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