news from
Tai Chi Vermont

Inhale ... and exhale. As we head into Metal Season, remember to spend a little extra time focusing on your breath while you practice. Chinese Medicine declares this the season of our Lungs and Large Intestines, the organs tasked with purification and letting go.

As you move, notice when you're called to draw in breath ... and when your body is ready to release. Remember that tai chi is a full-body practice, so it's more than just these two organs doing the work.

Try drawing in breath from the soles of your feet as you initiate a move ... then letting it go from the palms of your hands as you settle. What attracts your attention now?

Unsplash photo by clay.banks

Inner landscapes: 
Expanding our awareness, transforming our practice

Ellie Hayes and Zhen Wolffe will host this Enrichment Workshop at St. John's Episcopal Church in Randolph, 9 a.m.-noon, Friday, Oct. 9.

This workshop is designed for participants who want to dive deeper into the mind-intent or energetic source for the eight methods, martial arts techniques that are embedded in most Tai Chi forms. Form review practice will be enhanced by guided explorations of the meridian points that may serve as interconnecting focal points for rooting us in the posture and issuing effortless force.

If you’re a Tai Chi Vermont volunteer instructor sponsored by an Area Agency on Aging, be sure to enter the code you received so you can checkout for $0. Forgot the code? Click here to request it again.

Questions? Email Ellie or Zhen. 

Step, follow step: Drills for exploring, teaching and inhabiting the Fall Prevention Tai Chi form

Beverly Blakeney and Zhen Wolffe will host this Skillbuilder at St. John's Episcopal Church in Randolph, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16.

In this workshop we'll explore movements and practices to enhance our awareness of the Fall Prevention form. Drills are repetitive movements that help create body memory. Tai Chi instructors can use them to support their students in learning the form. 

Bring your favorite drill to share--as well as your curiosity--and we’ll explore ways of feeling our way into the Fall Prevention form and inviting our students to do the same.

Remember, if you’re a Tai Chi Vermont volunteer instructor be sure to enter the special Skillbuilder code you received so you can check out for $0. Forgot the code? Click here to request it again.

Questions? Email Beverly or Zhen. 

Level 3 Fall Prevention (simplified Sun style) cert/recert

Meet Laurie Knauer, Sue Monaco and Jo Bregnard at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Randolph, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 24 for our final Fall Prevention training for 2026.

A $50 fee is required with all registrations. Instructors supported by one of the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) may be reimbursed for the registration fee and the agency will be billed the balance. Please check with your agency for details. Independent instructors will need to pay the balance two weeks prior to the training date. Registration closes one month before training begins, so don't wait to book your spot!

Remember, TCV teachers can keep their status current by recertifying every two years.

You can prepare for this training by attending Laurie's Level 3 Skillbuilder 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at St. John's in Randolph. TCV teachers in good standing can attend Skillbuilders for free by entering their special Skillbuilder code to check out for $0. Forgot the code? Click here to request it again.

When you register for either of these events, training videos will be sent to you so you can pre-learn the movements. The energy you put into your pre-learning will help you succeed in becoming a safe and effective instructor. Email Laurie if you have questions.