Personal Journey

“No one ever reaches perfection in T’ai Chi Chih – indeed no two will ever perform it in exactly the same way, as it is a living evolving practice – and the Joy lies in the journey itself” – Justin Stone

In January 2014, my mother met her impermanence. My brother and I were named co-executors of her estate. Our duties were performed efficiently and effectively in the middle a lot of stress. Prior to this, I was a registered dietitian employed as a third party auditor in the restaurant and hospitality industry. This too, was stressful and required a lot of tense driving. I spent a lot of time on my phone: left elbow bent holding phone to ear – a fixed and tense position. Late in the summer of 2014, I realized that my body was stressed, weak and in constant pain radiating from my left shoulder up into my left neck. Simply put, I was not in tune with my body; therefore, not aware of the tension I held for many years.

Most days, holding my head above my shoulders was all I could manage. The forward movement of cooking and cleaning was exhausting. My favorite pain-free position was lying flat on my back on the floor. I knew I had to do something differently. I searched for a class at the local recreation center that would gently guide me out of this pain, improve my flexibility and reduce my stress.

At last, I found TCC or better yet, TCC found me. Marie Dotts was the instructor. There were many other options for exercise and change, but the description of the TCC class called to me. It read like this: “19 gentle movements and one pose to a healthier mind, body and spirit through an inner discipline that focuses on circulating and balancing your body’s natural energy. Slow moving meditation that is fun, easy and enjoyable to do. Reported benefits include reduced stress, strengthened immune system, weight and blood pressure control, and better balance and flexibility. Equipment: comfortable clothing. ”

All this in eight weeks with clothing I already own. Wow.

I signed up immediately. Little did I know that day would lead me to this day, to me pitching the benefits of TCC as a daily moving mediation and part of one’s journey to balanced health.

My consistent practice of TCC has taught me to let go of my tension and soften with regard to everyday living and daily movement. TCC, as an inner discipline, has enhanced my ability to live in the present moment as it trains me to be present as I shift my weight, let go of other thoughts, and enjoy the calmness of the movements – thus reinforcing the present moment as life’s best gift.

My intent is to share this self-care practice with my dietetic peers as a tool for their clients to help them reach their health goals. Hopefully, I can collaborate with them by teaching classes in their practice settings.

Presently, I am using the refined knowledge of the practice from this intense accreditation journey to maintain my own calmness in the midst of chaos, help my sister find her feet and improve her balance, and give my 26-year-old daughter, recently diagnosed with bone cancer, a relaxation tool of her own.