Living Legend retires from active teaching of TCC

There are many ways to use T’ai Chi Chih, Joy Through Movement to promote peace in the world. This includes teaching TCC to various groups of adults and children, contributing to the Vital Force Journal and being an active participant in the TCC organization at the local and national level, and offering free TCC practices at a park. Working behind the scenes for countless hours, days and years has been a labor of love by one special teacher in the Bay Area in California. Her name is Lois Mahaney.

This long time TCC teacher has done this and much more. She has been an active TCC teacher for years, teaching at the San Lorenzo Adult School and other locations. She was the keeper of the TCC database for 15 years and did this single-handedly! She also helped prepare, collate, and mail the VFJ for many years, having TCC teachers come to her house and work to get out the next VFJ issue. She was also responsible for the TCC Directory and put in all the maps that show where TCC teachers are located in the USA. For years, she attended the weeklong TCC Accreditation and presented information about the VFJ and supported new teacher candidates.

In her spare time, she designed and sold the familiar TCC t-shirts and sweatshirts at Conferences that have the Ou Mie Shu birds with the words T’ai Chi Chih on them. These shirts have helped to spread the word about TCC. Some TCC teachers use her shirts as their main wardrobe, in order to advertise TCC to the community.

She also has supported the Bay Area TCC teachers, working hard to put on many of the early TCC Conferences in California, at Vallambrosa and other retreat centers.

This spring Lois retired from active teaching of TCC. Now in her mid-80s, she plans to stay active in the local Bay Area TCC group, attending meetings and promoting TCC as a way of life.

Recently, Lois was hospitalized and when we went to visit her, she fretted that she had not done TCC for four days! We asked her if she wanted us to do TCC with her, “mentally” or physically. She wanted to see us move, so we moved the chair and did some T’ai Chi Chih. Later, the doctors and nurses reported that her blood pressure dropped and her heart rhythm stabilized while we were doing TCC with her. The monitors Lois was wearing at the time recorded this data. Very nice to know!

Those of you who know Lois know that she is a tireless worker and promoter of TCC. We take this opportunity to honor her huge contribution to TCC and to her community. Thank you, Lois, for your commitment to TCC and for your loyal service to others. You are a living legend!