The Benefits of Tai Chi

Even though I started my martial arts journey in 2011, I didn't begin Tai Chi until a couple years after that. One of the black belts at the #AllenAcademy, Sensei Jane, led the #TaiChi classes on Friday afternoons. As I progressed through the ranks, one of our requirements was to attend classes with Sensei Jane and familiarize ourselves with the various forms. I committed to attending, and then fell in love with it. For those unfamiliar with it, you can see this #KaiserPermanente article about it here: https://hqab.kaiserpermanente.org/georgia/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.aa106255spec

The first few classes were a little different than what I was accustomed to; deep breathing, focusing on aligning breathwork with body movement, and trying to slow down as much as possible were reoccurring themes, which ultimately became lessons for life outside of class.

While doing the classes, I noticed that I would routinely leave the Friday afternoon sessions feeling much better than I did prior to arriving. It was these lessons that focused on breathwork, balance, and mindfulness that added another benefit to my martial arts journey. I continued attending classes on Fridays for a couple years before I had a change in my schedule and could no longer attend.

While this post isn't intended to talk about the similarities between #CityManagement and #MartialArts, there are numerous other articles about #Leadership and the connection to various arts. Phil Jackson, a highly decorated basketball player, coach, and executive discussed some of these things in his various writings.

Earlier this year I began attending Tai Chi again and quickly experienced the same benefits as I had nearly 8 years ago. While it may be uncomfortable or awkward at first, I can assure you that you will experience your own unique benefits if you give it a try and commit.