The Vital Force Archive

Carol Krucoff's San Jose Mercury News column, reprinted here, reports a Johns Hopkins study of 62 sedentary adults over 60 in which t'ai chi lowered systolic blood pressure nearly as much as aerobic exercise.

Eddie Yee, medicated for blood pressure at 160/95, attended Justin Stone's Seijaku instructor workshop in Albuquerque and came home to readings near 109/85, needing no medication five months later.

A letter from Bea Stasick to her Albuquerque teacher Rae Miller, marking one year of daily practice since her first class and crediting it with lower blood pressure and more energy.

Lynn Lind's Deming Headlight report on Beverly McFarland, who took over daily T'ai Chi Chih sessions at the Deming Elderhostel, came to the practice through recurring dreams, and taught a blind woman with her own eyes closed.

Leona B. Dees reports that her triglyceride level dropped 173 points during a quarter of Seijaku class after heart bypass surgery, then climbed again once she stopped practising.

Barbara Riley's piece from the Jan.-Feb. 1995 HEALTH 2000 Newsletter introduces T'ai Chi Chih's twenty movements to newcomers, citing lower blood pressure, easier arthritis pain and better balance, and announcing her eight-week class series.

Teachers report in: Denver weighs hosting the 1995 conference, Chris McLain documents blood pressure and anxiety changes in Fargo, Pam Towne heads to Russia, Verna Wenger copes with inoperable cancer, and Daniel Froese adapts movements for wheelchair users.

A Center for Healthy Aging newsletter near Chicago praised T'ai Chi Chih for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and announced a 12-week class taught by Nancy Meyer and Hannah Hedrick with an optional research study.

Lynne Blackford describes her year teaching T'ai Chi Chih at the Missoula senior center, starting as a volunteer before students chose to pay a dollar, plus weekend workshops at Unity churches.

In an April 1976 letter to Justin Stone, John Burchard reports a 65-pound weight loss, blood pressure falling from 140/95 to 120/75, and informal readings he took on three hypertensive students.

Teacher news roundup with Pam Towne's public access video, Carmen Brocklehurst's class for Digital Equipment Corporation marketing reps, Oonagh Perdue's PBS interview, and letters to Ben Levitan reporting lowered cholesterol, vanished hay fever and restored circulation.

David Belz of Ft. Myers reports a 20-point blood pressure drop and a surge of tingling energy while doing the Push Pull hand movement, and Dave Arenz practices in a Fargo garden.

In a letter to Jean Katus after a Naples workshop, David Belz reported a blood pressure reading of 110/78, down 20 points, and an electric surge of energy while practising Push Pull.

Virginia Shilson passes along dated testimonials from Albuquerque students Gwen and Bob Cameron, who report energy for chores, easier health walks and a calmer wait in a doctor's examination room.

Christeen McLain-Curran recounts Fargo listeners mishearing T'ai Chi as "typing" and "tongue-in-cheek," plus her blood pressure readings showing drops across eight classes and a Parkinson's support group demonstration.