T’ai Chi Weightlifting

I couldn’t imagine why T’ai Chi Chih or Hatha Yoga were required classes at my massage school. I hated yoga (my balance was terrible), and I wasn’t the “Karate Kid.” I obtained plenty of movement and exercise at the gym. But, required they were, so I decided to make the best of it. I would tell myself, “Try to stay open about this.” Well, I guess I left myself wide open because here I am signing up for “Karate Kid Part II.”

These classes should be requirements for life! T’ai Chi Chih has come to mean a great deal to me, in all aspects of my life. All my life I’ve been athletic and had to warm up for something; nothing has been more complete, fun, or as energizing as T’ai Chi Chih. As a body builder, I use the stretches and movements for warm-ups, as well as incorporating the concepts into my workout. I practice T’ai Chi Chih on a daily basis and use many principles taught to me in Hatha Yoga throughout each day.

I incorporated the movements into my body building routines, which are choreographed to music. The movements allow me to easily create a very fluid, yet dynamic performance on stage. I won the overall title in my last competition, which I credit to my Yin & Yang balance.

T’ai Chi Chih-Weightlifting coming to your gym soon!!!

Thanks,

– Nancy Wharton
Lakewood, Colorado

(Note from Christine: Nancy won the Overall Title–Miss Natural of Colorado Invitational 1988. It was an amazing reversal for my teaching pattern to begin with the emphasize on fluid, graceful, soft expression versus beginning with the legs and feet (weight shift). Nancy came to class with the most solid weight shift I’ve ever seen anywhere. As my legs and weight shifting solidified like a mountain, Nancy’s movement turned into water. Together we were really learning.)