Tai chi has been popularized in recent years by coverage on TV
and in the movies. By now, most people have at least caught a
glimpse of it. Tai chi's graceful and flowing movements clearly
evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. Without a doubt, regular
practice of tai chi is one of the most life enhancing things we can
do for ourselves. What is not so evident when watching someone
moving through the tai chi form is the very challenging nature of it.
Finding a Class
The first challenge is finding a class and then committing to attend
it. In our very busy lives, this by itself can be enough to stop us.
Learning the Sequence of Movements
Once enrolled in a class, you will soon meet the second challenge:
learning the sequence of movements can be a daunting experience.
Some people might be frustrated enough in the first few weeks to
stop coming to class altogether. As with anything new, learning the
sequence of the tai chi form will take more than a couple of weeks.
Daily practice at home is essential to bring coherence and clarity
to the sequence of movements.
Enjoying Yourself while Meeting Challenges
If you accept that it will take some weeks of practice to get to the
point where your mind can relax beyond "what comes next," then
you should be able to start enjoying the grace and ease of the
movement itself. Right? The answer to this question is not simple.
Nearly everyone will find some aspects of tai chi enjoyable from
the very first class, as they find new ways to move, breathe, think
and feel. However, your tai chi experience will likely be
challenging in some ways. Here is where some of the real growth
lies: there are physical, mental and emotional challenges. When
you meet them and overcome them, you will find great benefits to
your health.
Physical Challenges
One challenge you may meet is the physical challenge. Tai chi is a
weight-bearing exercise. You must use your legs to support your
body while you move very slowly from posture to posture. It
doesn't take long to realize that slow movement is more
demanding than fast movement. Tai chi exercises your joints—
feeling the relaxation and opening of your hips, shoulders, knees,
wrists and other areas is one of the joys of tai chi, and this opening
takes time. In the early going you may tend to "bump into"
yourself as you encounter the resistance and limitation of your
present physical state. Remember that this will change for you.
Mental and Emotional Challenges
Other challenges are the mental and emotional challenges, which
have many faces. One aspect might be an internal self-criticism
about your perceived inability to pick this up as quickly as you
expected to, or as quickly as others seem to be able to. Another
aspect might be a fear of failure, or a belief that your body will not
be able to move that way. On subtler levels, you may experience
flashes of emotion as you, consciously or not, work into and
through places in your body where you have stored powerful life
experiences. It is often at these points of uncertainty and
unfamiliarity that we find our breakthroughs.
Boundless Rewards Await
At its best, the learning of tai chi will be a healthy balance of work
and fun and moments of self-discovery that will be well worth your
time and effort. It's tougher than it looks, but in the end it's a
fruitful undertaking, and the rewards are boundless. Though
learning tai chi is challenging, meeting those challenges is what
practice is all about. Treasures await all who apply.
© 2012 by Edna Brandt
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