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Tai Chi in Daily Life

March 25, 2018 By Arlene Faulk

Three stories from Tai Chi students in the last few days:

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One woman just completed her third class this week, a brand new student wanting to reduce anxiety and stress. When she first started, said she was the sole caretaker of her father, who has dementia, and it is very challenging every day. She has stresses at work and has to juggle competing schedules.

In the midst of class this week, I noticed she seemed at ease, relaxed in her body. After class I asked how Tai Chi was for her at this point. “After my first class, I went home, ate dinner did a couple things for the next day and went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, I realized that I forgot to take my anxiety-reducing medicine. And I felt great. I am in. Tai Chi is already helping me to reduce anxiety.”

walking

Another student told me she walks quickly down the sidewalk. A couple days ago, she wasn’t paying attention, hit an uneven sidewalk and almost fell. She said at that very moment she heard my voice saying pick up your foot and knee, then place your heel down, shift weight to the middle of that foot, then pick up the opposite foot and knee. . . Since then she has been mindful, as we are in class about walking slowing while paying attention.

Playing with his grandchild, one student told me he was very aware of shifting his weight side to side and front to back. “Applying the weight-shifting we use in class, I was able to move quickly, keep my balance and keep up with my grandson.”

How wonderful to hear these real-time benefits from Tai Chi applied in daily life. That’s the key – taking what we learn in class, gain tools to relax, to increase balance and live life more fully. And as the woman in the first story told me, “For the first time, I’m thinking I may be able to decrease my medicine dosage. Tai Chi could become my natural medicine.”

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Filed Under: Change, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Classes

Comments

  1. Denise k. says

    March 26, 2018 at 8:17 am

    I also struggle with anxiety and find tai chi to be extremely helpful. I am happy to hear these students stories. Happy they found tai chi and a wonderful teacher!

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.

Tai Chi student

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

Tai Chi student

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

Tai Chi student

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!

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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

Tai Chi student

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

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