New Class for Your Summer: Tai Chi

Please read the whole article before deciding to click onto another blog site.

I get it.

When I tell family & friends that my new summer class is Tai Chi – there’s audible snickering and synchronized eye-rolling.

But wait.

Sincerely trying to avoid hyperbolic rhetoric here, I still need to be completely honest with you. Tai Chi has been transformational in every way.

Okay. Permission to roll YOUR eyes now.

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May I share 3 take-aways with you? These are facts I wished I had known before my first class.

1. It isn’t easy. As a young girl, I trained to become a professional ballerina….taking daily dance classes (twice daily during the summer months) and even moving to another city to concentrate on dance. My background provided no advantage with Tai Chi. Even though I practice 3-4 times a week besides attending weekly TC class, and I am still struggling mightily. We began this beginners course with approximately 20 students (players) and last class, we only had 4. I’m sure summer travel is a factor, but there seems to be noticeable attrition.
2. Physical and Mental Benefits. Some call Tai Chi – “meditation in motion”. I like that! There is an obvious physicality involved with mastering the movements. But my primary benefit comes from the mind-work. The intense level of concentration needed to move through the 8 Form (Yang Style) is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. While working on my TC homework, I forget every problem I have, every item lingering on my To-Do list, and every not-so-kind relative hanging on my family tree.
3. It’s not yoga. As routine readers of MWT know, I fell in love with yoga in 2019. I felt like my novice background in yoga would somehow help me in Tai Chi. Wrong again. As far as I can tell, there is no correlation or connection between the two disciplines. But that’s just my humble, inexperienced opinion. [NOTE: I never felt the same peacefulness and restoration after a yoga class.]

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List of Tai Chi 8 Forms:

Repulse the Monkey

Brush Knee Push

Part the Horse’s Mane

Wave Hands like Clouds

Rooster Stands on One Leg

Kick with Heel

Grasp the Peacock’s Tail

Cross Hands

After many hours of practice, I only feel comfortable with the highlighted movements. It’s Because of the challenge that makes learning Tai Chi so rewarding.

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So enough about me and Tai Chi.

What’s the benefit for you?

Truly, Tai Chi may not be for you. Perhaps a singing class…..a second language course….a gourmet lesson taught by a local chef. Doesn’t matter the skill or accomplishment… It’s all about the experiential benefit.

NEW is the key.

As my new favorite philosopher/guru/life-coach shared…..get out of your routine. Try something new. And believe me, that simple advice made an impact this summer. Try anything that lights your candle (hygge candle, of course).

Thank you for reading. There’s so much awful to spread around, right? It’s very nice to dwell on the good. And, that’s what My Written Thoughts website is all about. Sharing and Caring with readers.