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Tai Chi: Stillness in Motion

December 21, 2011 By Arlene Faulk

“6000 miles to go,” the captain announces. Seated in a Korean Air 747 airplane, I’m headed for China. I eagerly anticipate being in a park in China, seeing graceful Tai Chi in the early morning, seeing residents start their day with gentle movement they enjoy. I not only want to watch, I want to participate. I practice Tai Chi. I teach Tai Chi. I know how relaxing and flowing it looks and feels.

China, halfway around the world. I am in a beautiful park, the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. A man with black hair, greying sideburns, stands on one leg, knee bent, the other leg in a silent, slow kick up into the air. Tan silk shirt and flowing black, silk pants. A living statue, that is serene and centered. He is stillness in motion.

Tai Chi in China

Looking right I see a group of about 20 men and women, following a slender woman in a red jacket, who is leading the group with her slow, methodical steps forward, then backward. Chinese music emanates from the black boom box sitting on the cement near a grassy area. Big smiles on their faces. They aren’t distracted by people walking in front of them, nor by tourists taking pictures. They are enjoying their own moment, totally focusing on the movements they do every day to feel calm, yet energized.

Doing Tai Chi in the parks of China, studying Tai Chi with Masters in Chenjiagou and the Wudang Mountains were wonderful experiences for me in May. Yet, we don’t have to go to China to experience the calming and balancing benefits of Tai Chi. We can do it right here where we live. As we move into the fall and winter seasons of more inward, quiet and colder moments, we are invited to explore and strengthen our internal energy. Tai Chi calls to me. It also may be calling to you, from centuries ago, in this time and place, to learn a wonderful practice for reducing stress, improving energy flow and increasing balance in your body.

Arlene Faulk is a Tai Chi teacher with Heartwood Center. New Beginning Tai Chi Classes are starting. You can contact Arlene at 312.642.0722 to register or for more information.

Filed Under: Tai Chi in China Tagged With: park meditation, tai chi in China, tai chi in the park

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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