Tag: tai chi

We didn’t get the first frost

annebower

It’s that time of the year when we gardeners watch out for the first frost. One was predicted for our area, so we scuttled around the garden gathering all the green tomatoes we could handle, all the green peppers (even if only 2″ in diameter), covered the Swiss chard and last row of beets with sheets, and hoped for the best.

This morning when I looked out the windows I could see that my neighbor’s pasture, which is slightly below the level of my property, got frosted. But we escaped. This makes me think of all the “it could happen” things that surround us. And after our first “Fall Prevention Awareness” event, held at the Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, I’m still wondering if most people still take chances they shouldn’t–keeping that one pretty throw rug in place, not having a grip bar beside the shower, not having a night light in the bedroom, not getting that annual vision check, not drinking enough water. Let’s all remind each other about staying safe, please! We’re having another “Fall Prevention Awareness” event soon, this time at the Thompson Senior Center in Woodstock (Oct. 8, 10-11).

But back to the green tomatoes. There simply were too many, so I called up a neighbor and asked is she wanted some. “Oh yes,” she’d love them. We hadn’t seen each other for a while and had fun standing on her sunny porch, catching up and comparing our spaghetti sauce recipes. She’s about to turn 87, still keeps goats and chickens, still cleans other’s houses for pay, still makes endless jars of jelly, jam, and pickles to sell. How does she do it???? “It keeps me young,” she says, obviously happy she can still do all these things even if her arthritis really acts up sometimes. What a great role model!

She doesn’t do tai chi or yoga, she doesn’t meditate in any formal way, but I’m guessing that when she’s moving around the goats and chickens, that’s HER tai chi; when she’s stirring another batch of strawberry jam, that’s her meditation.

September is Fall Prevention Awareness Month

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What are you doing to keep yourself safe? Have you made modifications in your home — grab bars, removal of throw rugs, better lighting, new stair railings? Have you undertaken an exercise program (or two!!)? Tai chi, Yoga, Walk with Ease, Bone Builders, Aquarobics–they’re all good. Are you doing more balance exercises during the day, like standing on one leg (maybe with a reassuring finger on a chair back or counter) or some squats? Have you had your vision and hearing tested lately? Yes–hearing can make a difference to your balance. Are you reminding yourself to be more mindful, take your time to accomplish tasks, stop hurrying here and there–this isn’t just a good fall prevention strategy, it adds to the pleasure you get doing even the smallest task. And remember too that some deep, meditative breathing can help reduce stress and tension; when you are stressed out and tense you are more likely to trip, bump into things, and fall.

As we sometimes say at this time of year: The beautiful autumn leaves fall, but we don’t have to!!

“I’m old, so what!”

annebower
A tai chi class with four participants practicing the 'wave hands in the clouds' movement, showing focus and engagement.

The August 9th edition of The Valley News carried a long article about older people teaching exercise classes. Kudos to the photographer and journalist who spent time at my Woodstock classes and did a great job. The article covers other instructors too. Above you see me with 3 students in our Beginner class, enjoying “wave hands in the clouds” together. It’s twenty years now that I’ve been teaching tai chi, and I still get a kick out of seeing the progress people make when they attend classes regularly–learning the tai chi forms, yes, but also improving their balance and awareness.

Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble

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Yesterday, participating in a demonstration that celebrated the work of Congressman John Lewis and protested the autocratic policies our national government is imposing, the hot sun pounding down on us, people in passing cars waving or giving a thumbs up –and some giving a thumbs down–my heart ached for those who are suffering because of this administration.

I know some people will say it’s inappropriate for me, as a tai chi instructor, to take a public stand in this way, but tai chi has opened my heart to the needs of my fellow human beings–not only for health but for support and encouragement. And beyond that all those basic needs that for many are being destroyed, whether because of climate change policies, cuts to medicare and medicaid, cuts to departments that provide needed services in education, health, scientific research, and more.

In tai chi we often say, “yield to the incoming force and redirect.” If only there were a way to apply that to the current political situation! I am one elderly person, and there’s little I can do to change the direction of our government. Yes, I can use my disposable income to support the causes I believe in. Yes, I can act in as caring and courteous a way as possible to all I encounter. And yes, when someone presents me with a lie or piece of misinformation/disinformation or their bigotry, I can get into a bit of good, necessary trouble by saying sorry, that really doesn’t wash OR I can’t accept that OR if that’s your attitude we have nothing to say to each other. If that offends someone, so be it. A tiny bit of good and necessary trouble.

Bafa Wubu–Eight Energies, Five Directions

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On June 20th a large group of Tai Chi Vermont instructors attended a certification workshop focused on this enjoyable, short style of tai chi. The workshop was led by Marty Kidder and Lisa Hilaire. We were in the beautiful Charlotte Congregational Church and not only learned from Marty and Lisa but from each other as well, with lots of mutual encouragement and a good bit of laughter too.

