Tai Chi can teach us to live in the present moment...

Given the nature of our work, Fayne and I knew the day would come when we would have to say goodbye to one of our students. This week we said goodbye to Karen Eller; one of our inaugural students at the Garland Senior Center. Considering that our current oldest student is 96 years young, Karen passing at 63 brought an important perspective home yet again. Yesterday no longer matters and tomorrow holds no guarantees, so live your life TODAY. NOW is all we truly have.

At Karen's memorial service I overheard people talking about missed opportunities to share their true feelings with someone close to them or even losing the opportunity to say goodbye. I once knew a family that stayed apart for MANY years because each was afraid to contact the other more out of embarrassment than anything. (They had completely forgotten what broke them apart in the first place) It took a family emergency to get them talking but at least they are talking and enjoying each other again. You know the old saying - "There is NO TIME like the present" so please do yourself a favor, step up, make it right, live everyday as if it were your last...

This week in class...
So, as you might have guessed, I incorporated this perspective in class this week. When working on Tai Chi or Qigong, (as in life) the present moment is all we have. Previous and future movements have no bearing on what you are doing right now. Being able to get into that "single minded focus" is a very important tool in helping you grow in your training. There are such intricate signals within our bodies just waiting to be listened to and explored.

Scientifically speaking...
We have talked about proprioception before but it bears heavily on this discussion so we will review...There are many, signals constantly feeding back to the brain in any given millisecond of time. Information about breath, movement, heartbeat, digestion, body temperature, textures, tastes, smells, sounds, sights and so on...
WHEW! It is no wonder many of us are choosing not to listen...

Why should we listen?
To put it simply, because THAT is precisely where LIFE HAPPENS. As humans we interpret our entire world through a multitude of sensory inputs. Think about the Mars Rover, with all its precise (very expensive) instrumentation, feeding back information to the scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory way back here on Earth. As sophisticated as this Rover is at sensing and sending data, the scientists have to interpret the information to make any sense of it all. Well, what if they only received (or simply ignored) HALF the information from the Rover? What would that do to their understanding of Mars? In the same light, how can we be expected to truly experience life if we are only listening to part of the sensory inputs we have available? When was the last time you REALLY smelled a flower? Did you truly appreciate the fragrance or was it a cursory "identification" sniff? (Hmm, thats a rose...) When you last shared a hug with someone did you feel their heartbeat? What about the expanding and contracting that happens with each breath? Did you hold them long enough for them to relax into your arms? Were you able to relax into their arms? This may seem trivial to some but it is truly everything to me. What is the point of holding someone close if you can not take a few moments to truly appreciate their energy?

So, how can we be more "present"?
Just like any other (physical, mental of spiritual) exercise, it takes consistent practice. There are no short cuts... Early morning or just before bed when all is quiet are the best times I have found for this training.

Start by just being still and listening. Initially I would suggest trying a simple breath awareness exercise. Listen to your inhale and exhale cycle, working to smooth and eliminate the space between the breaths. It may seem difficult at first but if you practice even 5 minutes a day consistently, it will become easier. As your comfort increases with this drill your mind will become more still and you will be able to listen to your body at a higher level. Try to notice your heartbeat, the expansion and relaxation of your body with each breath. Feel the temperature and/or breeze upon your skin and smile...

The more consistent you are in your practice, the deeper your awareness will become. If you are open to this training, I assure you the world will be forever changed within your heart.