Tai Chi

Many aspects of life can affect a person’s wellbeing. It can be affected by personal incidents such as trauma or violence or something as seemingly benign as the weather. It is important to upkeep personal wellbeing.  The practice of Tai Chi can help by bringing peace and wellness to oneself.

Breath-work is an extremely simple and effective tool that should be used during Tai Chi but can also be implemented in daily life. Breathing can change the way we handle a stressful situation. The following is a type breathing that can best be utilized while practicing Tai Chi.

Breathing in Nature: Nature is a great resource for healing and grounding. With feet on the ground, breathe in deeply imagining that your feet are long roots running into the earth. Breathe in earth energy, breathe out stress, tension and pain.

Here are some of our favorite Tai Chi exercises. Please allow a moment for videos to load and see these moves in action. 

The Rocking Movement: Stand with feet separated shoulder-width apart, hands at sides. Raise your heels and with palms facing upwards, raise your hand to the level of your chest. Turn your palms downward and move your hands downward while you lower your heels and raise your toes in a rocking movement. Continue slowly rocking back and forth, breathing deeply. With each move drop your shoulders; relax your arms and fingers. Do the exercise smoothly and slowly. Breathe deeply and imagine that you feet are planted securely on the earth. As you raise your hands imagine that you are able to bring down into body and mind healing energy to cleanse and fill you. This is a very beneficial movement for trauma and depression.

The Shower of Light: With left foot forward, raise your hands up over your head, then move them downward as if showering yourself with light. Feel the energy cleansing and filling your being. Repeat on the right side, with right foot forward. Breathe in the shower of light, and then exhale and let go of any negativity within you. Feel the light cleansing and renewing you. This is an excellent movement for persons who are depressed or dealing with past wounds of trauma.

Fly Through the Air: With your left foot forward, your left hand upward, swim or fly through the air. The motion should be free and light with arms and shoulders relaxed. Repeat the movement on the right side starting with your right hand upward. Fly freely through the air letting go of all that weighs you down, feeling light, alive and free. Open your heart to all the possibilities for your life and healing. This is good to release pain in back, shoulders and head.

Let Go of the Past and Open to Receive: With left foot forward, palms curved softly downward, push your hands outward in a gentle arc, letting go of all tension, negativity, and violence within you. Turn palms upward and draw them back towards the chest, breathing in peace and healing. Repeat with right foot forward. Breathe out the pain and violence. Breathe in peace and healing.

Passing Cloud: Your knees are slightly bent, with your feet separated shoulder-width. Move your arms in circles at eye level starting with your left hand. Imagine problems, joys, and sorrows all passing like clouds, while you stand in the eternal moment, peaceful, calm, and centered. Breathe deeply and connect with the eternal nature of your being.

We recommend practicing Tai Chi as often as possible.  Five minutes each morning or eve can make an incredible difference. What is your favorite Tai Chi movement?

All moves are adopted from the Capacitar Tool kit www.capacitar.org