The Vital Force Archive

Sandy McAlister announces two new accreditation resources, the Teacher Preparation Suggested Curriculum and the Teacher Prep Coaches created by Lesley Nell, Marie Dotts and Lisa Otero, then passes the role of Guide to Marie Dotts.

Lesley Nell answers questions about the new suggested curriculum for preparing teacher candidates, developed with Marie Dotts and Lisa Otero, and the new Teacher Prep Coach designation for experienced referring teachers.

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.

Carol Love recalls the phrases her teacher Marie Dotts repeats in class, including "You can't do bad T'ai Chi Chih" and the advice to move just the arms or just the feet.

Terry Jennings passes along Elizabeth Tyler's teaching image of the pelvic area as a fruit bowl that spills if you rock too far forward or back, plus her own Rocking Motion one-liners.

Lisa Stroyan summarizes a November teachers' Zoom discussion on how referring teachers prepare accreditation candidates, with advice from Marie Dotts, Caroline Guilott and others on one-on-one work, leading practice, weight shifts and when to teach Seijaku.

Pam Towne led seven teachers through a Zoom Seijaku accreditation in February, with participants Yuko Voss, Patty Stupca, Michelle Sarubbi and Sally Sherwin describing grounding, healing and beginner's mind.

Lisa Stroyan compiled accounts from April Leffler's October 2023 Zoom accreditation, where 12 candidates from three countries worked from tree-frog "suction cup" feet upward and shared their "green banana" takeaways.

Hannah Hedrick expands on the constellation idea born during Linda Prosche's stay in the Hawaii rainforest, inviting comments on a Prime Mover graphic with Justin as North Star for the 2024 conference.

Hannah Hedrick works through the principles she took from the four teacher trainers' presentations at the international conference, from pressing dimes into the floor to using wrists rather than arms in Working the Pulley.

Lynne Roberts recounts the 2022 virtual conference with 60 volunteers and 163 teachers, praising new presenters and April Leffler's tip of mentally placing dimes on the soles of the feet.

Judy Chancey and Sky Young-Wick outline the 2022 International Teachers' Conference on Zoom, themed Cultivating Wisdom, from the Friday Around the World Practice to Sandy McAlister's opening words, Seijaku mornings and breakout rooms.

Pat Hill of Golden, Colorado recounts finding a T'ai Chi Chih class taught by Steve Ridley in 1985 after her marriage ended, her 1986 accreditation in Santa Clara, and the backyard training sessions she later ran for candidates.

Daniel Pienciak turns attention away from favorite movements and toward the middle of the weight shift itself, the bending and straightening legs and the grounding stillness between sets.

Sandy McAlister traces the Intensive from Ed Altman's 3 1/2-day prep course to the first Zoom Intensive she led in August, and announces that from 2021 teacher candidates must attend one.

Pam Towne recounts the August Zoom TCC Intensive she led with Sandy, where participants from both coasts and the United Kingdom felt strong Chi flow, and offers practical tips on breaks and breakout rooms.

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.

Pam Towne lays out the practical differences between a three or four day TCC retreat, open to anyone, and the four and a half day intensive for teachers, candidates and year-long practitioners.

Daniel Pienciak compares the forward and back weight shift to shifting a car through neutral, using Sandy McAlister's phrase "glide and arrive" to show that stillness on one foot does not break continuity.

Bonnie Sokolov, host of the October 2017 Rochester accreditation course led by Pam Towne, gathers reflections from candidates on presentations, auditors, wrist refinements in Pulling Taffy, and graduation.

Daniel Pienciak, with Sandy and Pam, passes on the movement corrections they gave at conference: releasing the knees in Rocking Motion, bending the back leg fully, and keeping the hips from swinging side to side.

Lisa M. Otero previews the 2017 teacher conference program for the Conference Program Committee, with a first day devoted to deepening personal practice and a second to teaching, service and the rededication ceremony.

Pam Towne recalls Justin Stone's prediction that some event would bring T'ai Chi Chih into mainstream awareness, and asks students and teachers to recruit candidates, reach younger and more diverse classes, and use the referral form.

Julie Anongos recounts opening her required 12-minute presentation with a silent demonstration and a declaration of love for T'ai Chi Chih, and describes the bonds formed with fellow candidates and trainer Daniel during the Colorado week.

Michele Dapelo set her intention for the Pennsylvania accreditation week and received an image of an open door, which became her lens on yin and yang, unlearning, self-doubt and her fellow candidates' support.

After 33 years of practice, Sandy McDonald describes paring each movement down to two or three key points, using Daughter in the Valley as her example, and quotes Justin Stone on teaching without rote or dogma.

Daniel Pienciak passes along the techniques he uses most in accreditation courses and intensives: sliding down the wall to loosen the waist, starting beginners on Rocking Motion seated, and leading the weight shift from the knee.

Pam Towne explains why Justin Stone refused to mandate re-certification, and describes auditing an accreditation course in Denver in June that deepened her grasp of the hip swivel.

Rebecca Paulson recounts Daniel's nightly readings and questions during accreditation week, and the words that kept her awake before she told each candidate they were unique and worthy.

Pam Towne describes her New Year's Eve burning ceremony for releasing the past year, then sets intentions of better sleep and greater service, including leading retreats and auditing an accreditation course.