Graceful Conclusion, by Lisa M Otero (May 2023)

Initially, I struggled with Justin’s oft-repeated instruction to come to a “graceful conclusion” at the end of each movement. I felt anything but graceful. My movements felt clunky, and my closing position felt like a hard-to-hold squat, especially as Justin repeatedly encouraged me to bend my knees more and sink deeper. I felt like I didn’t have the strength to do what he was asking. How could a practice that was supposed to be soft require so much physical strength?

I was in my early 30’s and basically physically fit. There was no reason I couldn’t become more fit. Justin was encouraging me to apply myself and try. How to push myself, without forcing anything? I came to consider this my effort of no effort. Justin was substantially older and he practiced what he preached: He was managing to bend his knees and “squat” effortlessly as he gracefully concluded each movement. Through practice, I realized that if I balanced properly on the whole foot, pulling my hips over my heels, my knees bent no further forward than my toes. There was no stress at all in the knees even when sinking as low as Justin did when he gracefully concluded each movement.

And surprise, surprise, the more I practiced, the stronger I got. And then the softer and more graceful I became. Now age 60, I am in better physical shape than I was in my 30s. I am able to pass this experience to my students and see them develop into their own soft-strength and embrace their grace and beauty. Many share that they had never felt graceful a day in their lives until they learned T’ai Chi Chih (TCC).

Coming to a graceful conclusion feels like a snow globe to me. I pick it up and slowly shake it, setting in motion the snowflakes within. I watch them swirl and mingle as I slowly, gently, and rhythmically continue to shake the orb. Then I stop shaking and enjoy the results as the snowflakes take their time, softly settling to the ground. Release, relax, and enjoy that peaceful stillness. Practice patience: Do not shake it again until all of the flakes are resting on the ground.