Help Yourself by Helping Others

Sometimes helping someone else is the best way to help yourself.

Hannah Hedrick, Ph.D. (Allied Health Education & Accreditation for the American Medical Assoc. in Chicago) has shared information from their publication The Reporter. There are two pictures of Hannah leading employees in T’ai Chi Chih; an announcement of a Health Fair which gave as raffle prizes three copies of Meditation of Healing by Justin Stone and three T’ai Chi shirts; announcement of her Saturday and Wednesday classes; and an article titled Self-Care at Work. “T’ai chi chih is one of the easiest healthy activities you can do all by yourself to protect or promote your health. You can do it almost anywhere at almost any time. Promoted as “self-defense for the mind” in an earlier issue of “The AMA Reporter,” t’ai chi chih consists of 20 separate movements, most of which are performed 9 times to the right and 9 times to the left. Unlike t’ai chi ch’uan, with its complex sequence of 108 movements, the basics of t’ai chi chih can be learned in just a few classes. The graceful, fluid movements, performed for 15-20 minutes once or twice a day, are an appealing way to slow down and reduce stress. These short practices will also assist in improving flexibility and strength, controlling blood pressure, maintaining a desirable weight, and enhancing self-esteem. Longer practices produce even greater benefits by strengthening and firming the legs and reducing the waist.

* * *

New Mature Woman, a relatively new bi-monthly magazine, in its fourth issue of Mar/Apr 1991 has published an article by T’ai Chi Chih teacher Ruthmarie Arguello-Sheehan. Excerpts follow:

Some of the most influential, most loved women throughout history have been Mentor Women….A mentor is a true friend who loves unconditionally, and in a nonjudgmental way. She cares enough to take the time to be helpful. Often she is an older woman who has overcome many of life’s trials and difficult times and maintained a very positive view of life and people…willingness and ability to be encouraging and to help another learn and grow are essential characteristics. It is beneficial to both be and have a mentor. Take a chance, reach out to other women, sharing your wisdom, radiating your love and receiving theirs.

(Note: RMNAS will have an article on T’ai Chi Chih in the next issue.)