Happy Monday, everyone! Wow. Our Live Session this past Friday was incredible. We had a beautiful mix of brand-new students, seasoned practitioners, and certified graduates tuning in from all corners of the globe, including the US, Europe, and Africa! It is profoundly inspiring to watch our community come together to share real-world teaching breakthroughs, discuss challenges, and support one another in the craft of instructing. Here is a high-level summary of the golden nuggets, breakthroughs, and actionable takeaways from our time together: 💡 Key Teaching Insights & Takeaways - Slowing Down the Mind: Several instructors noted that one of the greatest hurdles for modern students is simply slowing down and quieting a racing mind. We discussed using targeted breathing exercises, walking meditations, and sensory grounding work right at the start of class to help students drop into their bodies before moving. - The "Slow and Steady" Approach: A great question was raised about supporting a 500-lb student looking to reclaim his health. The collective wisdom? Meet students exactly where they are, celebrate their sheer presence at class, and anchor them in the idea that slow and steady wins the race. - Managing Mixed-Level Classrooms: We heard an excellent strategy from our instructor in Zimbabwe, who runs separate beginner tracks but seamlessly integrates new students into main group classes using heavy repetition, clear narration, and pairing up veterans to help guide the newer flows. - Adapting for Seniors & Limited Mobility: We celebrated a beautiful story about a 90-year-old student performing a modified form elegantly.  - Seated Tai Chi: We touched briefly on how the ischial tuberosities (your sit bones) serve as the vital root and foundation for power when a student cannot stand. - Trusting Body Memory: A newer student shared the common challenge of remembering sequence transitions. The veteran instructors on the call reminded all of us to stop trying to intellectualize the form. Tai Chi is built on repetition, relax, let go of the thoughts, and trust your body's muscle memory.

👋🏽 I'm excited to be here and looking forward to moving through the SOHMA program! As a new Qigong instructor, I was in search of a community of folks who are committed to Qigong and Tai Chi. It has impacted my life in the best way, and I get the privilege of interacting with folks several times a week who are experiencing amazing benefits in the classes I get to lead. I can't say enough about how much I love this practice and now I get to expand my knowledge, experience and connections here. I'm tickled to be part of this community!

Hello everyone! This is a reminder that our Monthly Live Zoom Meeting is happening this Friday! Whether you are practicing your forms in your living room, leading classes at a local community center, or polishing up your credentials as a certified graduate, I want to see you there. 🧐 This will be a special session for me. It’s my final Live Zoom from Oaxaca, Mexico for a while! Next month, I'll be coming to you live from Italy, so let's send off this Mexican chapter with some fun! 📅 When: Friday, May 22 at 6 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 9 PM Eastern (UTC-4)📍 Where: Join the Zoom Meeting Here What to bring: - Your Questions: No question is too basic or too advanced. Whether it’s about a specific 24-form transition, how to move through the Qigong sequence, or getting comfortable teaching, we’ll cover it! - A Little Space to Move: I’m hoping to have a few of you volunteer to demonstrate a move or two! It’s a completely safe, supportive space to get some real-time feedback and fine-tune your alignment. I’m really looking forward to catching up with all of you, hearing about your recent wins, and helping you over any hurdles. See you on Friday!

Hi, and welcome to SOHMA Tai Chi! I’m Dr. Daniel Hoover, the creator of the School of Healing Martial Arts and the SOHMA Tai Chi Instructor Certification Program. We’re excited to have you here as you build your practice, deepen your understanding, and work toward becoming a confident Tai Chi practitioner and/or a certified instructor. This community is your space to learn, ask questions, and grow alongside others on this path. How about you? Will you introduce yourself and share what you’re looking forward to in this program? I'm looking forward to learning with you, supporting your journey, and seeing you progress every step of the way. 🌿