Boost of Serenity

My weekly Tai Chi Chih (TCC) practice with the sisters of Assisi Heights, where I live in Minnesota, is a most meaningful experience. It started as part of my preparation as a future instructor. My teacher, Bonnie Sokolov, invited me to shadow her in this weekly practice, and since then, I have never stopped going.

Why is this so important? It gives me a weekly boost of serenity. This welcoming group of women has always offered support and prayers. I often thought that the physical place made the environment of Assisi so special. It is indeed beautiful. But it’s really the presence of these women and their dedication to serving and helping the world with their actions and prayers. Every time I visit, it reminds me of the power of prayer and meditation. TCC is not only a physical activity to help our balance. It is a moving meditation that helps me to ground myself and find a spiritual balance. Meditation and prayer practices help us pause; they expand our ability find answers to difficult situations. During this split-second pause, we can bring our consciousness or mind to what is happening, look for options, and choose to be thoughtful and engaging. These practices give us the freedom to respond instead of reacting.

The TCC practice helps detect this tendency to react. As a meditation practice, when I am aware of my reaction, I breathe and maybe do a mental TCC practice to ground myself. Yes, the weekly practice is a boost of serenity.