Rest Your Feet In The Bubbling Springs

I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2005. A decade later I remember watching my late mother, Toni, practicing T’ai Chi Chih at home while recovering from surgery and seeing how much she enjoyed “the Taffies.”

In August of 2016, to help relieve some of my Parkinson’s symptoms, I was implanted with a deep brain stimulator (DBS). Two years later, my slow shuffling walk continued to worsen, making it increasingly difficult to stay active. I started looking for an activity to keep myself moving that did not require a cane or wheelchair. And I remembered watching my mom practice TCC. I could not remember Toni’s instructor’s name, asked a few of her friends and searched on the Internet, but came up empty. So I waited patiently.

Most Fridays, my Dad and I have lunch together. Recently, I was surprised to see my stepdad Mike, who lives two hours north, walking through the parking lot. The three of us had lunch and to my good fortune, Mike had Toni’s TCC instructor’s contact information: Sheryl Adair. It is nice how things work themselves out with a little patience.

Fast-forward a month or two when I had been practicing TCC daily for a few weeks and experienced some unexpected benefits. In my second TCC class with Sheryl, as we started Bass Drum, I remember a happy little smile bubbling up to my face. Joy through movement, Sheryl said. That smile and calm keeps me practicing daily. After more daily TCC practice, I find myself completing tasks with more ease, less thinking more doing.

Many of us experience depression, anxiety or sour moods. The search for a healthy way to relieve those symptoms can be difficult. After regular TCC practice, I began to notice myself yinning and yanging during regular activities like emptying the dishwasher and vacuuming. I’m keeping my attention on my feet and letting the t’an tien move me throughout my day. 

TCC is an excellent tool to soothe an anxious mind and ease a tense body. I am grateful that my mother found Sheryl and TCC – and that I did too.