful to beginners can later distract.
Hope Ridley of San Mateo outlines what her continuing class does after the beginning instruction: all twenty moves for refinement, then extended single moves, linked moves, practice in pairs or a circle, two extra moves, and alternate breathing.
Steve Ridley condenses flow into a single line, proposing that everyone is capable of dancing well when they connect with music that genuinely moves them.
Virginia Shilson recounts a class in which the room became a cathedral, spiritual energy rose up the walls, and students bowed to each other at the end knowing each was changed.
Virginia Shilson
Recovering from foot surgery, Rosalind Braga spent the 9th Annual Conference practicing seated T'ai Chi Chih, and describes the pelvic movement, rooted center and movements that worked best for her seniors class.
Teachers from Anaheim to Albuquerque answer a Conference evaluation question about continuing classes, describing refinement of moves, connected form, Seijaku breath work, circle and outdoor practice, discounts and mailing lists.
Patricia Bough, sidelined by tendinitis, taught her senior center class seated, then standing with a student model, then settled on using Justin's new video so she could circulate, correct and rest her foot.
Carmen Brocklehurst recounts the November 1994 retreat at the Dominican Retreat House in Albuquerque, where 34 participants studied Satipatthana meditation with Justin Stone and donated the proceeds to the T'ai Chi Chih Center.