Faulk TaiChi

Learn the beautiful, flowing movements for health and relaxation.

Summer Light

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What is special about summer for you? Many of us are eager to be outside, go for long walks by a lake or in a park, enjoy a picnic with our family, stroll through our neighborhood farmer’s market, attend an outdoor concert or a movie night on our lawn chair at a community gathering, watch boats glide along Lake Superior.

What do you like the most? The freedom of walking out the door in shorts and sandals, taking binoculars and camera to watch and listen to the birds, relaxing outside with friends over a glass of wine. All good possibilities. We think mostly about “doing”, being active because we have a sense of freedom to move around and go places when we know it will be light well into the evening.

We are in the season of Yang energy – activity, blossoming trees and flowers, bright colors, heat, light. While we are out “doing” we want to pay attention, enjoy the moment. Take it all in.

Recently my sister and I went to Starved Rock State Park in northern Illinois. It’s amazing to drive across flat terrain, rich farmland filled with corn and soybeans and then. . . huge trees, winding roads going up, up, up to a natural filled park. Looking out over a panorama of green trees as far as our eyes could see, we listened to a variety of singing birds, felt a summer breeze, marveled at small red berries we happened to see because we were still and paying attention to everything around us.


The sun shining brightly highlighted the various shades of green on the thousands of leaves surrounding us. It was mesmerizing, the stillness and calm of those moments. The light outside and how nature took it in, made it beautiful and we, in our stillness took it all in and thoroughly enjoyed the moments.

What moments of summer have made you feel this way?

Let’s Actively Welcome in Spring!

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This is an exciting time for most of us – more light in our days, warmer weather and a spring break holiday for some. Spring Equinox is the point in the year when we have equal times of daylight and darkness. And then the hours of light will predominate and the hours of darkness will lessen. Outside activities will increase and often we feel like we have renewed energy.

In Tai Chi class this week, I emphasized paying attention to the trees. We start class by centering ourselves, rooting our feet into the earth, connecting with the rich nutrients and energy the soil provides. Let’s all think of the trees that now have bare branches. The internal part of the tree is very busy preparing for new birth, which will soon be evident in new leaves, starting as buds and growing into their fullness.

Look at the spaces between the branches. Energy is flowing. Birds are returning to sit on those branches, their home. Those spaces will soon be filled with new leaves, new life, new promise that spring brings to the trees and to all of us. Are you ready to pay attention.

Look for the buds to sprout, the beginning of new life and renewal. Then as sure as anything we can count on in life, the trees will not disappoint. They will bloom in glory with green leaves. Be there. Say thank you and enjoy!

Celebrating Year of the Wood Snake

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People born in the Year of Snake are said to be resilient and courageous with strong interpersonal skills and leadership qualities. The wood element adds a layer of growth and creativity, because just as the Snake sheds its skin, this year represents the opportunity to renew oneself, embrace new possibilities and leave behind outdated ways.

What a fun, energizing afternoon Tai Chi students and friends had as we gathered on February 2 to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Come with us and feel our positive energy reach out to you.

We began by centering and cultivating positive energy with Michelle Bobier.

Letting go of our to-do lists we focused on standing in good alignment, breathing and stretching, moving our energy to enhance our physical and mental well-being. Ahhh. . .

Sarah Bernauer lead us in a discussion of opening chakras to enhance energy flow. We moved gently to feel the energy come up through our feet into our center and upper body. The image resonated because in Tai Chi we root our feet like a tree into the earth and bring up the nutrients and rich energy the earth provides.

Daniel Thatcher continued leading our energy movement with fundamental principles of Tai Chi — proper body alignment, methodically shifting our weight with intention, moving from our waist and hips rather than the upper body,

relaxing our knees as we stand with our weight equally distributed on our two legs. Look how centered and relaxed everyone is, focusing entirely on the moment and breathing.

In “The Movements of Magic – The Spirit of Tai Chi Ch’uan,” Bob Klein says: “Often in life, we are so caught up in concentrating on the past and future that we miss the present. And truly, the present is all that exists for us. We may think about the past or imagine the future but we can actually deal only with the present. In the present we have power.”

What a wonderful way to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year, breathing and moving in the present, being mindful of the moment.