Bafa Wubu is now the new standard introductory form of tai chi in China. It takes very little space which means you can practice in your office, kitchen, garage, almost anywhere! It combines moves from the major traditional tai chi styles. The first half involves movements that engage the core, but the feet are stationary. During the second half we move forward, backward, right, left, and at the end there’s a one-leg standing posture to represent “up.”

Now that I’m certified in this form I look forward to teaching it; exactly how to fit it into the current teaching schedule? Haven’t figured that out yet!

Grateful to our Senior Centers

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For over fifteen years I’ve been teaching at the Bugbee Sr. Ctr. in WRJ and the Thompson Sr. Ctr. in Woodstock. Big thanks to the staff at both locations for all the support they’ve provided. Each of these centers provides food, exercise, advice, cultural experiences, and fantastic opportunities for socializing.

Please support your senior centers. This is more important than ever given the kinds of budget cuts the current federal administration is putting in place.

As many of you know, I’ve had three chapbooks of poetry published, each with a different press. I’m currently selling them at the bargain rate of $5 each, with the money going to our two senior centers. So let me know if you want one. If you are a current student, I can bring it to you. If you aren’t, I can mail it to you (but the cost, incl. shipping and handling, will be $10, and you’ll need to email me your mailing address). You can pay using the cart icon on this website.

Poems for Tai Chi Players, Kattywompus Press: All the poems relate directly to tai chi

The Space Between Us, Finishing Line Press: Poems about the spaces within and around us, in nature, in relationships, and a few about tai chi too

Getting it Down on Paper, Orchard Street Press: This letter-like exchange of poems with fellow-poet Pam Ahlen, explores our histories and experiences in a wonderful give and take.

Don’t hold your breath

annebower

Throughout tai chi and qigong we want to breathe into the movements. There is no absolute method for this; each person discovers the breathing patterns that work best for their own body. We often find ourselves breathing out when it feels like we’re delivering energy or force with the particular movement–but that’s not a rule.

When anxious or uncertain, people often end up holding their breath. I really don’t know why that happens, but if it occurs to you, do try and let go. Holding back on your breathing increases tension–who needs that? For me, if I have a backache or I get myself in a state about politics or a sick friend or something else, just sitting, eyes closed, hands on belly, and breathing slowly and quietly brings me back to a state where thoughts and feelings can flow. I may not have a solution for whatever problem has been bothering me, but now I can accept that I have no solution!

Some of you may be adept at meditating–using a seated or standing form. Perhaps you have a chant or mantra that you say repeatedly (outloud or inwardly) as you breathe quietly. Perhaps you have special items you look at–lovely flowers or a picture or a statue. There are so many ways we can find a breathing practice that brings us back to center and helps us become ready to face life’s quandaries with more composure and openness.

Subzero and then

annebower

Up here in the Pomfret hills the landscape is still all white, blue, brown–hardly a leaf to be found. And it’s so cold. But it’s March, and you know what that means. Mud season will be upon us soon. Perhaps you don’t have to contend with dirt roads, but for those of us who do, this can be as challenging as ice and snow. When I first encountered the deep furrows and ridges of mud it felt like driving on a thick bed of writhing snakes! The car I drove back then had low clearance, but now I’ve a better vehicle which does help some.

Mud season means navigate carefully, don’t overcompensate, just keep going. Kinda like tai chi when you’re doing a challenging move. Or like creative endeavors where you have to overcome self-doubt and the writhing snakes of self-criticism. Just keep going.

February 28: Economic Blackout

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A number of folks have started this idea: On Feb. 28th don’t buy anything from a big corporation–most of them are supporting governmental policies that are horrendous. Avoid buying from places like McDonalds, Walmart, and Amazon that have removed DEI references from their materials. If you must buy take out food, do so from a LOCALLY owned place. If lots of us take this action it will still only make a small dent, but a small dent is better than no dent at all and more actions like this may follow. Yes, you can call me a liberal and a leftist; I don’t mind. What I mind is that the billionaires who own most of the big corporations in this country are backing governmental actions that are destroying democracy. OK–I’ve had my rant.

From a tai chi perspective, sometimes it’s good to employ fa jing–the exploding release of your energy. This happens during martial applications of tai chi, but can also be used in our normal practice when we feel that urge to send our energy outward. After the energy is released, the slower, quieter tai chi moves can resume.

Snow and more snow

annebower

So cold, so sleety, so windy………

and yet we can find pleasure in the adversity!

Quite a task to shovel out of our house and clear a path past the car and onto the (fortunately) plowed) driveway. I know more snow will fall, but at least this headstart didn’t wear me down and will make it easier to clean off car and exit when I need to do that.

Hope everyone out there is safe, warm, and finding good things to do–good for body and mind. Maybe some tai chi? Some qigong? A good book? Writing?