Guest Author
I’m practicing Tai Chi as an antidote to the swirl of the world. I’m writing this after subjecting myself to an onslaught of bad news delivered on my news feed, in my inbox and on social media. Now I’m wondering how you’re reacting to this bit of information. If you’re like me then it gave you a feeling of anxiety just thinking about reading emails and looking at social media. The fact is we’re all surrounded by this ocean of bad news and these avalanches of new information constantly calling out for our attention.
I’ve often sought solace by avoiding the onslaught of information completely. I’ve done digital detox for extended periods of time in the hope that I’d find some equilibrium. I end up feeling disconnected and ignorant of current events, so I go back to the computer and plug back in. I don’t end up feeling so much connected or informed as anxious all over again.
Why Tai Chi
While I was searching for a solution to this endless cycle of agitation, I discovered Tai Chi. At first a question came to mind: Amidst all of these choices, why should I do Tai Chi?
Maybe what I really meant was: What can Tai Chi do for me?
Better yet: Why should I practice Tai Chi online?
The answer is straightforward. It landed on me after practicing Tai Chi with just a few simple exercises. I immediately felt calm and centered. I noticed that my breathing was more regular and efficient. And I was still in my living room using my laptop to watch the video for my first Tai Chi lesson!
Body and Mind
Though I’ve known for a long time that I needed a low impact aerobic exercise that would help to get my energy flowing, Tai Chi ended up doing quite a bit more than than. Practicing Tai Chi is the perfect solution for the complicated feeling of unease that I needed to address in the first place. Now I can achieve that physical flow, while simultaneously calming my mental anxiety.
Practicing Tai Chi is helping me feel stable even outside my practice. It helps during the times of day that I used to feel imbalanced. It helps partly because I know I can use any screen that’s available to me at any time in to get expert lessons in Tai Chi. In fact, now that I have the first Tai Chi form committed to memory, I find myself doing quick little moves here and there, whenever I need a reminder of how to stay in the flow. It’s no wonder that this ancient technique has been around for a thousand years.