Daniel, Sarah, Arlene, Michelle

A big thank you to Daniel, Sarah and Michelle!

Be Like Bamboo

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Our calendars have turned to a new year and we might be looking for some optimism, something to look forward to that will nourish our lives. The daily news hits us hard with natural disasters, ongoing wars, bird flu, and on and on.

I’ve been thinking about what I can do to make a difference, even in small ways, to positively impact my friends, family, my Tai Chi students and all those with whom I might interact. Maybe adopt a word for the year like kindness, patience, smile, listen. All good traits for us to share with people every day. Taking time to make a phone call, send a text, write a note, smile at a neighbor. Slowing down. Taking time for others.

However, I desire to have something to aspire to and it hit me in a flash, what that something could be. Bamboo. Be more like bamboo. Let’s consider together at that might look like.

Bamboo is a symbol for longevity. It always shows strength and grace, bends but does not break easily, is very versatile and flexible. It is a rapidly renewable resource. In Chinese philosophy, the straight stem of bamboo symbolized the path towards enlightenment, the segments of the stem being the steps along the way.

This artist’s painting of bamboo, shows the graceful nature of bamboo with its leaves a work of art, sprouting out from the stalks. The insides of bamboo are hollow, yet it can withstand rain and snow and grow with great vigor.

The uses of bamboo are numerous, from food for the pandas to creating paper from its pulp, to making furniture, flooring, clothing, bedding, fences, baskets and more. It’s versatility and flexibility are admirable.

So I want to be more like bamboo in 2025. Won’t you join me?

Letting Go

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Is your mind swirling with a to-do list that keeps getting longer and longer? Are you fearful about the current climate of we vs. they and where it might lead? Is AI going to make you obsolete? Do you reach the end of the day and ask yourself “What have I accomplished?” and don’t like your answer.

Do you feel like this —

but would like to feel like this ^
First . . . Breathe. Stop whatever you’re doing and take 30 seconds to breathe. Inhale. . . Exhale. . . Again, inhale, then exhale. Inhale . . . Exhale. One more time. Inhale. . .Exhale.
It’s summer so take a walk outside. Wander through a farmers market. Attend a free outdoor concert.

To relax your mind and body you have to let go of what you’re already doing or thinking about. When you walk, focus on how it feels to put one foot forward, shift your weight to it. How marvelous that one leg can manage the weight of our entire body! How marvelous it is to be able to walk!


Tai Chi is a wonderful practice to help us relax and let go. We learn to let go of what is spinning in our heads, focus our bodies and minds on gentle, flowing movements. We are like the trees rooted into the earth, connected with nourishing energy that flows up through our bodies. Being in the moment. Letting go.

Flowing Qi for Lunar New Year

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What a wonderful afternoon with Tai Chi students and friends celebrating Chinese (Lunar) New Year! We filled the afternoon with red and gold colors, Chinese snacks, learning about the Year of the Wood Dragon (we had several year of the dragon born people in the room!). Then for an hour+ we all moved our energy together through Tai Chi.

WinterJade Forest illuminated us with fun lore, traditions and history of the Chinese Zodiac system.

She explained that “in Chinese mythology , the Dragon is a powerful and auspicious creature representing courage, creativity and innovation. This portends a promising year, full of possibilities and opportunities. For those born in the Year of the Wood Dragon it will be a fantastic time to start a new business or to begin growing and expanding their hopes and dreams.”

Faulk Tai Chi students flowing through Yang style Tai Chi by Cheng Man-ch’ing

We celebrated the energy of the New Year with Tai Chi, starting with a demonstration with my students.

Then the entire group gathered to experience gentle Tai Chi principles and moves, led by Daniel Thatcher. His calm and clear instruction relaxed us and filled our bodies and the room with wonderful Qi. Qi is the vital energy or the life-force energy that keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health in balance.

As we closed everybody felt refreshed, renewed and re-energized. Ah, the quiet power of Tai Chi lifting us up, emptying out thoughts, feeling centered and ready to go out to our worlds. It’s two days since this New Year’s experience and I’m still feeling the energy.

One more thing — Although not part of our celebration I came across a creative Chinese food sculpture that I need to share. Happy New Year, Year of the Wood Dragon!