More From Alumni

“Taiji explores the dynamic, as experienced in an instant. Practice explores the becoming, as transformed into being.”
—Jack Chambers (2012)

“Inner Reflection is a constant battle between willingness and resistance. What make me willing and why do I say or feel NO. Fun debates always surround this issue and one avenue that I take to discover more answers is Tai Chi.
Life is a mystery and it’s a constant collection of courage, acceptance of love, understanding when to figure things out and when to let go. Working with fear is also a part of creating acceptance and/or change. Having the inner reflection or movie screen helps to gain understanding so there is no more fear. One realizes there is a choice of doing something or to sit still and allow. The body is the most physical part of being here and to bring an inner experience out to our bodies is one challenge, maybe it’s the hardest challenge of all. Tai Chi is a beautiful way to experience the inner world and bring it out to the body for the body to feel connection and possible change”
—Jan Taylor (2012)

“I am practicing Tail Chi because I need to regain balance and a sense of myself moving in space. Also I am drawn to the cultural foundation of Tao Te Ching and I Ching within which Tai Chi developed. Mostly though I am practicing Tai Chi with Gu Feng Tai Chi Club because the way we practice Tai Chi to selected Chinese music is so very beautiful and emotionally engaging.”
—Rowan Murphy (2012)

“I chose to practice tai chi because I thought it would be good for me, and not too difficult to do while still challenging me. It has much more depth and value than I ever imagined it would, and is a lot more challenging than I expected too. I thought I could learn tai chi and become good at it within a year or two, but now I think it will take more than my whole life to really learn all of the depth and wisdom it has to offer. I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn such an incredible art in such a sincere environment, and the benefits of practicing and learning tai chi are already much more than I had hoped I could get. It’s a humbling experience, and it’s good for my soul, and those benefits even reach those who are a part of my life.”
—Keith Dunnigan (2010)

“Tai Chi is a great teacher. It teaches me to listen inside to move on the outside. It teaches me to extend to the tips of my body without losing my center. There is gentleness and fierceness. There is spaciousness and flow. It is beautiful. It teaches me to be patient and persistent. And to accept where I am when I am none of these things I’ve described.”
—Jan Vanderlinden (2010)

“After witnessing Master Ding’s live Tai Chi presentation, it is very clear to me why I practice. He gave me so much to aspire to, being so full of life and physically fit in his 80’s. If I can attain even a fraction of his accomplishments then my Tai Chi practice will have served me well.”
—Linda Kasper (2010)

“A very famous Greek man once said, “Know Thyself”. Tai Chi has enabled me to learn more about myself than any other single thing I can think of. How I move my body, deal with life situations, and deal with the world in general, have all been tremendously influenced by Tai Chi. It has taught me the importance of balance and not to go outside the “Tai Chi Circle”.
Tai Chi is a part of my total being.
And, Oh yea…it is fun!”
—Michael Kasper (2010)

“I came to Tai Chi because my wife and I were looking for an activity that we could do together. I stay because I appreciate the beauty of the art, and the camaraderie of the club members. Tai Chi also complements my meditation practice, and has provided me a small, but interesting glimpse into Chinese culture and customs.”
—Robin Hodge (2008)

“Sunday morning Tai Chi classes represent a very much fun and calming time for me to spend with my husband and a very wonderful group of people under a direction of a superb teacher, Dr. Laura Ting.”
—Boba Stankov (2008)

“Eight years ago I had a significant head injury. After a few years of focus on recouping as many brain cells as I could I found I had a significant problem with my hand eye coordination and felt very “out of body”.
Through Tai Chi I have had tremendous gains in coming back into my body.
There is always someone to observe doing forms, and always several people to ask for assistance when I have questions.
I have good days, I have bad days. The one constant since becoming a member of the Gu Feng Tai Chi club is that I ALWAYS feel better at the end of practice than I did at the beginning.
Through the program my meditations have deepened, my skiing improved greatly, and I never fall over waiting in line at the grocery store anymore! ! !
I feel the deepest thanks and respect for all of the members and instructors, it is a very close knit group, more like family.”
—Phil Londal (2008)

“I have found the ongoing process of learning tai chi to improve my focus and sense of humor at work, my balance and efficiency at sports, and overall comfort at everyday activities.”
—Martin Muggli (2008)

“I started diligently practicing Chinese martial arts shortly after moving to Massachusetts in 1997. This included tai chi, but the emphasis was mostly on external styles (primarily kung fu/wushu). In 2004, my wife and I moved to Colorado and I decided to pursue my PhD in electrical engineering at CSU. Due to the time commitments of school, some back problems I began to experience, and a desire to refocus my Way in the martial arts, I decided that a tai chi only school was my best option. While I don’t practice as much as I’d like to, tai chi still helps to provide some balance to my life, and is certainly helping with body awareness to overcome my back issues.”
—Jason Fritz (2006)

“Tai Chi is the way that I can bring myself into my body, to explore the dynamic between my breath, movement, balance, mind and spirit. It is very helpful to calm me down and for the rehabilitation of my brain injury and PTSD.”
—Shing-Jiuan Liau (2005)

“In the last seven years I had been under tremendous work and family related stress. Having changed two jobs and my wife have had a life threatening health problem, I have found TaiChi to be a grate discipline that helped me to cope with my stress. Since the year 2001 I have been practicing TaiChi and this helps me to balance my body and mind in an integrated way, as well as been an internal martial art, when practice as an internal exercise, has many health benefits, which I have been benefiting from. I thank Laura Ting and all the instructors from the Gu Feng Tai Chi Club for the excellent and unconditional help that I received during these last years.”
—Miguel Villasenor (2005)