Performing T’ai Chi Chih Movements in Water

Doing T’ai Chi Chih in very warm water, chest-high so that almost all the movements are done under water? Sounds great! I haven’t tried it, but at our Friday “roundtable” lunch discussion with Hannah Hedrick, we learned a few of the essentials of this kind of TCC. First of all, she told us the water should be 90-100 degrees. People need to be warm. Hannah is enthusiastic about the Water/T’ai Chi Chih combination, because hydratherapy alone is very healing for the immune system and for any kind of pain. The movements of TCC give an extra benefit, especially for people with arthritis. In Hannah’s classes, a little more than half the hour is spent in the water, after 20-25 minutes of review and instruction.

Getting the feeling of “moving through very heavy air” comes easily with Water T’ai Chi Chih, but on the downside, people can feel they are floating away and need to focus on moving from the center and on being grounded. Students in Hannah’s Water T’ai Chi Chih classes wear ankle or waist weights. “You can improvise,” says Hannah, “Put weights in the pockets of your shorts.”

Where do you find a pool with 90 to 100 degree water? (Hot tubs are too hot.) Hannah suggests checking with a rehabilitation center, and if possible, partnering with a physical therapist (maybe someone who wants to do a research paper on it.) One successful experience opens many doors. Hannah has many more requests to teach than she can fulfill.

What does Justin think of Water T’ai Chi Chih? “Fine idea!”