tai chi 24

I have been attending a free weekly tai chi class at my local library since July. I needed to find a new teacher, and to also learn a less-complicated version of tai chi, and this class practically fell in my lap. It's nice when things work out.

There are actually two different classes, different forms, being taught each week. A beginners class teaches the circle form, which features a few basic tai chi moves that are repeated in a circular pattern. The second, more advanced class is teaching Yang style 24 form tai chi. This is the one that I'm most interested in learning.

I already had learned many of the moves that are part of the 24 form when I was doing the 108 form. Once I master this routine I could do this one anywhere, anytime. The teacher is very good and the rest of the class all seem like nice folks. On some Fridays I even stay for both classes. I think I finally found a form of exercise that I really enjoy doing on a regular basis.

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a good introduction to tai chi and qi gong

The book and DVD of The Power of Tai Chi, featuring Master Shao Zhao Ming is a nice introduction to basics of tai chi, including philosophy, breathing and forms. Concepts like qi (personal energy) and Dan Tian (where energy is stored in the body) are explained in easy-to-understand words, pictures and exercises. Shao even includes some basic qi gong concepts and exercises, demonstrating them with and his wife Ching, recommending doing qi gong before starting to practice tai chi. He also demonstrates the martial applications of tai chi, an aspect it is good to remember that underlies all of the seemingly serene postures.

This is a nice biographical video on Master Shao (not included on the DVD)

Warm-up and cool down exercises and a relaxing meditation are also included. The meat of the package is Tai Chi 8-form, an extremely shortened version of Yang-style tai chi. I'm not sure how purists would feel about his routine, but it does include some of the well-known postures — Repulse Monkey, Brush Knee, Parting the Horses Mane, Jade Lady, Cloud Hands, etc. The book presents step-by-step photos with explanations of each exercise and routine. It is best to read the book first and then watch the DVD which is structured in exactly the same sequence. Viewers will be able to follow along more easily after they have read and seen examples of the main concepts.

I have been learning the long-form of the Yang style for the past few months and have come to feel that it is just too much for me. I'm about a third of the way through the 108 moves and have been looking around for some other resources. I don't think this Tai Chi 8-form will do the trick. I need something a bit more challenging, but not as intense and exhaustive as the 108-form. There is a 24-form version that I hope will be what I'm looking for. But for someone who is just starting out and would like to dip their toe in the tai chi waters I think this book and DVD combo would be a good place to start. Just the meditation section at the end of the DVD is a nice, peaceful, thing to do.

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everything ends

I have been doing acupuncture for quite a few years now. When I lived in DC I saw two different practitioners. The main one practiced a very traditional version, using a minimum of needles, only placed at the areas of interest, some herbs on the body, and a heating lamp. He was frankly a miracle worker. I knew I could go see him when something felt out-of-wack and he would help get me back on track.

The second acupuncturist, who I would see from time to time when the first was out of town or just for a different take, was schooled in Japanese acupuncture and would place more needles — they had to be symmetrical on the body  — and never used heat. When I asked him about the heating lamp, he just rolled his eyes as if I had mentioned something from the Dark Ages. I think both doctors and acupuncture were beneficial to me in helping me feel more balanced, have more energy.

Acupuncture doll

When I moved to Florida two years ago I looked around for a combination of the first two doctors and found someone who did the symmetrical needle placement but also used heat. He wouldn't put herbs on the body, but would prescribe Chinese herbal medicine and teas if needed. I had been feeling, a few months ago, that maybe I needed to look into trying a different acupuncturist. The medicine and the acupuncture just didn't seem to be doing much for me, no matter how often I went. I'm not sure if he sensed my frustration, but one day he suggested I try tai chi, and offered to teach me. That has been a boon, but he is very "old school" about the style of tai chi one should practice and the Yang style 108-form is simply too much for me. I don't want to spend two hours every morning doing tai chi  — who has that sort of time?

As wonderful as it has been to have the opportunity to start learning tai chi I have still been thinking that it might be time to try another approach. To be honest, I would have already moved on if not for the tai chi lessons. The deciding factor was my last acupuncture session. A line was crossed. I'm still processing how I feel, but I have no desire to go back anytime soon. The doctor has known me for quite some time, but I don't think that gives him a right to comment on my life or what I need, or try to give me a massage when I'm not sure I want one. I don't want to be his friend. I'm always, bottom line, a client, there for treatment. It's a slippery slope, and I think that cultural differences and communication gaps also play a part, but I suddenly didn't feel comfortable. And to let someone put needles in your body you need to feel safe and comfortable at a bare minimum.

I guess what's different about seeing a doctor like this vs. a "regular" doctor, besides the Eastern medicine vs. Western medical approach is that you see them a lot more frequently, so there is bound to be some sort of bonding. I really like my gynecologist and have been seeing her enough to feel she actually knows me and doesn't have to check my chart to ask how I'm doing, but we're not going out for coffee anytime soon, and I don't think she'd try to tell me what I need or don't need to do. Boundaries.

It's time for a change.