Faulk TaiChi

Learn the beautiful, flowing movements for health and relaxation.

Shimmering Leaves

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Where I live in live in the midwest part of the United States, the trees and bushes continue to show us spring and new life, with small buds, leaves and blossoms. The tulips are up, standing erect with their tall with their slender green stems and some of the pansies are still smiling back at us.

In Tai Chi class we bring intention and attention to the present moment, to how we are standing and moving, to our alignment and our breathing. The Tai Chi Classics say that our internal energy, Qi, roots in the feet, transfers through the legs, is commanded by the waist, moves up the back, then through arms and flowers in the hands and fingers.

That’s like the trees. Think about all the work they do to bring up nutrients and energy from the earth, through their trunk and branches and flower at the tips, with leaves and blossoms. I start every class asking students to stand with legs and feet parallel, hip-width apart. We shift our weight slightly forward, then to the center, to the outside, inside of the feet, returning to center. We move in a small circular motion, visualizing our feet connected to the earth, feeling the energy and bringing it up through the entire body, flowering in the hands and fingers.

I love that image because we become like the trees, particularly at this time of year, when the leaves are new. The new leaves are a light green and have a shimmering quality. New life and a new season, nourishment and renewed energy.

Walking outside after class in downtown Chicago this week, right in front of me were city trees, with new leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Take a minute to really look at these trees. What a message they are giving us with new life, a new chapter and season. Let us pay attention and start a new season for ourselves, thinking about possibilities, a new way to move forward and nourish ourselves

Almost Spring

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Exciting signs that spring is near — more sunlight in our days, little buds and leaves on the trees, a touch of warmer weather and lighter jackets on our backs. Yes, those of us who live in climates where winter seems to linger, anticipate and talk about the promise of spring. It is close at hand and we anticipate what is coming by paying attention when we’re outside by trees, near the soil with seedlings, listening to the joy of birds singing their springtime songs.

Scott Street, Chicago

In Tai Chi class we often visualize rooting our legs and feet like a tree, feeling the rich soil filled with nutrients and energy. Like the trees and plants, we bring that earth energy up through our bodies to nourish and refresh us. We let go of tension, relax. We connect with the natural flow of nature and the universe.

Taking time to watch the growth and blossoming of the trees, bushes and flowers start to show their colors is a good antidote to all the negative news and turmoil that keep trying to monopolize our attention. Put the phone away the minute before you walk out the door and while you’re outside, notice. . . every living thing around you. Smile and say hello as you pass someone on the sidewalk. Stop to look at the trees in your neighborhood. Maybe you can say hello to them, too. They will answer soon with a glorious display of bright green leaves, beautiful blossoms, and when we pay attention, bring a smile to our face.

Photos from Chicago, West Des Moines, and Wilmette

5 Best Exercises

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My winter Tai Chi classes started this week and it’s wonderful to resume moving energy together with my students. Although Tai Chi has many benefits when practicing individually, it’s more powerful for me when we shift our weight, breathe and pay attention to our alignment together as a group.

One new student mentioned that he wanted to take Tai Chi after he read an online article from Harvard Health publishing about the 5 best exercises for health. #1 is Swimming. #2 is Tai Chi.

Tai Chi at Heartwood Evanston
Tai Chi at Heartwood, Evanston, Il

It’s widely known that Tai Chi is helpful for balance and stability and effective at reducing stress. Harvard has conducted many studies on the positive impact of Tai Chi on such conditions as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteo-Arthritis, MS, fibromyalgia, anxiety, etc. This article is just a brief overview, but know there is a wealth of research if you want to check that out.

You might be wondering what the other 3 exercises are. Take a look at the article:

Life Lessons from a Tree

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I love trees and have said in my next life I’d like to be a tree — rooted, flexible, centered in the present, willing to change with the seasons, never static. We often use trees as a visual image in Tai Chi class, standing with our legs and feet hip-width apart, knees soft. We’re sprouting roots deep into the earth, bringing up positive earth energy.

Two years ago on July 1, 2020, I posted one of my favorite writings on trees — “Advice from a Tree” by Ilan Shamir. I want to share it again. Read it, take it in and then next time you are about by a tree, say ‘thank you’.

tai chi in the park

“Stand tall and proud. Sink your roots deeply into the earth. Reflect the light of your own true nature. Think long term. Go out on a limb. Remember your place among all living beings. Embrace the joy of changing seasons for each yields it’s own abundance. The energy and birth of spring. The growth and contentment of summer. The wisdom to let go like the leaves in fall. Feel the wind and sun and delight in their presence. Look up at the moon that shines down upon you and the mystery of the stars at night. Seek nourishment from the good things in life —

Simple pleasures

Earth, fresh air, light.

Be content with your natural beauty. Drink plenty of water. Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes. Be flexible. Remember your roots. Enjoy the view!”

New Green Leaves Spring Forth

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I absolutely love the first warm days of spring time when the green buds, turn into leaves on the trees and the light green color fills in all that space between the branches. It’s a predictable wonder of nature that new life has sprung forth.

Chicago tree showing new leaves
Chicago tree showing its new leaves

I remind my students to pay attention, to feel the energy of the tree bringing up earth energy and moisture through the trunk, branches and then flower into beautiful green. This is the essence of Tai Chi — we root our feet into the earth, bring up the energy, which moves through the legs, is commanded by the waist and hips, moves up through the arms and flowers and the hands and fingers. In every class, I begin with our standing in hip-width distance and visualize a tree. We are the tree, moving with the natural rhythms and harmony of nature.

bringing up tree energy
Bringing up earth energy like a tree

Be mindful of the glorious trees right now. Don’t just walk by. Stop, admire and maybe even say thank you for new life and possibilities.

Leading Tai Chi at Dr. Wahls’ Seminar

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Last week I had the opportunity to lead Tai Chi with a group of researchers, academics, people who live with MS and medical professionals at the Wahls Protocol® Seminar Series #1: Basics For Brain Health, February 10-11, 2022.

Taste of Tai Chi zoom
Leading Tai Chi via Zoom

Although I couldn’t see individual participants, I knew they were with me, in a chair, on a couch or standing in front of their screen. The title of this move our bodies and breathe session was “Tai Chi for Stress Reduction in Mind and Body.” I hoped each person involved could start to feel good alignment in their body and move their energy in a gentle way that felt good. The sound of my voice accompanied by demonstrating moves in my body guided the group to focus only on the moment and let everything else fade away.

The feedback from the group was very positive and I’ve been asked to join a follow-up coaching session where participants will work on reinforcing what they learned to integrate the practice into their daily lives.

Terry Wahls, M.D. has devoted years to clinical research on lifestyle and diet changes that can positively impact the health of people living with chronic auto-immune conditions. Her book The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat all Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles” and her seminars provide practical ways forward to improve daily living.

She advocates for daily exercise, practical exercises that can be done by individuals, from where they are regardless of physical ability. I reinforced this principle, as I do in all my classes — listen to your body. only do what you can do. if you are not able to physically do a move, visualize it in your mind’s eye. Our staring point is where we are right now.