I’m enjoying learning tai chi. However, I feel like I’m bouncing from one class to the other. I’ve done the seven day challenge, and I’ve done brocade and I’ve done ocean stepping a few times. Is there another seven day challenge that I should be looking at or is the Hunt and Peck method the way to go? Mike

February is here, and our beautiful community continues to grow — steady like a seed in the ground, growing from its roots 🌱 Let’s give a warm welcome to our new fellow practitioners! 💡 For our existing members: "What part of your Tai Chi or Qigong practice are you currently focusing on?" (I'll start first, I’ve been pretty consistent with my Qigong practice so far. Now I want to dedicate more time to Tai Chi, especially the Beijing 24 Form💪) @Leigh Bavota @Tony Arruza @Fawnda Cox @Ron Smith @Patricia Van Asperen @Jeannette Jennings @Aliza Heckert @James MacQueen @Al Penna @Michael Domingos @Brian DeFiore @Mike Diboll @Shirley Biggs @Jorge Garza @Eric R @Michele Carey @Elaine Reid @Fiona Gilham-Jones @John McColgan @Dan Rosato @Kate Christian @Judith Gilsing @Alan Everett @Michelle Harden @David Sutter @Rob Norwick @Mark Olson @Kevin Redekop @Ashley Ashley @Randall Bass @Jessie Haase

Hey everyone, whether you’re starting fresh because you just arrived or you’re restarting like me to re-establish your practice, this is our spot. The 7-day challenge always feels more grounding when we move together, so this post will stay pinned for our daily check-ins. Let’s show up, keep it simple, and take it one day at a time. ✅ How to Check In Each Day After you finish your practice, follow these three steps: 1. State which day of the challenge you’re on. Example: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, etc. 2. How you felt before and after. One short sentence for each. 3. Screenshot or photo: A quick picture of your screen, TV, or you practicing. Feel free to leave encouragement for others. A little support goes a long way. ✨ Sample Check-In 1. Day: 1 2. Before: Feeling tight 3. After: Calm and relaxed 4. (Photo attached)

There is much that we can discuss and study when it comes to posture, but first we want to understand that posture is as much reaction as it is intention. It is something we have present when we stand, sit, and walk which is one of the reasons we discuss the Three Treasures of walking, standing and sitting so much in qi gong and tai ji. Posture is also intrinsically connected to our breath and sense of our space(internal and external). For these reasons we want to develop a more accepting, logical and practical understanding of posture as we study these arts. Certain aspects of our posture we can affect right away, like our focus, tongue to pallet, and grounding the feet. Others will take time, like core stability, leg strength, and greater awareness of center(of mass). Qi gong training improves all of these qualities naturally so postural improvements are part of the "rising tide" as well as one of the ships being risen. So what are some important, real time cues you can make to improve posture across all areas. Yi Dao Xian | Awareness finds the horizon - Lift gently from the crown of the head and suspend the head top. Eyes rest at level that should be able to rest in your space as if reading a book as well as glancing out to find the horizon as if on a plain, ship or peak. Head on a swivel. Like walking backwards, a lot of new information can come from the panorama. Tongue to pallet -internal postural awareness connected to breath, neck and jaw health. This is an ongoing aspect of our practice. Greater awareness to this area will bring benefits in both the short and long term. In taoist physical theory, tongue gently, yet firmly suctioned to the pallet was the neutral resting place of the tongue at all times. Don't over worry about the challenge this may or may not present in your practice. The body is deeply aware of how to manage these inputs. Simply allow that intention to become part of our practice in its own way. And as always, Relax, Be Present, Listen, Follow & Flow.

Hi Rooted Alchemy family! We’re excited to share that we’ll be having a live Qi Talk session with Sonny! 🗓 When: Friday, Jan 30th at 5:00 PM (PST) This is a relaxed, open conversation space where you can bring your questions, curiosities, and reflections around Tai Chi, Qigong, philosophy, training mindset, or how these practices show up in your everyday life. 💬 If you have a question or topic you’d love to explore, please drop it in the comments here. That way, Sonny can review them and help guide the conversation with intention, creating a richer experience for everyone. We’d love to see you there and share this space together 🌱