Rooted Alchemy family, we just surpassed 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Wow. Back in August, who would have thought we would build a Tai Chi community of over 100,000 people practicing together from all over the world. This journey has been incredibly humbling, and we’re deeply grateful to every single one of you who has been here, practicing, watching, and growing with us. We’re excited for what the future holds and grateful for your patience as we continue building intentionally behind the scenes. Just know that we’re still early, and there is so much more to come. And a huge thank you to Sonny for practicing, teaching, and learning with such depth and integrity that it naturally spread far and wide. Stay the course.

So I'm in Scotland's Western Highlands and Islands for a long weekend, having come up on the overnight sleeper train to Fort William. I paused the 7-Day Challenge at Day 3 on Friday, so I'm repeating Days 1, 2, and 3 while I'm up here, and resume at Day for when I get home on Tuesday. I do Day 1 in the harbour, it's quiet, not many people around. A beached lobster boat carries my daughter's name "Rebecca". I do Days 1 and 2 by memory: the air is sharp and clean, carrying the scent of Atlantic sea salt and kelp. In the fifty or so minutes I practice, the winter sun shifts over the foothills which part of the town clings to, the earth shifting yellow to red ochre patched with lichen grey-green as the shadows lengthen, the northern water an inky black shimmering gold and silver, slightly viscous in its coldness. The sharp air awakens my lungs, my blood, the flow of Qi; but my cold weather gear is restrictive, and my feet in running trainers struggle to ground in the shifting shingle. The tide is ebbing in, lifting Rebecca on her mooring. Some fishing boats start into port, not wanting to get in their way, I shift location. I do Day three facing west into the setting sun, shining primrose-gold through gunmetal clouds. Ahead of me are the isles of Eig, Rhum, and Skye: Skye's central mountains are snow-capped. Going west across the Atlantic, next stop Nova Scotia. As my gaze follows my hands the sea sunset shimmers, occasional seal and dolphin break the water making wake. This is the first time I've practiced out in nature. Facing west, I've taken off my North Face puffer jacket, gloves and scarf, just trainers, jeans, t-shirt and woollen jumper. Qi warms my body, only my hands feel cold in Wu Ji, Monkey, and Post. I'm reminded of teenage me, must have been what, '74, me 14 or 15? Overawed by terribly precocious Golden Flower meditations I wandered sensing, for the first time in my life, the Unity of Being. The feeling was sublime but uncanny, scared the hell out of me. I never practiced it again. Trying to run before I could walk. The story of my life. Perhaps now at 66 I am ready for it. Nearly. Or perhaps not.

Truman also enjoys the Tai Chi stick in the morning. So much so that he borrowed mine for awhile. Luckily he knows that the stick is only for the paws😄. If you have a little friend who likes to join you for practice, feel free to have them say hello if they aren't shy. 🐶🐈🦜🐍🦎🐢🐁

Good day to start something new from the north edge of Lake Erie, OH

🔔 Important 🔔 - Only comments on THIS THREAD will count toward the giveaway — make sure to post your check-ins right here each day. Check-ins posted elsewhere won’t be included. - The LAST DAY to enter the challenge is January 25th. The New Year, New Qi 10-Day challenge has officially started today! This is your daily check-in thread for the challenge — welcome and let’s flow into the new year together! 👇 Here’s how to check in each day 👇 ✅ Daily Check-In Instructions ✅ 1. Pick any practice video from the community. 2. State which day of the challenge you’re on (ex: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7). 3. How you felt before and after practice — just a short sentence for each. 4. Photo or video — snap a quick pic of your screen, your space, or yourself practicing. ✨Sample Check-In: - Day: 1 - Practice: Yin Yang Qigong - Before: Feeling tight and foggy - After: Calm, clear, and more open - (Photo or video attached) Complete all 10 days and you’ll be entered into a lucky draw — we’re choosing 3 winners. 🏆 1st Prize Includes 🏆 - $100 Gift Card - Premium Handmade Tai Chi Stick - Custom Rooted Alchemy Hoodie - 30-Minute Private Practice Session with Sonny Let’s do this!