
“For the most part of last year, I have been caring for my partner who has a challenging medical condition. We all have deep concern that we are all going to face sickness, illness, and our own mortality, especially with someone we love. Such times can be so challenging that it could call for more resources than we have to cope with. I often felt challenged. Sometimes, they are overwhelming. Tai Chi has helped me overcome and take better control.
I learned:
In really challenging times it is more difficult to start tai chi practice. Sometimes trying harder still does not work. I learned to just do it. It is like, switch the thinking off, just walk to the practice area, start with the warmup exercises almost mindlessly. Then I thought I would do a short practice. Soon, my mind became clearer and my body started feeling the joy of mindful moving, and most of the time I would continue to do one to two hours practice. Whenever I did that a wonderful feeling of achievement came to me, and I became more ready and able to manage the challenge.
When random thoughts came during the practice – as soon as I realized it, I tried to just be here and gently come back to tai chi. It helps to focus on the tai chi principles. The gentle dan tian breathing, songing (loosening) the points and sinking the qi are most helpful. They bring me to the present and my mind is integrating with my movements.
If I feel angry, annoyed, confused, my heartbeat racing and brain burning, especially during any interaction with others – I learned to use tai chi to refrain from any reactive response such as saying angry and loud words. When I was able to do that, a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction of being in control made me feel really good.
On saying things, I learned to follow my advice to others: If you don’t have good things to say, then don’t say anything.
Most importantly: maintain my daily practice, be as mindful as possible. Then at the conclusion of practice, reflect how much calmer and healthier I feel.
I read about famous music composers who composed some of their very best work at times of stress and challenges, it inspires me to reflect on how much more I understand and appreciate tai chi after each practice amidst these challenging times.
I learned to accept things as the way we move in tai chi.”
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