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Tai Chi
I attended my first Tai Chi class on Monday night. It was really nice. I went to the Halifax Taoist Tai Chi Society, where they have a beginner's class. I don't know anything about the other practices or traditions of Tai Chi, but I understood from our teacher that Taoist Tai Chi is practiced in largely the same manner throughout the world: the same 108 moves everywhere.
What I liked about it more than yoga was that it was a lot easier on my back. No bending postures at all, really -- and since I've been having so many problems with my back lately, this is nice. Furthermore, unlike yoga, I find myself drawn to practicing the movements frequently throughout the day, and do. Yoga always seems so... involved, somehow. Like you have to stop what you're doing, roll out a mat, and go through a whole routine. With Tai Chi, you can do as few or as many movements as you like, whenever you like, wherever you like.
When practiced quietly and with concentration, the movements are also incredibly calming and meditative. I feel like I'm actually doing something spiritual with my body when I do it -- it's quite remarkable.
What I liked about it more than yoga was that it was a lot easier on my back. No bending postures at all, really -- and since I've been having so many problems with my back lately, this is nice. Furthermore, unlike yoga, I find myself drawn to practicing the movements frequently throughout the day, and do. Yoga always seems so... involved, somehow. Like you have to stop what you're doing, roll out a mat, and go through a whole routine. With Tai Chi, you can do as few or as many movements as you like, whenever you like, wherever you like.
When practiced quietly and with concentration, the movements are also incredibly calming and meditative. I feel like I'm actually doing something spiritual with my body when I do it -- it's quite remarkable.