Bones, Balance & Well-Being

When asked recently to present T’ai Chih Chih to an osteoporosis support group, I was pleased to share my experience. Since I too deal with the challenge of keeping my bones strong and healthy, I understand how osteoporosis can affect us physically and emotionally. I also know that TCC practice has significantly helped my bones, balance and well-being.

After providing a general introduction to TCC, what it is and how it works, I focused on the benefits that would most interest my audience – those that reduce the risk of, or minimize the effects of, developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is the condition of weak and brittle bones that can lead to bone fractures and other serious health concerns. To avoid this, I use an integrative, natural healing approach and believe TCC practice has made this more effective. Most importantly, it provides me with low-impact, weight-bearing movement that encourages building bone and connective tissue and/or slowing bone loss.

Reducing stress and anxiety also reduces the production of stress hormones that cause bone loss. In addition, I believe the relaxing effects of the movements help me better utilize the herbs and supplements I take and the food I eat. TCC practice puts me in touch with my body and emotions, and helps me visualize bone growth and direct the Chi to where it’s needed.

Falls are a major concern for individuals with osteoporosis because of the increased risk of fractures. So we talked about how the slow, gentle TCC movements help develop stronger muscles, more awareness of the feet, improved posture, better concentration and balance control.

I showed them how TCC skills can be applied to everyday activities like vacuuming, sweeping and cleaning snow off a car. I demonstrated Around the Platter, Carry The Ball To The Side and Push Pull, which provide the appropriate motions for such activities. I emphasized the importance of staying relaxed, maintaining proper alignment, softening my knees, and using my weight shift rather than my back, arms and shoulders to do the work, thus putting less strain on my bones and joints and making my tasks easier.

Though we focused mostly on our bones, I also pointed out that it’s important to heal our whole selves – body, mind, and spirit – and not just fix a particular medical condition. TCC, Joy Thru Movement, can help us do that.