Read This Before You Start Your Tai Chi Journey

If you are new to this website or any exercise website or in person program, this blogger has posted reminders in the past but it's time to repeat the best way to approach any exercise program under consideration, in this case, tai chi.

1. Talk to your health care provider. Do you have high blood pressure, a bad knee or knee replacement, scoliosis, a breathing or balance issue, a back injury, a heart condition, diabetes, etc. etc. etc. ? Maybe you are pretty healthy but have not exercised for a long time so you are a bit out of shape. Your doctor knows your limitations and probably your abilities too! Your doctor knows that certain movements may be difficult for you, no matter how benign the internet or instructor makes them seem. Have a consultation with your trusted medical provider and sort it out. Make note of his/her recommendations and take them seriously. When you are the one to bring up an exercise program, most doctors will be surprised, followed by enthusiasm. All day long they hear complaints (as they should) from their patients but when someone shows a willingness to confront something head on, it's a welcome approach.

2. Don't hesitate to use a sturdy chair for balance when learning a new move. Remove the chair after you become more confident or never remove the chair if you feel the need to use it. You can still benefit from the movements with some balance help. If you cannot do this even with a chair for whatever reason, consider seated tai chi.

3. There is no need to lift your leg and kick, ever! Surprised? Almost every move has an alternative position and if you can't kick, point your toe. Eventually, you can try to kick but if that never comes to be, the movement still has value.

4. Tai chi should not make you anxious or nervous. The purpose of tai chi, in addition to balance and flexibility, is to gain a sense of calm. If this is not happening, perform simple movements like "Pushing Chi" and control your breathing. "Wave hands like clouds" is also a good way to become calmer and concentrate on breath. The slower, the better. It is true that learning the actual movements, a memory exercise, can be a little stressful. Where do I place my foot? How do I raise my hand? Which hand was that again? Well, this is the memory/good for your brain part of tai chi. Once you get the muscle memory needed to get through a movement, the calm and breathing will follow. It may take a month or six months but it will happen. Practice 3-5 days a week, even if only for 5 or 10 minutes.

5. Are you training to perform in a martial arts movie? Probably not. There is no "perfect", only improvement and it's YOUR improvement, not a movie version. They cheat anyway with slow motion, stunt doubles, AI, creative editing and on and on. That's why they are fun to watch because mostly, it is the impossible and not reality. Fantasy. Remind yourself that you cannot and should not ever compare yourself to a movie or even a training video. Yes, follow the lesson and use the Principles of tai chi and keep practicing but only for yourself, not a performance. I must say that once you learn the moves and their names, the martial arts movies are more fun to watch because you start to recognize what is happening on the screen. "Hey! That character just did Snake Creeps, Pheasant Stands! Wow!"

6. There are multiple tai chi styles. This website concentrates mostly on Yang Style, the most popular. Some balance tai chi programs combine multiple styles. There is no right or wrong, only what makes you the most comfortable and the one you are most likely to practice.

7. A note from this blogger: I practiced tai chi almost daily for two years before I gained the ability to stand on one leg. Two years! It took that long to build up the strength, thanks to limitations of illness and injury. What if I didn't bother? What if I realized that I would need to practice over and over for two years before I would have the ability to perform the simple task of standing on one leg? Maybe I would give up but two years later, I would not have that ability. I would still be at square one. Someone else may have improved in a month or six months. So why did I not give up? Because the benefits of the practice became more and more evident every day. My muscles started to improve and give me strength and balance. I felt better every time I tried to accomplish something new and eventually, accomplished it.

   
   

   You will too. Good luck in your journey.

Peace