Faulk TaiChi

Learn the beautiful, flowing movements for health and relaxation.

Time to Exhale

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Summer is a time to be outside, to take a rode trip, go to a beach with family or friends. This year we’re encouraged to be outside, because we are still dealing with a variant of the COVID19 virus. Are you being creative in your plans, even if you’ve had to adjust from what you hoped for?

It’s still a Yang time of year, with the heat, vacations, getting ready to go back to school. In the midst of it all we need to remember to breathe with intention. Take a deep breath in, right now. Hold for two seconds. Now exhale. As you exhale, let go of any fears or anxieties you have right now. Let the exhale help you let go. Do it again. Breathe in. Hold. Now exhale a long slow breath.

qigong class
Tai Chi breathing from tan tien

breathe in and exhale.

Universal Uncertainty

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COVID-19

Uncertainty fills our days right now. We cannot see this COVID-19, except in the terrifying effects it wreaks on human well-being. We fear the effects of this unseen killer because we have mothers, fathers, children and friends who have taken seriously ill. Too many have died.

Some of us are staying inside most of the time. Others, the “essential” workers are out helping the public, in hospitals, grocery stores, fighting fires, etc., to help us get well, to help us stay safe. It is a strange time with no certainty about when we might not fear the wrath of this virus on a daily basis.

The most common question I have received as a Tai Chi teacher is “What is the most important thing I can do to center myself, to reduce my anxiety?” My answer is “breathe.” Take 3 seconds to breathe in; hold your breath for 3 seconds; breathe out for 3 seconds. Anxiety and stress cause us to shorten our breath, tense our neck muscles, feel lethargic. Breathing helps. Stretching helps. Walking helps. Eating nutritious foods helps.

Arlene Faulk teaching Tai Chi
tai chi students walking

For individuals fortunate enough to have time and internet availability, there are many options for exercising, listening to music, laughing with comedians and participating in energy generating classes like Tai Chi and Yoga.I feel blessed to have Tai Chi to reduce stress, get the kinks out, increase balance.  One of the best features of a class is experiencing the connection with other students, seeing their smiles an creating energy. Getting out of the house, leaving the office to go to a designated space for class is a memory right now. Shutdowns in March. In person classes disappeared. We need to stay apart, at least 6 feet from each other, wear a mask, wash our hands, then wash our hands again. The world changed quickly when COVID-19 started ti spread. Now more than ever, we need to find ways to cope, reduce anxiety, keep our bodies and mind as strong as possible.

The new world of Tai Chi for me is online. I currently lead three classes a week and although we see each other in tiny rectangles on a screen, we continue to see each other’s faces, connect as best we can. The energy of us moving together comes right through the screen. I feel it.

We all need to keep moving. A Tai Chi resource for you: www.youtube.com/faulktaichi

Zoom Tai Chi


Zoom Tai Chi Class

Time Out

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television screen static noise

The images and chatter on social media, television, radio and words in blogs and editorials seem like continual static to me. Or like a screech of a car jamming on brakes to avoid a crash. Or for those old enough to remember, the chalk screeching across the blackboard. Words instilling fear like “they” are all after “us”. Be afraid. Be on guard. Protect yourself.

It’s disconcerting, these attitudes and platitudes that permeate our days. 24 hours news, sometimes repeating and repeating the same thing. Are you, like me, tired of seeing the words “Breaking News” for just about everything?

What the world needs is a time out. A moment to take a deep breath. A moment to just be and not judge, others or ourselves.

tai chi master

We need the spirit and energy of Tai Chi more than ever right now – calmness, gently moving energy, focusing only on the moment. Tai Chi can help us reduce and manage anxiety, uncertainty, sooth aches and pains, feel grateful.

It all starts with us as individuals, one person at a time. I wish for each of us some moments of silence, and to feel the centering energy of Tai Chi, QiGong, yoga, meditation. It seems this energy will help bring help bring people together rather than the energy of fear and violence.

World Tai Chi and QiGong Day

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inhale and exhale

The wave of breathing together, doing tai chi and qigong together has started across the Pacific Ocean. On the last Saturday in April, we celebrate good health, and healing thoughts, breathing and spread each of tthem across the world.

It is in process, starting New Zealand, 10am on Saturday in their time zone, and continues at 10am in each time zone across the globe.

Whether we participate in a tai chi or qigong group, do our own individual form, or sit and breathe, think about all the others of like-mind who are spreading the energy of calmness and balance across the world.

effects of tai chi tan t'ien

Each of us can do our little part and collectively we can create a powerful breath for peace and our oneness, regardless of where we are.

Remember to breathe at 10am tomorrow and keep it going throughout the day.

In This Moment

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While cleaning out files this weekend, I ran across a cartoon I’d cut out years ago. I know it was years ago because the paper is yellow and dry. But the message it contains is timeless.

It’s Peppermint Patty, one of the ‘Peanuts’ characters, holding a single piece of paper. It has three frames…

  • 1st frame: She reads “This is my report on how to live.”
  • 2nd frame: “They say the best way is just to live one day at a time. . . “
  • 3rd frame: “If you try to live seven days at a time, the week will be over before you know it.”
Be in this moment. Right here. Right now.
Be in this moment. Right here. Right now.