“I feel so happy” she said as she handed me the picture she drew.

“I feel so happy when I do Tai Chi.  I don’t know why! It  is strange.  I don’t always feel that happy. Mostly when we do Tai Chi together. I feel something warm inside.  I feel like I want to close my eyes and just stay there.”

Tai Chi does make us feel happy.  And it makes us peaceful and calm. It makes us want to smile at others. And be friendly!

There is so much love when we all do Tai Chi together. Love for each other, for ourselves, for our families.

It makes us feel happy!

You should try it too!

We read more and more about anxiety and stress.  It is not easy to find inner peace these days. Suicide rates are up in all age groups.  Many young couples decide not to have children in this troubled time. We all wonder what tomorrow will bring.  Voices are raised.  Fingers pointed.  We feel insecure and sometimes scared.  Wow!  What a confusing time. It is time to try Tai Chi!

Fortunately, there are things we can do to alleviate  anxiety and stress.

A recent article from the NCCIH, The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, outlines many of them for us.

 The NCCIH suggests:

• Relaxation techniques to relieve chronic medical issues as well as anxiety disorders.   Acupuncture may help.  Hypnosis can be helpful.  Massage can feel very good, too.
• Mindfulness meditation stands out for its effectiveness.  It can be a seated or a moving meditation such as Tai Chi.   Mind- Body practices are a great place to start.

• A slow walk in a beautiful place, usually alone, may be a form of meditation that works for you.
• Listening to music often works because the vibration of the sound as well as the beautiful notes become a form of meditation.
• We can also use relaxing teas such as chamomile.  It works best if we prepare and drink it slowly.

In my experience, it seems that something I can do for myself is more effective than something that is done to me by another person.  A massage is wonderful, but how often can you do it?  It costs quite a bit and you have to schedule a time.  It is not always convenient.

Meditation and meditative moments such as Tai Chi can be more effective because once you learn it there is no cost.  You can do it whenever you want, and wherever you want.  A 10 minute break  in a busy day gives  wonderful benefits of relaxation for the mind and body.   An hour is good, too.  Fit it into your schedule in the way that works best for you.  For anxiety and stress try Tai Chi

The versatility of Tai Chi is powerful.   You can be standing by a tree in a park, or sitting in your office, or walking slowly down the street.  It doesn’t matter.

Tai Chi is:

• visualization of the flow of the chi in your body
• the feeling of growing roots from the bottom of your feet like a tree
• the slow movement of the abdomen as you gently breathe
• the relaxation of your shoulders as you let go of tension
• quietness inside you head as you focus on the chi surrounding you.
• a way of life
• perfect in the morning and before going to bed

It is a great way to begin to tackle the stress surrounding you.  You will feel the difference right away.  I did.  Everyone I introduce to it relaxes. For Anxiety and Stress we should all try Tai Chi.

Tai Chi for Kids is the perfect way to start since it is easy to follow, takes no previous experience, and works for all ages.  We are all KIDS inside, aren’t we? We all need to be cared for, to feel loved.  Get your Tai Chi for Kids set today.  You will be  taking the first step on the road to relaxation.  It is time to try Tai Chi.

We often talk about the calming side of Tai Chi since we live such hectic lives in an over-busy world of constant stimulation and connection.

But it is good to know that Tai Chi is also a great exercise for improving strength and stamina to keep you going.  Strength and stamina are not just about lifting weights for big muscles.

Strength and Stamina are good for us in many ways.  Such as:

• improved strength for good bones and muscles.
• improved stamina to keep going longer with better focus
• better balance for fewer falls as our strength develops
• reduced stress on the joints and muscles to help us avoid injury

I like to think of TaiChi as the perfect exercise for the whole family. Not just the elderly, or the toddlers, or the sick, or the disabled, or the athletes, or the studious, or the recovering or someone else!   NO.  It is for everyone.  At every age we need to Tai Chi.  Wouldn’t you like to feel more focus, balance, strength, flexibility and inner peace?

The great thing about Tai Chi is how quickly you can see improvement in all the qualities above.

• In the classroom can see improvement in calmness and focus in just 10 minutes.
• In a discussion of bullying we can see increased compassion in 20 or 30 minutes
• We can see improvement of balance after merely 6 sessions – perhaps 3 weeks.  And it will continue to improve the more we do Tai Chi.
• In athletics we can see improvement in focus as we shoot a basket, hit a tennis ball, a volley ball or baseball, swim gracefully through the water, run without jarring your joints and muscles.  It just takes a few sessions and awareness.

Of course.  We all would like to feel better, focus better, and  perform better.

There is a great article in the NY Times section on Personal Health this week.  It is by Jane Brody who has been writing on health issues for the NY Times  since 1979.  She has covered so many aspects of health. It is great when she write on Tai Chi .  You can read it here.

She sites many studies that have been done, primarily on older adults.  But please remember, what applies to adults applies to children also.

Her last paragraph is, for me, the most important.

“And, in the process of getting your body in shape with tai chi, you’re likely to improve your mental state. In a New Zealand study of college students, tai chi was shown to counter depression, anxiety and stress. It also enhances an important quality called self-efficacy — confidence in one’s ability to perform various activities and overcome obstacles to doing so. ”

You, too, can feel the benefits of Tai Chi.  Why don’t you start now?  And don’t forget the breathing!