The Vital Force Archive

Steven Huskey teaches a weekly 45-minute seated class for brain injury survivors, emphasizing weight shift felt through the sit bones, upright torso, and compact hand movements in the side-to-side movements.

Steven Huskey, accredited in November 2024, sets out what his accreditation week gave him in an acrostic spelling T'ai Chi Chih, from grounding and coaching students to establishing new classes and camaraderie.

Steven Huskey recounts the teaching that found him after accreditation, from filling in for his own teacher to classes for Parkinson's patients and a brain injury support group, and the lesson plans he abandoned for flexibility.

Adabelle Rychtarik recounts the 50th anniversary conference in Albuquerque: practicing in the new TCC Center, John Marquez teaching pyramid poetry, hot air balloons over morning practice on wet grass.

Linda Jones teaches seated TCC to beginners and to chemotherapy patients who regained feeling in their fingertips, yet finds mental practice, with its complete weight shifts, the most powerful of all.

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.

Linda Jones lays out the teaching rules for David-Dorian Ross's Tai Chi for Vets program: verbal safety cues and humor are welcome, but no individual corrections, no detailed demonstration and no expectation that veterans memorize the movements.

Linda Jones spent over an hour on Rocking Motion at Carmen's September retreat in Albuquerque, and argues the wider community should stay open to the subtle differences Albuquerque teachers bring.

Adabelle Rychtarik collected testimonials from her Greenville-area students at libraries, senior centers and a French creperie, who report better balance after hip replacement, tremor relief, improved sleep and giving up a cane.

Adabelle Rychtarik recounts the business basics covered at her 2013 Albuquerque accreditation, then describes calling 911 when a new seated student lost consciousness in class and later needed a pacemaker.

Dana Cline describes refining her movements over Skype with California teacher Lisa Otero while practice-teaching under Opie Reed in South Carolina, with Judy Anne Light's companion piece on returning to T'ai Chi Chih after 20 years away.

Adabelle Rychtarik's students in Simpsonville report what two years of practice changed: Sandra Johnson stands comfortably through church songs using the TCC stance, and Kathy Neely regained balance and arm mobility despite Parkinson's.

Adabelle Rychtarik collected testimonials from her South Carolina students, who credit TCC with better balance, easier rising from low chairs, and calm during long hospital vigils with a loved one.

Linda Jones recounts falling without warning, losing words to aphasia, and then a New Year's Eve brain scan that returned a diagnosis of global cerebral atrophy and coming dementia.

Linda Jones recounts how her motive for seeking accreditation shifted from keeping her own daily practice alive after a move to a TCC-free area, to wanting to teach for others' benefit.

Kathi Allen, a weary commuter into New York City, describes finding T'ai Chi Chih through Sr. Mary Reynolds and how the gentle rhythms, quiet class and flowing energy calmed her.

Vicki Schroeder describes playing Justin Stone's instructional DVD as students arrive, reading from the photo text and The Vital Force in every class, and listing his books in her syllabus.