What’s New at the Studio

Greetings, everyone,

Spring is in the air—emerging grass, budding leaves, and birdsong all around. The energy of renewal is everywhere, including here at the studio.

In this issue: update on the start of T’ai Chi in the Park; the opening and sign-up for the Pushing-Hands class; and a photo gallery from our Lunar New Year celebration. We also feature an important article by Stephen May on avoiding injuries in your T’ai Chi practice, along with a recent New York Times piece on T’ai Chi walking.

There’s more to explore. Enjoy the season, and we look forward to seeing you at the studio.

—Paul

Milestone Moments

Happy 87th birthday to Grandmaster Wai-lun Choi! March 29, 1937. With gratitude for your teaching and positive influence on our studio.

Congratulations to studio member Todd Nesser and his wife, Amy Sparks, on the birth of their granddaughter, Rose.

Highway 280 Closing

Beginning April 13, construction will close northbound Highway 280. Then southbound Highway 280 will also close a few weeks after that. Energy Park Drive will be reduced to one lane in both directions under Highway 280. Cross streets will remain open.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will resurface Highway 280, repair bridges, repair and resurface ramps, and make additional improvements.

Detours:

I-35W or I-35E will be the best alternate route for most trips while Highway 280 is closed. A regional map with detours is posted on the MnDOT project web page. This closure will likely impact travel time to the studio, so plan accordingly.

A Grand Celebration

This year’s Lunar New Year Potluck was a vibrant celebration of color, cuisine, and community. The Year of the Fire Horse sparked a creative spirit throughout the studio, bringing members, families, and friends together in a joyful and memorable way.

Libby Frost, our event coordinator, wove together the many moving parts that allowed the evening to unfold smoothly. As she reflected, “Lots of these folks did more than what those couple of words say [by their names]. I got so much support—and that’s what kept things moving forward. It was always great to hear someone say, ‘I’ll take it from here.’” That spirit of stepping up and supporting one another was felt throughout the evening.

We’re grateful to everyone who came to celebrate, brought food to share, and contributed their time and energy to make the event such a success.

A special thank-you as well to those who generously gifted me with Hong Bao (red envelopes). Your kindness and support are deeply appreciated.

—Paul

Click here to see the Potluck photo album.

With Gratitude to Our Many Helpers

A special note of appreciation to Todd Nesser, whose creative vision helped bring the entire event to life. From this year’s poster and Fire Horse logo to the floor plan, table lantern designs, banners, and lighting, Todd’s work shaped the visual spirit of the celebration in countless ways.

We also extend heartfelt thanks to the many members who contributed across all aspects of the event—setup, cleanup, logistics, and coordination:

Setup & Coordination

Mary Sellers, Tim Dennis, Steve Silver, Linda Hermanson, Ralph Jerndal, Jim Dahl, Steve Libbey, Andy Hamerlinck, LaVonne Bunt, Kim Husband

Cleanup & Closing

Barbara Sobocinski, Jaan Sharma Pathak, Sierk Oudemans, Jon Carlson, Andy Hamerlinck, LaVonne Bunt, Kim Husband

Logistics & Support

Amy Sparks (video), Tom Hautman (refreshments and setup), Chris Knudtson (tables, setup, cleanup), Craig Cox and Lynn Dennis (red envelopes), Lynn Scott and Barry Brahier (compost and recycling), Karen Zeleznak (name tags), Elinor Hsu (directions), Craig Upright (food table coordination)

May the spirit of the Fire Horse continue to inspire our practice and our community in the year ahead. Thank you all for being part of such a memorable evening.

On Injuring Oneself

by Stephen May

When new students first come to the studio, I ask if they have done anything like T’ai Chi before. Often the answer is either “no” or “some yoga.” But sometimes they have come from another martial art, such as taekwondo or karate. They report injuries that have made it impossible to continue with the art they studied for so long, but they still want to remain active. The gentleness of T’ai Chi appeals to them, and they want to give it a try. Little do they know that injuries are possible even in T’ai Chi, and, ironically, they are usually self-inflicted, often as a result of incorrect practice. The following gives a few examples and is far from exhaustive.

Click here to read the whole story.

Excellence in Our Community

Studio member Daniel Polsfuss produced a new video for the Irish rock band Boiled in Lead. The music video, “King of the Dogwoods,” was screened Saturday March 21 at the Parkway theater in Minneapolis during Boiled in Lead’s concert celebrating 40 years together and their new album release.

