Slow to wake this morning. 8:45 rolled around pretty quickly after the fresh fruit and yogurt breakfast my husband made for us. I read my Science of Mind Magazine meditation, and Marc Nepo’s daily treat of poetry and wisdom from The Book of Awakening; but my body wanted to go back to sleep. Yet something made me shower and get down to the Aromas Grange for tai chi. That form of moving, breathing and counting ever so slo-oh-ww-ly while I silently stretch and ground my body is my form of meditation. The type A Pat, the ever-spinning six plates me, few know is a closet quiet person. That my favorite moments come during the three times a week I move to taI chi in deep silence, would surprise most of my closest friends. And I’ve been doing it for more than 20 years. Amen. This is my spiritual practice.
Today all evidence points to the face that tai chi and meditation are important for long life, bone health, balance and even blood pressure. Arianna Huffington’s scintillating new memoir: THRIVE: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-being,, Wisdom and Wonder puts both the research and her gripping near death stress experience right before us. So, although at 69.5 I still need to challenge myself with a ‘to do’ list of things to be “up” for; the words Willie Nelson sings “Still is Still Movin’ to Me,” mean tai chi for me. Try it you might like it.