An image of Kie Brooks, a martial arts instructor in Hong Kong practicing at sunset (from Flickr).
Top Five Reasons I Practice Tai Chi
By Barbara (Bobbie) Purvis
For Overall General Health
In years past I could easily get up at 5 a.m. and head out for a five-mile run. Sadly, those days will forever remain in my rearview mirror. But as I have improved over time (i.e. gotten older) physical movement is still a “must do” that remains at the top of my priority list. Tai Chi not only satisfies this need, but it is an activity that can be practiced for a lifetime.
To Preserve Joints and Improve Posture
At some point in life nearly all of us have experienced some sort of joint issue. Achy, creaky, sore or painful joints come in all age groups and for many different reasons. For me, it was joint damage associated with chemotherapy that saved my life. While I can no longer run distances or do any of those joint-killing machines at the gym like an incline treadmill, stair climber, or elliptical trainer, Tai Chi allows my joints to move through their whole range of motion. Moving while maintaining good posture makes it even more likely that we will maintain good posture when sitting or standing. Tai Chi also counts as weight bearing exercise that studies show will help prevent Osteoporosis.
For Improved Memory and Ability to Focus
One aspect of Tai Chi that I particularly enjoy is practicing the Tai Chi Form. It challenges my memory on many different levels: Are the movements in the right order? Are all movements synchronized beginning and ending at the same time? Are my arms, core and legs aligned correctly? When I’m getting it very close to being right, my breathing slows and everything just seems to flow. Then there are days when simply standing still – doing standing meditation – feels like work. But that’s what I LOVE about it! Each day and each practice session has its own rhythm, its own energy, and I appreciate each and every one!
For Stress Relief and the Meditative Aspects of the Practice
For me, I became aware of the meditative aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong very gradually – after a sequence of movements were committed to memory and I was able to relax and enjoy moving through the postures without thinking about them. A quiet mind is a rare gift – a jewel to be treasured. In the beginning those moments were fleeting, but with regular practice I find they appear more and more frequently and for longer durations.
For Better Balance in All Aspects of Life
Not once before I began Tai Chi practice did I consider the impact this martial art might have on other aspects of my life. Like many beginners, I left Tai Chi in the classroom and flipped it on and off like a light switch: Time for Tai Ch = ON. Tai Chi class is over = OFF. Back then if you’d asked me the definition of “balance” I would have said it meant standing without falling over. But during practice I realized that “balance” is integrated in everything we do. The principles this art is based on has EVERYTHING to do with finding balance not only while practicing the art, but in nature, in relationships (at work, home, social settings, i.e., in your life).
What are some of your top reasons for practicing Tai Chi? Feel free to share them in the “Comments” section below.