(3-6-2026 -SEE BELOW FOR THE ATTACHED EMAIL TO OUR STUDENTS AT WATTS) Odie and I are working on an email to share with our students. We will discuss what we covered in 2025 with the handouts attached; and some new ideas for 2026 Tai Chi Chuan/Qigong classes. Thought you might want to do the same for the students you have taught or are teaching now. This gives something of a teaching plan for everyone. Here's most of what we sent them. ======================================================== Hello Tai Chi Family at Watts Towers. Last year we covered a lot and this year we hope to share with you some new and interesting ideas for yourself and perhaps family and friends. In the past we have gone through 24 Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Style. We have shared our personal Qigong/Exercises as well as The Eight Brocades, Five Animals and the Ten Qigong Form. Meditation Walking, Tai Chi Walking have been part of our Tai Chi Journey together. For some cardio we added some Capoeira and Maculele. We did some basic Wave Hands and hope to continue with the more advanced form of Wave Hands this year. As 2025 ended we showed you some hand qigong for improving your health as well as some cognitive hand exercises. We had hoped to do the individual videos of your Qigong, but there wasn't enough group participation to do that. Hopefully, you will be more willing to do it this year for your own health benefits. This year we want to bring in some Chess, Wave Hands, and more of what we have learned over the twenty plus years we have been learning and teaching. As a parent, I also want to send a shout out to Russell when was a teen he told me, "Mom, you shouldn't wear that, you don't look good in it anymore." I was surprised and then very thoughtful. So I joined the 24 Hour gym and got my old body back, so that he became proud of me and how I looked to him and his friends. That was a serious wakeup call for me. Odie and I hope that you are as healthy as we are when you are 77 and 88 years old. In fact we hope you are even healthier than us. We hope that you will consider becoming more involved, not just for yourself, but to share with your family and friends. Last year we had too many friends who realized at 60 years...it was nearly impossible for them to improve their health. Some are on walkers now. One can't even get out of bed by himself. Odie and I think about all those who can't get up for one reason or another and are determined to continue to do our best each and everyday possible.

Thanks to all for your encouragement during my first zoom meeting with you. I also like what Dr Hoover said about (not a direct quote): "if you demand something of your body, your body will adapt." And so, I am demanding more.... slowly, of course. 😁

We are thrilled to officially announce that @Louis Carrillo has become our newest SOHMA Tai Chi Certified Instructor! Louis has long been a leader in our community, always going above and beyond to help his fellow students and instructors. Beyond our school walls, he has been a vital force in spreading Tai Chi throughout Long Beach. He has been leading at our free community classes at Heartwell Park and teaching Tai Chi at the YMCA. I even learned that he has been substitute teaching for one of our other graduates at the JCC. We are incredibly grateful to have such a high-caliber instructor and dedicated leader among our ranks. Please join us in the comments in congratulating Louis on this massive achievement! 🐉✨

Sharing a moment from a Tai Chi class at Heartwell Park in Long Beach. Beach TV from Cal State University Long Beach was filming our class, and my kids decided they wanted to be right there with me. They were hanging on my leg, climbing on my back, laughing and playing throughout the recording. This was not the plan😅. Instead of stopping or trying to make it perfect, I just kept going. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHermRqy4NP/ This is Tai Chi in real life. Life is rarely quiet or controlled. Things pull at us, distract us, and interrupt our plans. The practice is not about perfection. It’s about staying rooted, balanced, relaxed, and present while continuing to move forward and having FUN! Flow with what shows up. Stay connected, and remember to have fun along the way 🌿☯️😊

Looking forward to reconnecting with Dr. Daniel Hoover and the SOHMA Tai Chi community.