Mission Statement: Tai Chi East-West Alliance (TEA) as a non-profit organization provides safe and beneficial exercise and relaxation programs based on the integration of the ancient internal energy arts of Qigong and Tai Chi and contemporary knowledge of health, wellness, and longevity.

Our vision is that:

• Individuals, organizations, and companies that have a desire for non-traditional and culturally rich programming in the internal energy arts and other wellness related areas are able to find programs with educated and experienced instructors who promote safe and beneficial programs in appropriate environments.
• Children, teens, and young adults find programs to improve mental concentration, focus, creativity, and productivity, to reduce tension, anxiety, depression, anger, and fatigue, to realize that we have the response-ability to choose how we react to what is going on around us.
• People with chronic illnesses, stress disorders, or injury rehabilitation needs find safe and simple programs that improve their mind, body and spirit.
• Our aging population will be able to experience integrated eastern and western wellness practices for the improvement of the quality of their life and therefore reduce the government burden on health care costs.
• Internal arts students who wish to “offer the teaching” of the ancient internal energy arts have opportunities to become certified instructors and are professionally supported so as to make more programs available to serve the population.

Bending Tree Tai Chi Kung was formed by Jude Forsyth in March of 2004. Bending Tree first taught Tai Chi forms from the Nam Hoa Temple and then included forms from the Tai Chi for Health program. In December 2007, instructors and students formed the non-profit organization called Tai Chi East-West Alliance (TEA), the purpose being to ultimately convert Bending Tree to a charitable, tax-exempt, organization. In April 2009, TEA completed its purchase of Bending Tree from Jude, and began doing business as Bending Tree.

Effective December 5, 2007, Tai Chi East-West Alliance, "doing business as" (dba) Bending Tree, was determined to be a 501(c)(3) tax exempt orgainzation by the Internal Revenue Service. Click here for a copy of the IRS Determination Letter. Donations are tax deductible.

Our Tai Chi Center is located at Church Point Commons, 1716 Pleasure House Rd, Virginia Beach, near the intersection of Northampton Blvd (between Northampton and Independence Blvd). Click here for a map. The easiest entrance into the center is to turn in at Thoroughgood Square as if you were going to the Adam Thoroughgood House. Make an immediate U-turn back toward Pleasure House Rd and turn right immediately into Church Point Commons.

You can phone us at 757-318-WELL (9355).

Mailing Address:
Bending Tree Tai Chi Kung
1716 Pleasure House Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23455