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Lessons from a Tree

January 25, 2013 By Arlene Faulk

Last week a semester of Tai Chi ended for my sophomore and senior high school students. We started in September, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as part of the school’s innovative PE/Wellness program, in their regular curriculum and schedule of classes.

I love their young energy and love the opportunity to expose them to a wonderful practice that can help them relax, help them have better posture, particularly when carrying their heavy backpacks. I include hand and finger stretches, which I tell them are important in counteracting the repetitive finger movements used on a computer or in texting. They like those exercises; they tell me they help a lot.

As part of the last class, I introduced a type of ‘pop quiz’ on Tai Chi principles and applications. This exercise was designed to see what they learned and more importantly, to reinforce the important principles of Tai Chi that they can use in their daily lives.

Everybody got this question right:

Tai Chi is a moving art because:   (Check one)

__it has dance-like moves              __it’s visually appealing

__it’s not based on science             __it’s similar to a tree

Although I often hear the comment that Tai Chi is beautiful to watch because it looks like a flowing dance, that’s not it. It’s a moving art and beautiful because ‘it’s similar to a tree.’ We start each class by standing with our legs/feet hip-width apart and parallel, knees slightly bent, weight equally distributed on each leg. We shift our weight to the balls of our feet, back to center, on the outside of the feet, then inside of the feet, then back to center. Pressing our feet into the floor we start to move slowly around, to the left, the center, the right.

“Visualize your legs and feet like the trunk of a tree, sprouting roots deep into the earth. We can move around, sway in the wind but not be thrown off our center (unless our weight goes back on our heels),” I say to the students.

A sturdy, tall tree is a common image in Tai Chi, because we want the connection with the earth that a tree has. We want to be rooted and connected deep into the earth, because it helps us stand straight and tall on the earth. We are rooted and also lifted by our center of gravity and a little string, gently pulling us up from the top, center part of our head.

The kids got that this semester and I see them now with much better posture, when standing and walking than when they started in September. The best thing is that they see and feel it, too. Their view of a tree has forever changed – they know they are connected to it.

Feel free to share

Filed Under: Change, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi Tagged With: earth energy, improving posture, rooted like a tree

Arlene Faulk

Arlene Faulk

After a years-long struggle to understand and conceal debilitating symptoms while I ascended the corporate ladder, I found comfort and healing through Tai Chi and Chinese Medicine.

My memoir, Walking on Pins and Needles, is the story about the power to control our lives and move in the direction of possibility. Read more...

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FROM TAI CHI STUDENTS

Tai Chi makes me feel calm, yet energized. Because of my practice, the small irritants of life affect me less.

Tai Chi student

I had back surgery, was in pain and had little range of motion. Tai Chi practice at Heartwood has helped me increase flexibility, my range of motion and my overall stamina.

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Arlene teaches the Tai Chi form in such a gentle and connected way that many movements now feel utterly natural and healing.

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I've even shared some of the exercises with my bike club to help reduce injuries. They really work!

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I've always been a klutz and have regularly lost my balance and fallen when walking outside. Arlene taught me how to stand and walk properly through Tai Chi. I really can't believe it: I haven't fallen in four years since I've been taking Tai Chi with Arlene!

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I love Arlene's Tai Chi classes. She helps us understand not only what we're doing, but also why we're doing it. That really helps me take what I learn in class and apply it to my daily life.

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I'm really inspired by what Tai Chi has done for Arlene. She is a great teacher, who is calm and very patient. She has really helped me not to be so hard on myself.

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I play golf and had a lesson after school, on the same day we had Tai Chi class. My coach commented, 'Your posture is amazing and all of the balance issues that we have been fighting for so long seem to have just taken a vacation.' I mentioned to him that I thought it was due to Tai Chi.

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Tai Chi relaxes your entire body and promotes peace and proper breathing. The more I manage to breathe properly while doing any activity in my life, I generally tend to do a lot better at it. I benefited from Tai Chi because it managed to help me with my breathing skills even more.

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Tai Chi really gives my body strength to put up with the pains of my breast cancer and back problems. Tai Chi is 'sneaky'. You don't think it's helping, but eventually you realize it's helping you.

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For me, Tai Chi brings comfort and quiet amidst all the chaos and change.

Becky, Tai Chi student

In just a few months, the practice has become perhaps the most nurturing element in my life during COVID times, when sustaining a commitment to anything else has been challenging.

Barb, Tai Chi student

The community Tai Chi has provided has been a gift. With so much we can now do whenever we wish --- with an app, YouTube video, or streaming service --- meeting weekly (via zoom) in real time, live, to practice Tai Chi creates true community.

David, Tai Chi student

I really enjoy our time together and I've found Tai Chi a great way to "keep moving," not only during this pandemic but also as a regular practice with a wonderful integration of mind, body and spirit.

Martha, Tai Chi student

Tuning into the class and seeing familiar faces of the other students brings a nice sense of community and connection during this time of separation and isolation.

Julia, Tai Chi student

I love the walking practice because it helps me slow down and focus only on the moment.

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Tai Chi has made me aware of how I’m standing and where my weight is. My balance is improving.

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I hear Arlene saying to listen to my body and only do what I can do. That helps me relax.

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