Listening to our Body Archives

Why Tai Chi – Why Now?

August 15, 2025 By Arlene Faulk

Why not? Kids are returning to school. Summer outside activities are in full-swing but it won’t be long until we shift into an autumn mode and in many climates, more inside activities will predominate. Although decades have passed since I was that child looking forward to a new school year, so excited to shop for my school supplies, including paper, pencils, eraser and ruler (showing my age!), I still feel that anticipation of looking forward to starting the school year.

I hope as adults we can generate that excitement for ourselves, for new activities and new learning. It should never get old.

NOW is a good time. A good time to commit to new learning. A good time to bring nourishment to our bodies and clear out all the clutter and chatter in our heads. I’m partial to saying “now” to Tai Chi because I know first-hand how beneficial it is for relaxing, managing anxiety, chronic health conditions and improving balance.

Why Tai Chi now? Because putting off, saying ‘maybe later’ could easily lead to doing nothing at all. Gear up and say ‘yes’. You don’t need any equipment nor special clothing, just youself and an open mind. I have classes you can join now, or, if you aren’t physically close, look for a class or start with a YouTube video.

You can join these students who have said already said ‘yes’. Recommend a class to a friend or come together. I’d like to hear from you.

I’m making my plea for action because I’m in my 26th year of teaching Tai Chi and I’m passionate about Tai Chi. As a teacher I know the distance can be very long from saying you want to take a Tai Chi class and getting out the door to go to a class. So many people say they are interested in learning how to relax, do something positive for their health, take a class and don’t because something else comes up. Don’t let that be you.

Tai Chi – NOW is your time. NOW is our time.

Facing Barriers

August 12, 2022 By Arlene Faulk

This lively, engaging discussion about themes in my book Walking on Pins and Needles continues to resonate with me. It’s so evident that our lives are filled with stories that often include common themes when we reveal our story to others.

Here we are on a July 2022 afternoon, gathered in West Des Moines, Iowa, in a lovely living room. Most women did not know each other and we had an age range from 30’s to 80’s. What a great group! As I talked about my story, from my recently published memoir, I saw heads nodding up and down. We were connecting on a number of issues.

Facing barriers seemed to be a subject that resonated with everybody — “my doctor doesn’t believe me”; “I know I’m not making up the pain I’m feeling”; “what to do when no medication seems to work or the mounting side effects are worse than the condition they’re supposed to treat” “I can’t say anything at work because my skills and competency will be questioned.;” Being open about the barriers I faced helped others do the same and not feel alone. That is a big deal, not feeling alone.

Another of my themes was to keep going. Fear can keep us from trying something new, out of our comfort zone. And yet, we need to face our fears, do our homework and take a step forward, even when uncomfortable. What I learned through my experience is that we often fear what we don’t know. It holds us back. Think about this — the unknown, where we might go with trepidation is where the possibilities are. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with a practitioner of Chinese medicine, with Tai Chi. I jumped into the arena anyway. It changed my life. I could never have imagined that I could be healthy as I am today, because I didn’t know the possibilities. I jumped and the possibilities found me. There’s not a void in that unknown we no nothing about; there may be lots of options, possibilities, steps that might be taken to improve our lives.

Storytelling is important, not just for others to hear our story but to share common themes and experiences that we go through as human beings. Talking to each other face to face brings a special energy of connection and being in the moment. Hopefully, you will take some time to share your own story, with family, with friends, with a group gathered to share common experiences that help them know they are not alone and to inspire all of us to seek new possibilities that may be unknown to us right now.

Find Your Silly Self

April 22, 2022 By Arlene Faulk

Are you feeling anxiety right now, feeling that “things” are about to get worse? Yes, we know we should count our blessings and look for the positive in our lives, but it’s not always easy. We are constantly reminded of inflation, possible future virus surges, senseless wars, displaced people, which makes our shoulders tense up, our breathing become more shallow. We feel blah, perhaps depressed and move through our days experiencing loneliness. Everything seems gray.

We need to be aware of our malaise and do something physical, move our body. I often suggest going for a walk, riding a bicycle, taking a Tai Chi, yoga or Pilates class. All are good for us. However, I want to suggest something more. With the isolation over the past two plus years, we need to make an effort to get out and be with people, Have a meal with others, go to the zoo, meet a friend for a walk by the lake. And work those face muscles and smile. Maybe laughter will come. Yes, laughter, we need more moments of laughter right now. Let’s bring our silly self to the surface and have some fun. It’s great for our body and great for our soul.

lighted Chinese dragon parade — What a great smile!!

A Good Reminder to Relax

June 25, 2021 By Arlene Faulk

Students Reflect on Coping

January 18, 2021 By Arlene Faulk

We’re in a week of transition surrounded by uncertainty. Our necks tense up and fear may be creeping into our psyches. A few weeks ago I asked my students to reflect on how Tai Chi has been helping them cope with COVID19 and uncertainty that we live with every day. I continue to share their experience with you. Their reflections are inspiring and comforting:

“For me, Tai Chi brings comfort and quiet amidst all the chaos and change.” ~ Becky

“There’s a reassuring continuity and community in Tai Chi. As the movements become more familiar, their ease synchronizes with my breath, and as I follow the lead, I am aware of others who are doing the same. It’s a beautiful, very special time. 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

May each of us find some quiet and nurturing moments in each day to help cope and stay healthy in this difficult time.

Reflections on Walking

November 15, 2020 By Arlene Faulk

Walking is near and dear to me. So much so that I intentionally think about it every day. Ever since I lost, then slowly regained my ability to walk, I don’t take it for granted. I used a cane to aid my ability to walk for fifteen years, until I lost it completely. I’m so fortunate that my body slowly regained walking ability. It took a lot of effort and determination, particularly gaining leg strength and starting to bend my ankles. What was the key for me in this progression? Tai Chi.

When I started Tai Chi on the mid-1990’s, I tried to follow my teacher’s instruction while seated. For over a year, all my Tai Chi was in a chair. Some days I didn’t feel like showing up for class, the sheer effort was hard. I showed up anyway. My teacher said to practice every day and some days I felt too fatigued to practice. I did it anyway, even if for 10 or 15 minutes. All these years later, I see how those minutes paid off. I don’t want to congratulate myself. The longing to feel better, to try to do what I could seemed worth a shot.

When I started teaching Tai Chi I vowed to include walking in all my classes. Many teachers do, because the methodical, slow walking, with feet parallel and hip-width apart, provide a base for increasing stability in standing and helping increase balance. Regardless of who we are and what are starting point is. We focus on the standing leg, rooting it into the ground, which gives centers our body and enhances free range of motion for the other leg. So many students have told me stories about our walking practice improving their balance, their stability and their confidence.

A couple days ago, one of my students sent me a quote that reminded her of our Tai Chi walking that I want to share with you:

“To agree that life’s road is windy and sometimes narrow is easy. But to walk that narrow windy road with its ninety-nine turns takes a particular type of effort. No matter what we engage in, it always comes down to just putting one foot in front of the other, for wholehearted effort is wholehearted action.”

From Deep Hope – Zen Guidance for Staying Steadfast When the World Seems Hopeless, by Diane Eshin Rizzetto.