The Vital Force Archive

Lisa Stroyan describes offering suggestions rather than corrections in ongoing classes, from a nervous newcomer discovering effortless rise in Light at the Top of the Head to catching her own unrolled right wrist in Bass Drum.

Jim Shorr gathers statements from five practitioners in the five-year-old Saturday standing and seated class at Creekside Village for Seniors, who name Passing Clouds, Rocking Motion and Light at the Top of the Head as the movements that release old habits, steady balance and raise consciousness.

Jim Shorr collects student responses, including Becky F on climbing through clouds in Working the Pulley, Tom O on releasing worries in Passing Clouds, and a palliative care patient's new stability.

Nancy Werner-Azarski recounts a Tuesday Zoom practice in which Sandy paused at Light at the Top of the Head to have everyone notice and relax their tense feet.

After a question about Bird Flaps Its Wings arose in Sandy McAlister's Zoom teacher practice, Amy Tyksinski returns to Justin's written notes on flipping the wrists quickly while returning slowly.

An announcement that the 2018 conference will take place near Philadelphia in the summer, hosted by April Leffler and Kathleen McAllister, with the place and date still to come.

Donna Aldous collects her Mesa, Arizona students' comments on balance, grounding and practising with shoulder bursitis, then describes how a Vital Force article changed her view of Cosmic Consciousness Pose.

Justin Stone's booklet excerpt gives the keys to six movements, from the full 180-degree waist turn in Working the Pulley to the ancient Chinese origins of the Six Healing Sounds and the ankle placement in Cosmic Consciousness Pose.

Dixie Adeniran quotes Justin Stone on the joy at the center of our being, then describes feeling joy released through Light at the Top of the Head and Joyous Breath.

Monica Campbell recounts a colleague's remark in a T'ai Ji practice group at The Marsh, "The aliveness is in the intention of the opposites," and how it reshaped her sense of grounding and flying in Light at the Top of the Head.

Julie Heryet's account of the Minnesota conference, from April Leffler's group exercise where she was the "dreamer" to leading Sunday practice and Carmen's corrections to her weight shift, Wrist Circles and Light at the Top of the Head.

Kyrita Shannon recalls traveling from Seattle to Albuquerque in October 2000 for accreditation, drawing Light at the Top of the Head to lead before Justin Stone and calling it her Happy Happy Joy Joy Movement.

Amy Tyksinski details pushing down first to break the connection with the past, the goal post arm position and slow circling wrists, plus Carmen's suggestion that advanced students emphasize the middle fingers at the temples.

Roselee Blooston recounts practising in her dying husband's Dubai apartment, where Light at the Top of the Head sent a bolt of energy through her, and the daily practice that carried her through the months of grief that followed.

Justin Stone names the aimless hand-waving he sees in Bird Flaps its Wings, Pulling Taffy Variation #2, Light at the Top of the Head and Daughter in the Valley, and explains why he corrects it at Albuquerque practices.

Jan Arrott recounts Sr. Antonia's correction to let the knees straighten before the heels rise in Light at the Top of the Head and Rocking Motion, plus Jerry Bumbalough on teaching seniors to balance before stepping.

Lucia Veteran writes to Justin Stone asking whether the Six Healing Sounds should be whispered or crisp, and whether Passing Clouds has a 60/40 hand emphasis; Justin answers both and welcomes good change.

Justin Stone warns against decorative, dance-like gestures, correcting the aimless hand waving he sees in Bird Flaps its Wings, Pulling Taffy Variation #2, Light at the Top of the Head and Daughter in the Valley.

Four letters: Bob Slone asks to be relisted, Sr. Marie-Ann Main writes from Durban about teaching 62 third graders, RuthMarie Arguello-Sheehan practises in deep water while her partner undergoes cancer treatment, and Henry C. Smith asks about tingling hands during Light at the Top of the Head.

Richard Brier walks through the movements one by one, giving each a personal symbolic meaning, from varying circle size in Around the Platter to the student whose 35-year insomnia eased with Passing Clouds.

A segment of the television show "Eye on L.A." featured Rancho Rio Caliente outside Guadalajara, mentioned its T'ai Chi Chih classes and showed students practicing Light at the Top of the Head.

Peggy Knorr, accredited in both TCC and the Bates Method of natural vision improvement, matches Dr. William Bates's swings and relaxation principles to Passing Clouds, Pulling Taffy, Push Pull and other movements.