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Learn Something New

January 24, 2015 By Arlene Faulk

2013 December Des Moines

While sorting through papers this week, I was listening to the radio, as I often do. Recalling this particular situation reminds me that doing more than one thing at a time can improve efficiency(maybe), but we can’t have our full attention on any one thing.

The discussion on the radio was about a new study recently published on memory as people age. I didn’t catch details about the study, nor the researcher, because I didn’t fully devote my attention to what was being said. What triggered my stopping to bring full attention to the discussion was this: we can keep our memory stronger by learning something brand new. Yes, it can be helpful to continue with crossword puzzles, Sudoku, chess, etc., but even better to challenge ourselves to something we know nothing about. Sounds like good advice for adults of any age, doesn’t it?

This point came alive in my new tai chi class series this week. In this second week (so just two hours of class), a student said she couldn’t remember anything we had done the first week.

“That’s not unusual,” I said. “The movements you are learning are not familiar. With repetition and time, your mind and body will start to remember. We’re learning patience.”

I added,”That’s the good and bad news about tai chi. The good news is that the movements are not familiar so everybody is in the same boat and doesn’t know anything. The bad news in our culture is we want to ‘get it’ now. We are impatient.”

Faulk Tai Chi Heartwood

Good lessons. Learn something brand new to stimulate our brains and keep our memories strong. The brand new something may and will take time. Learning to be patient and kind to ourselves takes time. Tai Chi helps us do both.

Filed Under: Inner Balance, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Tai Chi, YinYang Tagged With: kindness, learning, memory, patience

Starting to Let Go

June 24, 2014 By Arlene Faulk

“When I’m at home wanting to practice tai chi, I can’t remember what we did in class.”

Some heads nodded at that comment by a tai chi student in class this week. They want to practice. The desire is there, but they feel some frustration because they don’t know what the moves are.

I had previously sent the students a YouTube link to watch Cheng Man-ch’ing doing his short Yang 37 form, the one we’re learning in class. I asked them to watch the ease at which he moved, rooted in his feet while lifted at his center. Powerful, yet light. Focused.

“Great to watch but there wasn’t any instruction,” another student said. They were in their heads, not in their bodies.

I shifted to talking about relaxing and being patient with ourselves. Hard to do, to slow down and give ourselves permission to take whatever time is needed.

“It’s hard to slow down, even if we want to,” I said. Lots of heads nodding ‘yes’.

“Two things I’d like you to do this summer” –

Arlene Faulk tai chi outdoors

1. Do some tai chi walking underneath or close to a tree.

2. Walk in the grass in your bare feet.

The energy in the room shifted to ‘calm’:

“I can do that.”

“What a nice thought.”

And as class ended, a student commented “I’m looking forward to sleeping tonight. I always have my best sleep the night after I have my tai chi class.”

Yang form tai chi

They are starting to ‘let go’. It’s a process. . . a little at a time.

Filed Under: Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Tai Chi Tagged With: connect with earth, letting go, patience

Like-Minded People

June 30, 2013 By Arlene Faulk

tai chi workshop

How wonderful it is to be around like-minded people, who desire to have strong bodies and minds, who work towards a balance between ‘doing’ and ‘being’ everyday, who insure they have some quiet amidst the noise, who enjoy and live peacefully with nature, who nurture cooperation and acceptance of others.

Such was that experience at the week-long Tai Chi workshop in Connecticut three weeks ago. Master Trainers taught, students learned and together we questioned, gained finesse and laughed at ourselves sometimes. If there was any competition it seemed to be individual, within ourselves. Why can’t I get this move better? Why do I seem to be slower at learning than my classmates? In our culture, we not only want to ‘get it’, but we want to get it ‘right now’. A reassuring principle of Tai Chi is allowing and letting go. Gaining patience. We try to let go of tension, expectations, perfection, comparing with others. It’s a process. It takes time. It takes committing to a discipline of a new way of thinking and new ways of moving — slowly and with intention.

That commitment to a new way of thinking and moving may require a change of our patterns and habits. Taking the first step towards change is critical. Sticking with it is the challenge.

Filed Under: Arlene Faulk, Change, Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi Classes Tagged With: balance between doing and being, learning, letting go, like-minded, patience

Thinking about Feet

August 30, 2012 By Arlene Faulk

My mother says “when your feet hurt, everything hurts.” Mothers have said that for generations. They are right.

Our feet hold all our weight when we stand. Our toes bend and flex when we walk, run, skip and climb. Our heels help steady us. Our feet are an intricate masterpiece, with so many bones, ligaments, nerve endings, all working together to help us navigate through our day. We don’t think about our feet much. Most of us take them for granted. . . until something goes wrong.

A corn, cramp, bunion, stubbed toe or fallen arch, hurt and remind us that we need to take care of our feet to feel good in the rest of our body. High-heeled women’s shoes wreak havoc on feet. “Wear sensible shoes”, our mothers tell us. They are right. How about the current fad of flip-flops as the every day “shoe” for children and many adults? No support and having to squeeze the first two toes to walk up or down a step can’t be great for foot health. We go for what we like. . . until something goes wrong.

I’ve been thinking a lot about feet the last few days. Taking a late summer break from teaching Tai Chi classes, it was a perfect time to get rid of some plantar’s warts I had on my left foot. Researching all  treatment possibilities. I chose one from a podiatrist, using acid to eat away at the warts. My big toe blistered, to the point that I couldn’t put any weight on that toe.  I placed my weight on my heel, then on the outside of my foot. Over a few days, my foot swelled up and I could hardly put any weight on it at all.

No break, but lots of swelling. I’m wearing a boot to stabilize my foot. My leg tires easily. I think of placing my legs and feet hip-width apart, standing tall, in proper alignment. I can’t do that right now, so I’ll visualize it as though I could.

I’m reminded of how important the Tai Chi principles of proper alignment and weight shifting are, for good energy flow and good health. Patience is another important principle of Tai Chi. I hope to be patient to return to proper alignment.

And, I look forward to a healed foot, because “when your feet hurt, everything hurts.

Filed Under: Listening to our Body, Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Classes Tagged With: alignment, choices, feet, patience, walking, weight-shifting

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.

Tai Chi student

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.

Tai Chi student

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