Faulk TaiChi

Learn the beautiful, flowing movements for health and relaxation.

Celebrating 25 Years!

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Wow, it’s amazing to be celebrating my 25th year of teaching Tai Chi! It is an honor and so humbling to teach a centuries-old practice that has transformed my life, helped me re-learn to walk, feel balance and stability and has been the main influence for getting off medications I took regularly in my 30’s and 40’s.

I’ve been so inspired by stories of many students, who, with courage and determination have managed pain, arthritis, stroke recovery, anxiety and stress, etc. through Tai Chi practice, coming to class when it wasn’t easy.

Faulk Tai Chi Class

Here’s a class in 2003 where the quiet energy and being in the moment come right through the stillness of the photo.

Chinese New Year Tai Chi

This photo is in the first Heartwood location on Maple and Davis, across from Bennison’s Bakery, (2004, I think)

Faulk Tai Chi

Tai Chi class at Heartwood on Dempster, around 2012, upstairs in what is now the Shrine Room. Our regular classes were in that room before we moved to the Skylight Room.

Chicago Tai Chi Testimonials

Chicago class in 2015 or 2016, dedicated students who shared great Tai Chi energy together at our class in the Fourth Presbyterian Church.

August, 25, 2024 — Celebrating 25 years in Evanston park at Lake and Chicago

After Tai Chi, a wonderful lunch at Chinese restaurant, Peppercorns, in downtown Evanston

At Peppercorns with Nancy Floy, Founder and Co-Director of Heartwood and Larry Akey, Director of Meditation Programs.

Thanks to Nancy for her vision, for bringing Heartwood to life and for leading me to Tai Chi. For all the individuals in these photos and for all others whose lives have crossed with mine through Tai Chi, our energy continues to connect across the miles. It’s a privilege to teach and share Tai Chi with you.

I’d love to hear your comments and memories of Tai Chi and how it’s positively impacted your life.

Yi directs Qi

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A few days ago one of my Tai Chi students told me that her concept and understanding of her energy has been changing through her experiences in class and what she has been learning. “I used to think that I have lots of energy or low energy but really didn’t feel it moving inside me or think about the quality of it. I think about my energy much more often now, reinforced by how I feel in our Tai Chi class, particularly when you ask us to feel the energy moving in our body before we relax after a move.”

With Tai Chi, the Yi (mind) directs the Qi (energy). We relax our minds and focus on one gentle movement at a time, which relaxes the body and puts us into the present moment. Our mind is paying attention to our body alignment, shifting our weight, turning from the hips and waist rather than the upper body.

With practice we tune into our own energy and learn how to relax, center and re-energize in a healthy way.

In the midst of the class I can feel the energy in the room shift. The to-dos, the decisions, the problems we might have had coming into the room are gone for now, for this moment.

Astute comment by the student and important learning. When we pay attention to the quality of our energy and take steps to improve the quality of what we have, our health will benefit. Ask yourself, what am I doing to enhance my energy? If that question is difficult to answer, take a step forward, now, for your energy, for your health.

Tai Chi with Friends in the Desert

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What a wonderful opportunity to spend time last week with 10 college friends in Palm Springs! These special women are sorority sisters and the bond of friendship spans over five decades. For me, going to a setting with consistent sunny skies, low 80s temperatures and an easy pace was just the calm energy that nourished my body and spirit.

My friends wanted to experience Tai Chi, which was music to my ears as I love to lead others in the graceful moves, calming, yet energizing practice of Tai Chi and QiGong. I could feel our energy soften, turn to the moment and there we connected through our breath and through visualizing our roots like a tree reaching deep into the earth. My friends loved the walk backward practice, keeping feet parallel, hip-width apart. I mentioned a talk I recently viewed on YouTube saying that walking backwards is an excellent practice from improving balance. Plus, I find it very relaxing and enjoyable.

Along with Tai Chi we had lots of good conversation and wonderful food. On Halloween night we went to Sammy G’s and most of us wore pink to honor Barbie.

View of Palm trees from terrace at Bongo Johnny’s

The deep blue sky, palm trees, mountains and sandy-colored ground and buildings were a great backdrop for surrounding us with beauty and happiness to be right where we were. We commented how wonderful it was to not be scheduled, to share fun stories and also life challenges. Friends are so important to our well-being and the best part — we laughed a lot. A LOT. That was the best of all.

Awe-Inspiring Trees

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A consistent mantra I have with my students is to encourage them to do Tai Chi by or near a tree. Not only do trees represent important principles of Tai Chi — balance, rootedness, flexibility — they also give us energy. They are at work bringing up moisture and nutrients from the earth, helping to cleanse our air, giving us shade, central to the rhythms of nature.

I spent a few days last month in the north woods of Minnesota. I had been to Sandstone for a Tai Chi retreat a few years ago, but this time I was farther north, up in the Duluth area. I knew I was in for something special when flying in because all I could see were trees blanketing the landscape. These trees are breathtaking, making me want to be near them, with their pole-shaped trunks, green leaves and height so tall I could barely see the tops.

My body was drawn to be with the trees and to play my Tai Chi amongst them. The leaves shimmed in the sunlight, the stillness seeped into my mind. The silence was awesome. There was only the moment. I felt graceful, and flowing and was right where I wanted to be.

Little wildflowers were at my feet. I felt surrounded by peace, light and nourishment. Time stopped. it was magical.

Shimmering Leaves

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Where I live in live in the midwest part of the United States, the trees and bushes continue to show us spring and new life, with small buds, leaves and blossoms. The tulips are up, standing erect with their tall with their slender green stems and some of the pansies are still smiling back at us.

In Tai Chi class we bring intention and attention to the present moment, to how we are standing and moving, to our alignment and our breathing. The Tai Chi Classics say that our internal energy, Qi, roots in the feet, transfers through the legs, is commanded by the waist, moves up the back, then through arms and flowers in the hands and fingers.

That’s like the trees. Think about all the work they do to bring up nutrients and energy from the earth, through their trunk and branches and flower at the tips, with leaves and blossoms. I start every class asking students to stand with legs and feet parallel, hip-width apart. We shift our weight slightly forward, then to the center, to the outside, inside of the feet, returning to center. We move in a small circular motion, visualizing our feet connected to the earth, feeling the energy and bringing it up through the entire body, flowering in the hands and fingers.

I love that image because we become like the trees, particularly at this time of year, when the leaves are new. The new leaves are a light green and have a shimmering quality. New life and a new season, nourishment and renewed energy.

Walking outside after class in downtown Chicago this week, right in front of me were city trees, with new leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Take a minute to really look at these trees. What a message they are giving us with new life, a new chapter and season. Let us pay attention and start a new season for ourselves, thinking about possibilities, a new way to move forward and nourish ourselves