What T’ai Chi Chih Did For Me (June 1999)

The most basic element that I have learned from Tai Chi Chih is simple enjoyment of the movements that are involved. The repetition of the moves and their relative simplicity provides me with a relaxed feeling. After learning the movements it is very easy to get into the flow of the movements and to almost let them perform themselves. It gives me a real feeling of what is called the “flow experience”. This is something that I really enjoy in other aspects of my life.

One of my most favorite hobbies is to go snowboarding. While snowboarding I achieve a similar “flow experience” while I am carving down the mountain; the shifting of my body weight from side to side and feeling how in balance my body is. These are my favorite aspects of riding. I also feel this same “flow experience” when I am performing Tai Chi Chih. Feeling my body shifting forwards, backwards, and side to side, so smoothly and effortlessly gives me the feeling of balance and joy.

“Perpetual Motion” move is probably my favorite. While performing this move I can get “lost” in the repetition of the movement. “Rocking Motion” is another move that I like, though sometimes I am uncertain of whether I am doing the weight shift properly. I have to remind myself to just let the movement flow and not force it. When I am moving my hands back and forth I can sometimes feel the air flow through them almost like a heavy liquid and it gives me the feeling of almost swimming.

The sensation of focus that Tai Chi Chih gives me is another aspect that I enjoy. Generally when I do Tai Chi Chih on my own I feel more alert and settled about myself. After class however the feeling is much more intense. I think that the meditation period afterwards definitely contributes to this. When I first open my eyes after meditation it is almost like a shock to see the world again. A feeling of total calm and serenity completely engulfs me. When I walk outside I have this almost indescribable feeling, like I have woken up from the best nights sleep ever and am so filled with excitement for the rest of the day, but calm and at rest, ready for whatever happens next. This feeling after class is one of the best parts of the week for me.

Probably the best thing that Tai Chi Chih has done for me is the enthusiasm that I now have to continue with it. I always think of things I could do to better myself, exercising more and other things similar, but I never seem to be able [to] get myself motivated to do them. However Tai Chi Chih is something that I know I am going to continue to do. I have been doing it on Friday and Sunday mornings during the semester and will continue to do it after the class is over. The main reason is for the benefits it provides me right after doing the exercises, the wakefulness, the alertness, and how ready I am for the day. I am not a morning person, as you may have noticed, but after these exercises I am ready to go out and do things and do not need to rely on massive amounts of coffee to get me ready.

The best example of my commitment to continue is [the] weekend of January 15. This was the morning of the big ice storm. Our power went out and I had to drive my parents to the airport at five o’clock in the morning. Waking up for this was a bit of a challenge. I think I did the whole trip on auto-pilot and when I returned home at six my thoughts were of going back to sleep. I knew though that later that morning I would have to struggle to get back up at seven because I was going snowboarding with a friend. So instead of going back to sleep I did some Tai Chi Chih exercises. I performed the “Rocking Motion”, “Push Pull”, “Pulling in the Energy” and “Perpetual Motion”. These moves are probably my favorites and I really enjoy them, even though I am still somewhat uncertain of how correctly I am doing the Rocking Motion. When I was done [with] them however I felt fully alert and ready to go. I was even ready early and waiting on my friend to arrive. If I hadn’t done these exercises I am sure I would have fallen back asleep and been woken up by a slightly annoyed friend banging on my door. The lift tickets were free that day if you got there before ten.

These are the things that I have connected most with in Tai Chi Chih. I took the class to learn something that could change my lifestyle and I believe it has.