By Mary Gemming, Ph.D.
It does not seem like it was more than seven years ago that it happened. We received a call from my husband’s mother, Joan. Sounding very faint, she whispered, “Come quickly. Something happened to your father.”
I will never forget what came next. My husband’s father, Ed, had a stroke. Unknown to us, Joan’s Alzheimer’s disease had progressed, and she waited so long to call 911 that they could not do much for Ed. While rushing to the East Coast of Florida, we got caught in a gigantic traffic jam on I-4, not able to get to an alternate route. All roads were blocked in every direction.
After we finally got to Daytona Beach, we found Joan in a confused state, trying to hide all personal papers. Nevertheless, we went to the hospital and were told that Ed did not have long to live. We had a lot of urgent decisions to make for him and arrangements to make for Joan because she was slipping fast.
It would be difficult to express how much stress we were under. This was where my Tai Chi training was put to the test. I started doing my Tai Chi exercises every day. I don’t know what I would have done without the relaxing effect of this practice.
One of the many benefits of Tai Chi is that it reduces stress.
Health professionals are recognizing that regular practice of Tai Chi can improve balance, coordination, flexibility, fitness, physical and mental strength, concentration, and bone density.
The History of Tai Chi
Tai Chi, a practice dating back thousands of years, integrates the mind and body. In everyday life, our minds and bodies are accustomed to moving at a fast pace. However, through focus in Tai Chi, the mind and body have the chance to move together, which is why they call it “moving meditation.” What is so wonderful about Tai Chi is that all ages can enjoy it. There are many styles of Tai Chi, ranging from “Tai Chi for Kids” to “Tai Chi for Arthritis” and advanced styles such as the Chen style. I was trained in the Sun style, which is one of the easiest methods to learn.
I learned the Sun style taught by Dr. Paul Lam, a medical doctor from Australia and world leader of Tai Chi for health improvement. Dr. Lam, a Tai Chi practitioner for 36 years, was inspired to help others after he was able to overcome osteoarthritis with Tai Chi.
Several events impressed me after dedicated practice of Tai Chi. Before Tai Chi, my height had shrunk by two inches, but after regular practice, including spinal stretches, my height came back to normal. When I felt arthritis in my knees, I found the pain had lessened with the practice of “Tai Chi for Arthritis.”
Each week I find new discoveries of what Tai Chi can do for the body. Recently, I began personal training with a woman who had a stroke. With regular practice of the gentle Tai Chi for Health movements, she has been able to get movement back in her arm and leg affected by the stroke.
Even more amazing, my husband’s cousin was once in a wheelchair. After learning the “Tai Chi for Arthritis” form while sitting down, she was able to move out of her wheelchair and advance to walking with a walker.
Into Practice
To give you an opportunity to see the benefits of Tai Chi for yourself, I would like to share a simple but effective movement that we do in our warm-up exercises at Shapes Fitness, where I teach. We call it “Gathering Chi,” which means life energy.
Standing relaxed with your feet apart at shoulder width and parallel, your arms relaxed, palms facing upward by the hips, breathe in slowly. Lift your arms and hands forward and upward to about shoulder height. Then turn your palms downward, exhale slowly, lower your hands downward, pressing down in front of the midsection of your body. Bring the hands upward again starting by the hips and repeat several times, inhaling as the hands come up and exhaling as the hands come down, as if moving through water or heavy air. And here is something for you to think about:
The Chinese say, “Do this movement l,000 times each day and you will heal all infirmities.”
I have a lot for which to be grateful when I think of the gifts from this ancient Chinese form of exercise. My hope is that more people continue to learn how Tai Chi can transform their lives.
Mary Gemming, Ph.D., has been teaching and counseling students to trust their inner voice and manifest a more positive life since 1978 in New York State and Florida. She is the author of Discovering Treasures of Peace and Mystical Secrets of the Stars. Mary teaches Tai Chi at Shapes Fitness at University Park in Sarasota, FL, and she also offers limited private training and consultation. For class times at Shapes, call 941-359-0224 or email Mary directly at rubygold84@hotmail.com.