College student heals from accident

Student of Sharon Sirkis

I’ve always had trouble relaxing. My early childhood and teenage years were spent being alert, aware, looking out for violence, being afraid. I wasn’t aware of how much tension had built up in my neck, in my back, in my spine. I began taking T’ai Chi Chih because I wanted to start paying attention to my body and what it was telling me, knowing that intuition (physical and mental) would help me make better decisions in my everyday life. A week or so into it, I became very aware of how I was holding myself and how my body language must have said ‘Go away,’ how tense and tight my arms and neck were, how I tend to cross my arms over my chest.

Then, I got into a near-fatal car accident. Although I miraculously walked away with only minute muscle strain, the intense concentration I’d put into being in my body in the present (due to T’ai Chi Chih) made me aware of it at every second. I began practicing more regularly, hoping that T’ai Chi Chih would help heal those wounds. I’ve also always had trouble with migraines and fatigue, possibly because I’ve never had a disciplined plan for physical exercise. Getting up every morning and going to T’ai Chi Chih, as well as going to the classes (which provided not only new impetus to practice because we learned new moves every week but which provided an atmosphere of collective energy which I have never felt before), was something that I felt that I could do to better myself. I decided I would let go of my preconceptions as to how it could help me and just let it help, and lo and behold, it did. I haven’t had a migraine since I started practicing regularly, and my car accident injuries, though only two weeks old, are a thing of the past.

I had an opportunity to practice T’ai Chi Chih outside, the other day. I went on tour with my friends’ band from Florida, and we had some downtime before a show in Connecticut, so we went exploring in a park behind the rec center where the show would be taking place. I told my friends where I was going and then slipped off by myself to go practice, which I hadn’t gotten to do that morning as we’d had to get up and go in a hurry from the last house we’d been staying at. It was one of the most incredible experiences I’d ever had. The sun was dripping down through the thick canopy of leaves, casting warm shadows on my back. I have always had trouble being happy, being at peace in the moment, but this was no trouble at all. I kicked off my shoes, wriggled my toes in the dirt and did all of my favorite moves (my favorites are actually the side-to-side moves like Pulling Taffy, because they remind me of when I used to dance; the balance and the fluidity used are similar).

I am not sure how long I was gone. All I know is that when I came back, my friend Mike scooped me up into a hug just because I looked so happy. When we let go of each other, he said, “You’re burning up.” I didn’t feel feverish. I felt full of energy and ready to face the night. We left the forest hand in hand. T’ai Chi Chih has not only gotten rid of my injuries and helped me focus on everyday activities, it’s also helped me connect with people, something that social anxiety has been preventing me from doing for years. I am extremely glad I made the decision to take this class. It hasn’t been just a phys. ed. credit.