| Once in a while, I get really bored with my | | | | find peace and improve your balance. |
| workouts. You know, after a while it gets to | | | | |
| be the same old, same old stuff. It is always | | | | Tai Chi is based on using the whole body, |
| weights or cardio machines or the same stuff | | | | even the inner strength of the mind and |
| over and over again. I have worked out for | | | | breath, all together as one unit. Think of it |
| years and sometimes it is nice to have | | | | as standing yoga or a combination of that and |
| something different to sink your teeth into | | | | ballet. Maybe it seems silly for a tough guy |
| when you go to the gym. Or it is also nice to | | | | like me to say I do something similar to |
| have something fun and invigorating to do at | | | | ballet, but I tell you, it is not only |
| home. Something that gets you started off on | | | | relaxing but challenging as well. Some people |
| the right foot in the morning. | | | | call it moving meditation. Because that is |
| | | | what you are doing. You are moving your hands |
| I recently found something that fits that | | | | and arms and legs together, but you are |
| criteria and it is called Tai Chi. You may | | | | relaxing your mind at the same time to allow |
| have heard of it. It has been around for | | | | deep meditation. |
| centuries. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art | | | | |
| but different from regular sparring types of | | | | Tai Chi patterns are easy to learn and hard |
| kung fu. Some people may call it a soft style | | | | to master. They are very flowing and smooth |
| of martial arts and I think they have a point | | | | and develop the internal flow or Chi or your |
| because you can't really whack a guy with Tai | | | | body and soul. It was tough for me at first, |
| Chi. But that doesn't matter because the | | | | doing all those weird poses and repetitive |
| point of this exercise is to help a person | | | | moves, but it got easier and much more fun |
| relax and to inner reflect, if you will. How | | | | once I got the hang of it. I knew I had to be |
| to do Tai Chi correctly and effectively is a | | | | bad before I good be good. |
| simple matter of finding the right | | | | |
| instructor. | | | | There are a wide range of videos out there to |
| | | | help you get started and I tried quite a few |
| You see, Tai Chi is all about finding the | | | | before I got hooked on one instructor that |
| right balance within yourself, your "Chi" or | | | | really blew me away. You have to find someone |
| spiritual center. Most people do not do Tai | | | | that knows what they are doing and can really |
| Chi for any martial arts benefit. I know I | | | | relate to you what Tai Chi is all about. |
| did not start it for that reason. I did it to | | | | |
| have another form of exercise in place of | | | | Here is what really struck me...it's |
| regular boring stuff I was sick of. The thing | | | | something I can do for my health for the rest |
| is, I discovered that it really does help you | | | | of my life. |