Tai Chi

Tai Chi is one of the pillars of my life, and I have been practicing it for 35 years.  I was drawn to the sight of groups of people doing Tai Chi demonstrations. There they were, waving their arms and hands around in harmony, and their feet, shifting the weight, moving at 45 degrees and then straight ahead. I was charmed by those videos of seniors in China out in the morning doing their Tai Chi.  All so graceful and fascinating. So when I saw an ad in the local community newspaper inviting people to a free class at the Tai Chi club I was there, and I have been there ever since.

 I aim to attend classes twice a week at the club. On winter evenings, this can mean I have to give myself a serious kick to get out the door. But I know it is what my body needs and my spirit says so too! It is not my only form of exercise, I like walking and cycling but Tai Chi as an exercise provides something beyond getting the heart going: flexibility and balance. As I get older these are more of a challenge and even more necessary. There are scientific studies on other health benefits, such as lymph circulation and massaging the internal (organs that is!)  But I just do and I know it works for me.

The best chance for me to stick with an exercise practice is to find one that suits me and that I enjoy.  Oh, I get tired of Tai Chi sometimes and ticked off with the instructors’ corrections. But being taught and listening, focusing, and carrying out instructions are good lifelong disciplines for me.

During Covid, my Tai Chi has been severely disrupted. Our clubs closed down and we were encouraged to continue our practice at home.  Hmmm, sadly, that is very hit and miss for me.  Apparently, I need accountability!   So I am so grateful that some members got together in a park twice a week to do Tai Chi and they invited me to join them.  We don’t have an instructor; we just do the foundation exercises and the set and we chat – with masks and at a distance.  Our group has been buffeted around with lockdowns, off and then on again.  Now, as I write this we are once more on hold – we are only allowed to be five people outside in a group. So no waving hands like clouds in the park with my Tai Chi buddies for now.