Hello Friends!

If you’re new to meditation, you may have some trouble trying to get to that quiet space. What really helped me was the realization that meditating isn’t just staying still and doing nothing. For those of us who need to “do” rather than “be”, knowing the reason for quieting the mind is helpful. Why do we need to be so darn quiet?

To listen.

Imagine that you’re a parent with three children in a crowded mall. You tell your children you’ll pick them up at the north entrance at 3:00.

One child is on the phone texting, another is distracted by a pair of shoes in a window, and the third one is listening (you’re not supposed to have favorites, buuuut…did I mention this one was listening?) The same information was offered to all three children, but only one received it.

Don’t worry. All three children make it home. Eventually. One child just happens to get there a little more comfortably than the other two.

So, what does this have to do with Tai Chi?

Trying to go from regular brain activity to where you can listen is like trying to stop a train that’s going 100 mph. That’s where Tai Chi comes in. When you practice Tai Chi, it puts the brakes on. The more you practice, the quicker you can slow the train down. Once the train is still, it’s easier to hear the announcements. I don’t know about you, but I can never hear the announcements while the train is moving. It’s all just garbled sounds to me.

Tai Chi is simply one method to get to that state of stillness where you can hear more clearly. There are many methods…

Whichever method you use, don’t worry. All of us eventually make it home.