The Vital Force Archive

Anita Vestal, Jessica Lewis, Adam Lacey and Greg Berg report on their Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale survey of over 400 practitioners, and an abstract submitted to the 2026 Osher Center conference.

Sue Kenney notes that most TCC groups gather similar people, and challenges teachers to carry the practice into mental health clinics, public housing projects and drop-in centers, raising funds to pay teachers when students cannot.

TCC Guide Sandy McAlister likens the community's year to Spring, announcing the 2025 focus on Supporting and Strengthening Each Other, new suggested guidelines for preparing teacher candidates, a Foundation stipend for European support, and a July 26 Zoom teacher conference.

Anita Vestal recounts ten years of offering free Spanish-language classes in rural Costa Rica, where clubs supplied transportation and space, and calls for Foundation grants and a new video of TCC worldwide.

Guy Kent, a Vital Force board member, makes the case for recurring monthly donations to the T'ai Chi Chih community, noting the 2017 tax law's effect on itemized charitable deductions.

Sandy McAlister recounts the 50th anniversary teacher conference in Albuquerque, from Skip Whitson's memories of publishing Justin's books to a raffle and auction that raised $6,974 for scholarships.

Lisa Stroyan collected the praise voiced at Sandy McAlister's August 2024 Second Saturday Zoom practice, from the spheres presentation and Laurie Jacobi's video to scholarships, Karen K's emergency surgery, and a call for future conference committee volunteers.

Benjamin Brisjar recounts how T'ai Chi Chih reversed a volunteer shortage at the all-volunteer Pittsburg Fifty Plus Club, sustained members through COVID Zoom classes, and led the Board to fund reprinting the Photo Text.

Judy Kistler describes the TCC International Foundation's redesigned website at taichichihfoundation.org, which added teacher conference registration, scholarship and grant details with teacher testimonials, and a Donate page with fund options.

Sandy McAlister calls on teachers to fund travel and hotel costs for overseas colleagues attending the 50th anniversary Teacher Conference in Albuquerque, and to sponsor candidates at in-person Intensives and Accreditations.

Jessica Lewis recounts how she, Anita Vestal, Adam Lacey and Sokie Lee won a 30-minute experiential slot at Boston's OSHER Whole-Person Health Conference in September 2023, funded partly by grants and T-shirt sales.

Julie Heryet reports on the Folsom State Prison class after a 15-month lockdown gap, including a student talked out of suicide, poet Lawrence's release, and inmate-assistant Stephen's death from cancer.

Anita Vestal recounts the 2021 conference, from Paul Ciske on lifting the Chi to Sue Kenny and George Manning's volunteer work in Sacramento mental health programs, then asks readers to join new outreach and Spanish-language groups.

Sue Kenney notes that most T'ai Chi Chih teachers are white women of middle and older age, and proposes demonstrations, diverse-led DVDs and YouTube materials, Zoom mentors and funding to reach younger people, men and people of color.

Sandy McAlister describes the year-end class celebration at Rossmoor, where donations go to a residents' assistance fund, then proposes local service projects and the TCC Foundation's three $200 teacher grants.

Nancy Werner-Azarski works through her dismay at the cancelled 2020 conference and proposes declaring May a month of giving, with donations redirected to the Foundation, the Albuquerque Center and The Vital Force.

Linda Jones, who incorporated the Foundation and co-drafted its bylaws, argues that Justin's wish for TCC not to be an organization was semantic, and calls for a larger, geographically diverse Board.

Jessica Lewis reports on a T'ai Chi Chih Foundation grant that paid for 1000 flyers and a banner promoting Free T'ai Chi for Veterans, distributed at Stand Down and to Delaware realtors.

Newly accredited in April, Connie Krumrai booked a last-minute trip to the June teacher conference on scholarship funds, and a typewritten letter from Justin Stone about ego doubts gave her the nerve to arrange classes at Harvest Farm, an addiction and homelessness rehabilitation center.

Tracy Immordino's account of her first T'ai Chi Chih conference, Return to the Circle, from checking the attendee list for old classmates to the twice-daily silent group practices and the auction that raised over $7,000 for the scholarship fund.

Julie Heryet recounts how her Folsom State Prison students, backed by a TCC Foundation grant, entered the Annual Relay for Life and overcame deep fear to demonstrate before the general population.

A preview of the 2019 Teacher Conference sessions, including Sheila Leonard on awakening energy, Bruce Eisenmenger on PTSD and veterans, Dr. Edward Ehlinger on public health, plus grounding, props and scholarship auctions.

Sandy McAlister passes on conference updates for teachers who could not attend: the renewed five-year vision statement, Foundation finances and scholarship totals, new grants and committees, and a tribute to Connie Hyde.

Julie Heryert reports that donated industrial fans have transformed the sweltering Folsom chapel class, which now has 33 students and a waiting list, and describes meeting ARC founder Scott Budnick.

Lisa Otero names the Core Planning Committee and Northern Colorado volunteers behind the 2017 Boulder Teacher Conference, from the raffle and vocal auction for the scholarship fund to the rededication ceremony and video recordings.

The 2017 planning committee lays out the Boulder program day by day, from Dr. David Parrish on brain science and a four-teacher panel on grounding to Jessica Lewis on teaching alone in Delaware, Sandy McAlister's movement refinement, and the Saturday auction.

Sandy McAlister reports the decision to alternate teacher conferences with combined community conferences, announces the June 2017 Boulder teacher conference, and describes three $200 Foundation grants for promoting TCC.

Ann Rutherford and Kathy Grassel trace how Justin Stone's deliberately incomplete Seijaku DVD and brief accreditations left teachers unsure, and why they compiled a community booklet whose sales fund the TCC International Foundation.

Sandy McAlister reports the conference session on T'ai Chi Chih's future: teacher training fees rising to $525 in 2015, new scholarships for teachers who fully audit, and talks on attracting men, younger students and greater diversity.

A primer on the five independent organizations behind T'ai Chi Chih, with details from Dora Wiemann, Guy Kent, Carmen Brocklehurst and Sandy McAlister on each group's history, services, revenue and volunteer boards.