| Interview Practise
Tai Chi Regularly - Lose Those Aches and Pains!!!
– interviewed by Instructor Lis
Maria freely and cheerfully admits that she is a Tai Chi addict and has been since she
started classes two years ago. A nurse by profession, she has lived and worked all over
the world. Now, in her early fifties, she is involved in Community Care Health Education.
Those thirty or so years of nursing gave Maria chronic back pain, very common amongst
nurses due to bending and lifting heavy, awkward patients. Being a woman with a positive
and determined attitude, she refused to succumb to the pain, knowing a doctor would
probably recommend surgery. Instead, she preferred to walk for exercise and made sure she
didn't exacerbate the problem.
As she grew older, however, her back became more troublesome. She discovered that after a
session in her garden, she would have to lie flat on the floor to alleviate the pain.
Arthritis also began to appear. Preparing for work in the mornings involved hobbling to
the bathroom and taking a long hot shower to get her stiff joints mobile.
Maria walked regularly with a friend but they both decided they needed something extra in
the form of exercise. Neither was keen to go to a gym - the thought of all that lycra put
them off - and they also dismissed water aerobics. When her friend suggested Tai Chi,
Maria thought she might as well have a go, even though she wasn't really interested. It
looked too slow. They signed up for a six weeks' course at one of the colleges. Although
Maria said she learnt absolutely nothing from the instructor, she loved the feeling of the
movement and almost immediately realised the benefits to be gained.
It was then she signed up with our Academy and her addiction
took hold. Being able to attend multiple classes all over town was convenient and that
flexibility suited her lifestyle. Maria attended three classes per week and practised
diligently at home using the video tape.
Many physical benefits ensued. Her
back pain is vastly improved to
the point where she can now spend hours in the garden and suff ers
no ill effects. This for Maria is the ultimate test, as in her opinion,
the state of an individual's
back is pivotal to quality of life. An old injury to a bone in her foot
was beginning to cause problems
but now is not an issue. The arthritis has slowed and her morning
mobility has returned. A very "right handed" person, she finds she often
uses her left hand for tasks now.
Another side effect has been a longer stride in
walking. She always noticed, being short, that her steps were short. Now they have
lengthened, which implies greater flexibility and strength in the hips, legs and feet.
When Maria began her Tai Chi classes, she was going through an emotionally stressful time.
The Qigong practice was a perfect antidote. She loved it right from the start, even though
she felt self conscious and stupid at first. She told me she thinks maybe she has a little
nap; she seems to go so deeply into a black hole. It is more likely she has learnt to
relax and let go her conscious mind. She can't remember having any particular problems
holding the posture, but commented that the gradual increase in time spent on it during
class would have assisted the process.
Maria repeated the Beginners' level. She feels very strongly that you need a good
foundation to build on. She didn't feel confident with the movements, so half way through
the first term she decided "to chill out, learn what I could and repeat beginners. I
still consider that a good decision for me." The instructors' advice "to enjoy
the journey and not compare or compete with other students" rang true at about that
time for her.
The main difficulty she had and still has, is with memory. Now that she knows the
sequence, she tells me she forgets details that have been worked on in class. Many
students discover this. They learn something new and something else slips out of the
memory. It certainly isn't due to lack of practice in Maria's case. She practises five
days per week and still attends two or three classes per week.
Here is a story Maria related in regard to the way Tai Chi has insinuated itself into her
life. "Once I somehow lodged my wheelbarrow between a tree and something - might add,
I was gardening in the dark and couldn't see what I was doing!! - and no way could I budge
it, it was well and truly stuck. Then I thought "put your Tai Chi legs into it"
so by using the strength of my legs it was easy. This was in early days of Tai Chi so I
was pretty impressed. Now consciously or unconsciously, I regularly use those principles
we learn in class."
Maria made special mention of the tolerance and encouragement of her instructors, Lis and
Dave, and also the supportive atmosphere in classes from the other students. She
particularly enjoys that friendly helpful attitude of constructive criticism evident when
classes do partner work.
Maria is not one for sitting around at home. After all, part of her job is to motivate
people to exercise. Maria goes ballroom dancing and to a sewing class on those rare nights
when she is not attending Tai Chi or practising. She arranges her social activity around
her classes.
Self confessed Tai Chi addict, Maria can see herself coming along to classes when she's in
her eighties as do some of our energetic older students. In thirty years time, she'll be
an expert!
(This is an actual interview, but the name has been changed for reasons of privacy.)
TOP |
