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Taiji and Qigong: Why Poeple Stick With It
According to several studies, Tai Chi has a longer lasting effect on lifestyle than other more traditional exercise interventions like aerobic exercise. One 2011 study sought to find out why. The study particpants (ages 62-80) practiced Tai Chi 3 days a week for 1 hour at a time. At the end of the study, the researchers conducted interviews and catagorized the responses according to “five dimensions… physical, mental, emotional,social, and spiritual”. The results showed that the reasons for Tai Chi being so sticky were complex, however, I found the snippets from the interviews very touching and inspiring. Here are a few that stuck out for me, but please read the full study by clicking on it below to find your favorites!
“Because of this, I am learning some new trust in myself that’s spiritual in some respects . . . . Taiji has supported a whole place of believing in myself and listening more strongly to my own thoughts, rather than trying to fit into some other way of thinking. (Anna)”
“You know, early on, in the Qigong . . . I had this mental picture of these endorphins that go to your brain and make you feel better after you exercise, so I would be sitting there thinking, “OK you little endorphin, go down to that knee, work yourself in there and make yourself at home.” I tried to send them to various parts of my body, and after a while, I could feel it. (Helga)”
- This one really gets me because I have such a similar experience! Over the years but especially more recently as I began to practice even more slowly, I've been amazed by the power that my own imagery has over the sensations in my body and especially over discomfort and anxiety.
“I couldn’t believe it… why should we even do this?! But I can see now after doing it that it is giving me strength. I mean it’s the ability to walk better, sit better, turn better . . . it isn’t just a forceful strength, it’s a strength within, it’s an inner . . . it has caused my body to follow through with my mind when it says to do something. (Ruth)”
subjective_experiences_of_older_adults_practicing_taiji_and_qigong.pdf