Conference Impressions (September 1996)

The Conference was great! Susan (Patterson) worked so hard — and thrived on it!

– Justin Stone
Albuquerque, NM

The 1996 T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Conference was well-run and held at a beautiful, full-of-chi location. The San Diego group, headed by Susan Patterson, was organized, energetic and committed to the task.

– Noel Altman
Fairfax, CA

Very good conference … I would enjoy more group practice and sessions/workshops and less of more “social” type events.

– Mark Jones
Denver, CO

The evolution of T’ai Chi Chih is certainly evident. The Chi is flowing so strong, I know it will bring peace to the world. Thank you Justin and Steve.

– Don Fiore
Phoenix, AZ

Many thanks to the San Diego Teachers for helping to actualize the conference mission. It was a restorative and healing weekend … Please let me know if you are interested in a tape that includes the song, “Gotta Get It Perfect.” Your appreciation meant so much.

– Joanne Sultar
Berkeley, CA

The conference was truly a gift of joy — shown in every detail from the welcome of the committee the first night to the delightful hand-stamped bags to carry stuff! … I came home both tired and deeply recharged.

– Ellen Tatge
Albuquerque, NM

This was my first T’ai Chi Chih Conference… quite a wonderful experience to be with so many teacher/practitioners I’ve come away from the conference with a sense of renewed appreciation of the practice and a deeper relationship with it. I look forward to the effects it will have on my teaching and my personal practice.

– Paul E. Ciske
Berkeley, CA

I watched different levels of consciousness interact at the conference. … We all came from different places and blended into one. Thank you everyone … to the San Diego teachers for their superior organization. … Poetchi in motion!

– Holly Davis
Oak Park, IL

Personally, this was the most transformational conference ever. … it felt like an evolutionary leap. … Thanks to Justin and Steve for the movement refinements and gentle corrections.

– Karen Scharf Morgan
Rio Rancho, NM

Dear T’ai Chi Chih teachers, You stole my heart or rather I gave it away over and over. The free spirit in you propelled and awakened the young, the lively, the giving in me! We danced together, alone and together, again …

I bathed in your embrace smiled and cried and Marcia the Gypsy moves on to grow and develop … I thank you for your love, enthusiasm and support. Each one of you was needed to make the conference what it was — a growth promoting experience.

– Lia Ridley
Denver, CO

Thank you, San Diego Committee, for an extraordinary conference. Joy Through Motion by the Ocean more than met my highest expectations. A very special thanks to Tahir Bhati for preparing me to approach the medical community in my community. …

Justin … again thank you for sharing this practice. And my heart felt gratitude, Steve, for your unassuming, heartfelt leadership. I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the ’97 conference. Be Chi-ing you.

– Penny Navis-Schmidt
Payson, AZ

What a great job the San Diego committee did for the Teachers’ Conference! A lot of planning went into the banner and other sign, packets, workshops, housing, meals and related materials for sale.

The setting was lovely. The entertainment provided a break in a very intensive weekend of opportunities for learning from Justin Stone and Steve Ridley. Networking worked. New friends, old friends. 145 satisfied customers. Good job!

– Hope Ridley
San Mateo, CA

The San Diego T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Conference was very good. I felt it was run smoothly and well. The group T’ai Chi Chih practices were super. Always it is a pleasure to see Friends to blend our hearts and souls. We are one with all life and each other. Justin often reminds us of this …. so now we remind him how special it is to greet him each year to share his Wisdom and Love.

– Theda W. Gillespie
Medford OK

The Conference was great … the Committee did an excellent job … Friday night was interesting … everyone sitting [in groups] and listening to all tell their name, number of years teaching, etc.

Steve’s workshop in which he discussed the moves using controlled breathing techniques was very helpful… students … have asked me about doing T’ai Chi Chih with controlled breathing.

Many people appreciated Justin sharing “sole breathing” … it would be great in the future for Justin to share his knowledge about such things.

The candlelight ceremony led by Sister Antonia … outside was really special … a conference tradition? … Watching Lia dance accompanied by Steve … and having the privilege of dancing with Lia [Dance Workshop] is one of those special things …

Seeing Justin and Steve on the stage together leading us in song while those of us below held hands and sang “Healing Thru Joy” was a much more meaningful way to close the conference.

– Vickie Brodie
Burlingame, CA

Thank you Justin and all the teachers who shared their joy, wisdom and humor; this includes everyone at the conference. Mahalo!

– Terry Jennings
Honolulu, HI

Sharing group energy is a vital link for me to renew my T’ai Chi Chih batteries. I am so grateful to everyone for sharing ideas for classroom presentation, reminding me of habits I pick up in my solitary practice I need to lose and keeping me mindful of my place in this growing TCC family!

– Kate Turpin
Yuma, AZ

I would like to again thank all the people who helped organize the Teachers’ Convention and the Seijaku Accreditation. You have done the world a service.

– Doug Harned
Sunnyvale, CA

Our San Diego conference was a blessing … I cherish the chance to move together and review and refine my movements with my T’ai Chi Chih family … My tears came back and my joy returned! … I gained so many experiences and ideas to ponder and integrate. Thank you Justin for T’ai Chi Chih. Thank you, Steve, for your joy in being the head of T’ai Chi Chih. I have come home feeling renewed in my mission to deepen my practice and to share T’ai Chi Chih.

– Judy Jones
Redmond, WA

Many thanks to the San Diego teachers for all their hard work and planning in hosting the teachers’ conference this year. … It is always wonderful to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. One thing I especially enjoyed was the small group “get to know each other” activity [Friday night]. It really gave us the opportunity to think and share what our feelings and experiences related to T’ai Chi Chih are. … We spoke at length about our dreams for the future of T’ai Chi Chih. My own dream is for each one of us to manifest TRUST. Trust and surrender to the love and wisdom of the Chi. … to clear the path and show us the way. No need for ambition or striving, only deep practice and an open heart so we can recognize truth and surrender to it.

Group practice is always so powerful. There is so much strength in our uplifted hands. The workshops were informative and afforded many of us additional practice with Steve. This is really the heart of any conference — the opportunity for deep and meaningful practice.

Thank you to Justin and Steve for giving us this love that we can find such joy and peace in. Thank you for continuing to share yourselves with us and devoting your time and effort to helping us grow and become more of what we truly are each day.

– Loretta Shiver
Albuquerque, NM