Studio member Ruthann Godollei will have artwork in a group exhibit: Resilience.
April 3 thru May 16, 2026, at Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 W Lake St., Minneapolis.

Walk This Way

Understanding the Practice of T’ai Chi Walking

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

The health benefits of T’ai Chi have been recognized for centuries in China. Today, modern science is catching up. Each year, more than a hundred medical studies explore and confirm what practitioners have long experienced: T’ai Chi can improve flexibility, balance, and mobility. It supports heart health, calms the nervous system, and quiets the mind, fostering a deeper sense of well-being. This growing body of research is also beginning to illuminate why these effects occur, offering insight into the physiological processes behind the practice.

The T’ai Chi Solo Form is the central practice of T’ai Chi and offers the most comprehensive benefits—but it takes time to learn. In response, shorter forms and focused practices have emerged, isolating specific elements of the art. One such practice, now gaining wider attention, is T’ai Chi Walking.

T’ai Chi Walking is rooted in traditional training and highlights a fundamental element of T’ai Chi footwork known as the empty step. In ordinary walking, we move through a subtle, controlled fall—our weight transferring quickly from one foot to the other. In T’ai Chi Walking, the foot is placed slowly and “empty,” without weight, before the body gradually settles into it. Practiced in this way, walking becomes deliberate, quiet, and highly controlled.

Over time, T’ai Chi Walking can cultivate improved balance, reduce the risk of falling, and evoke a calm, centered state of mind.

A recent New York Times article explores what T’ai Chi Walking is—and what it is not. The article is reproduced below, along with a link to the original piece, which includes video demonstrations of the practice.

Click here to read the whole story.

T’ai Chi in the Park

Every spring, summer, and into the fall, beginning May 14, our Thursday-evening T’ai Chi Solo Form class moves outdoors to Hampden Park (993 Hampden Ave., St. Paul, MN 55114), not far from the studio, under the large linden tree at the southeast end of the park.

In case of bad weather, class will be moved to the studio. Please check the studio website and Facebook page for cancellation notices.

Practicing T’ai Chi out in nature is a deep and enjoyable experience.

The Thursday Pushing-Hands class will continue in the park after the Solo Form class (see the schedule below).

• The 5:30 pm period is for those who haven’t finished learning the Solo Form. Come at that time if you’d like to get corrections and learn some new movements, work on other practices, or just meet to socialize.

• The T’ai Chi class begins at 6:00 pm with a short lesson or movement practice followed by warm-ups and Qigong.

• We do a full Solo Form together, finishing around 7:15 pm

• A 15- to 20-minute weapons review follows.*

• The T’ai Chi Pushing-Hands class will begin at 7:30.

• A 12 Animals practice/review (for those who know it) follows the Pushing-Hands class.

* There may be a slight overlap between weapons review and the Push-Hands class. Those reviewing their weapons forms may join the Push-Hands class in session after their weapons practice.

Graduation News

Congratulations to Bruce Goff, Andy Hamerlinck, Suzanne Leung, Sierk Oudemans, Karl Schaefer, and Steve Silver for completing a course in learning the T’ai Chi Cane Form.

Sign Up for Pushing-Hands

Partner practices such as Pushing-Hands (Tui Shao) and the T’ai Chi Symmetries are an integral part of the Twin Cities T’ai Chi curriculum. These two-person exercises develop awareness, tactile sensitivity, and an applied understanding of the principles and applications within the Solo Form.

There will be a sign-up sheet at the studio if you are interested in starting the beginning Pushing-Hands class. We need a minimum of 10 members to sign up to begin the class.

Prerequisites: Current membership with regular class attendance, completion of the Solo Form, and at least six months of consistent Solo Form practice after completion of the form sequence.

Current Class Schedule

Monday
T’ai Chi Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm (also Zoom)
Qigong and Meditation 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Tuesday
T’ai Chi Symmetries Levels 1 thru 7, 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Advanced Symmetries 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Wednesday
Beginning Solo Form Fundamentals 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
Beginning Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
T’ai Chi Weapons: T’ai Chi Cane 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Thursday
Solo Form 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Weapons Review 7:15 pm – 7:30
Beginning Push-Hands 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Saturday
Beginning Solo Form Sections 2 and 3, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Common Warm-Up & Qigong 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Beginning Solo Form Section 1, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Solo Form 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm (also Zoom)

Contact Us

For timely updates, follow Twin Cities T’ai Chi Ch’uan on Facebook. Email: mail@tctaichi.org Website: tctaichi.org Phone: 651.767.0267.
All articles and other content created by Paul Abdella unless otherwise noted.