Benefits, Benefits, Benefits

In many parts of the US and several other countries, T’ai Chi Chih is being taught to adults, children, seniors, the handicapped, and the able-bodied. I have never known a T’ai Chi Chih teacher to say that students have to be a certain height, certain weight, of particular ethnic background, or of a specific religious persuasion. Because we have no restrictions on who can come to class, I have found myself in front of classes with a wonderful variety of people.

Some people have come to T’ai Chi Chih classes out of curiosity; some come because they are in pain. Sometimes the pain is physical, but often it is emotional or mental. T’ai Chi Chih — without sermonizing, without threatening, without being difficult to do — invites each person to begin learning at her and his level.

At our own level we sometimes lose our balance, we lean (forward or sideways), we over-extend our hand and leg movements. Sometimes we don’t pay enough attention and simply do careless T’ai Chi Chih movements.

Even though we don’t always move perfectly, we are fortunate to receive some of the many benefits that T’ai Chi Chih bestows. We may find greater awareness, serenity, weight reduction, improved balance and flexibility, blood pressure control, creativity, and more. Teachers continually invite and encourage their students to be more diligent about doing a careful T’ai Chi Chih practice. It isn’t just for perfection’s sake; it’s because deeper benefits can only be enjoyed by those who give themselves wholeheartedly to their practice.

One T’ai Chi Chih teacher commented with tears in her eyes that she wished she could have learned T’ai Chi Chih when she was younger. What caused her to make such a statement, as it was obvious that she was having a special inner experience? Her experience is one many practitioners have. We come to the conclusion that many of our problems could have been avoided if we had just known T’ai Chi Chih. It is a very freeing experience, one that truly invites us to continually go deeper in our practice, and as we do, learn how to love and share the chi.

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Sharon Sirkus writes that she came upon a four-page article in the magazine rehabmanagement, March 2005 issue, called Ancient Exercise for Modern Rehab. The subtitle is Tai Chi Promotes Wellness and Fitness Among a Wide Range of Patients.

And, on page 27, there is a box of information highlighted with Tai Chi Resources. There are six listed, and the second one is T’ai Chi Chih! It says: Tai Chi Chih, www.taichichih.org.