A few years back – I made an attempt at working with the precepts of Tai Chi to help both my health and my mental faculties (STOP laughing!).  Unfortunately, I screwed up my knee attempting one of the exercises, which made me somewhat skittish in continuing.  However, I kept reading up on the full concept, which has helped me work with my breathing during meditation.  Well, I’ve decided to set my trepidation aside and make another attempt at the exercise aspect again.  However, this time, I plan to take the exercises a lot slower – and work each one at my own pace, rather than the pace displayed on the DVD set that I have.

Being someone who has a lot of difficulty working on meditation while sitting still – the breathing exercises within the Tai Chi system have provided me with a much fuller direction.  Previously, my best mediations came when I was out walking…not a good thing, especially when you sidewalk surf through the neighborhood like I do.  Even worse when you live and walk on the busiest street in the neighborhood (again, I do).  You never know when you step off the curb to cross a street, working in a nice mood, and nearly become street pizza minus most of the veggie toppings.  So this little piece of assistance for my “still” meditative works has become a welcome addition to my “arsenal.”

I understand that its not for everyone — much like I believe that any system of personal belief is best utilized by the individual it is meant for – and not forced onto others as the “only way” to do “x”.  Perhaps working through katas in a martial arts program would be helpful for someone reading this?  Perhaps not. But you’ll never know until you give something an earnest try – right?  Or perhaps not – some folks can figure out that something isn’t for them just through subtle observation and no participation.  That works for them…who is to say they are wrong in that approach for themselves?  As I usually do when writing these….I digress….

I’m looking forward to adding the movements within the Tai Chi system to my so-called “arsenal”.  I have no doubt that some of the particular movements will work well for me – a handful of others, I have some doubts — but I’m willing to give it a shot.  Depending on how things go…I’ll blog a bit more about my experiences…Nine Hells, I might even make a podcast episode around it.  First, I have to try….