I have been doing Tai Chi, which is basically a line dance from China, since 1999. I started because I have heard it is good for you. About a month ago I started to understand it in a whole new way.
My original teacher, James, started teaching again and I started going to regular classes again. He started expanding what I was doing and then one day about a month ago I had a strange experience.
I was doing a move that pulled my arm across my abdomen. With his coaching and lots of repeats of the move eventually when I pulled my hand across my abdomen it would gurgle where ever my hand went!
I must say it was a very strange thing. I would pull my hand from left to right and then back and it would just bubble inside back and forth with my hand,
This last weekend I was lucky to attend a workshop with Mr. Boon Loh. Likely the most experienced practitioner in the society. He took me aside for a couple of times and put me threw the paces. He had my body doing things that where just incredible. For a guy who’s not supposed to be able to walk, I would like to have had those doctors there to see what I was doing.
I have pushed hundreds of people to do Tai Chi and some still do. Most quit because it is boring and until a couple of months ago I agreed with them. Now I am excited to practice every day. Talking with Mr. Loh he says I have the whole mountain yet to see, I have only found a path. I will let you know what I see. Or better yet come with me.
In my 30+ years of being in fitness I still maintain Tai Chi is the best overall exercise a person can do. The big reason is it is adjustable to how you are feeling. If you are having a good day you can make it very hard. If you are tired you can make it easier but still get the benefits of it. Old and young people can do it together equally, no one is slowing the other down or getting in their way. Some Tai Chi’s are built for injured people, some even do it in chairs.
I have lots of great Tai Chi stories, next time you are in the clinic ask about the 75 year old lady in the wheelchair and at 80 doing 108 Don-yu’s.
Kelowna contacts:
http://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/location_bc_kelowna-kelownacentral.html
http://pacific.canada.taoist.org/content/standard_ca_pacific.asp?name=Canada-Pacific-Kelowna
Be Well,
Ward Willison
allbodycare.com
Acupuncture & Other Natural Therapies