My Aha! Moment at Tai Chi Class

I'm taking a Tai Chi class at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Every week I spend 60 minutes learning Chapter Two of Fundamental Sun-Style. Tai Chi improves balance, mobility, and coordination with slow, flowing movements, present-moment awareness, deep breathing, and a meditative mindset.

Originating in China around 1200 BC, Tai Chi translates as "supreme ultimate," describing the vastness of the universe. The first known reference is in the Book of Changes, explaining, ".... in all changes exists Tai Chi, which causes the two opposites in everything."

Tai Chi is based on traditional medicine, Qigong, and martial arts from thousands of years ago. It was initially developed for self-defense but is now popular as a health and wellness practice. It embraces the mind, body, and spirit connection.

8:45 AM: Begin preparations for Tai Chi class.

✓Comfortable clothing.

✓Tea and toast.

✓Extra time so as not to rush.

✓Relaxed, appreciative mindset.

9:00 AM: Drive to the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

9:10 AM: The parking lots are wide open. I park in Lot Five. It's as close to the entrance as Lot One but less crowded. I pick a corner spot at the end of the row under a large, shady tree.

The main entrance to the Chicago Botanic Gardens has been renovated. It's open, welcoming, and beautifully landscaped. I go directly to the kiosk before the main doors as a member.

I flash my card.

"Have a great visit," said the ticket taker.

"I will," thinks me.

It's spring. The tulips are in full swing. I post my weekly "Tulip Update" to the family chat. This week I include images of other Green Pretty Things.

I walk past the tulips, water fountain, and rose garden toward the Regenstein Building. I step with intention, observing what's around me. I become the sounds: the sing-song of people talking, the melody of birds chirping, and the squeak of a stroller wheel.

9:30 AM: Class begins.

The instructor leads us through slow, intentional, and mindful warm-up exercises. My favorite is where you stand tall with your feet in a slight V formation. Breathe deeply, raise your arms to your sides and over your head. Breathe steadily, bring your palms together before your heart, and be still.

The teacher takes time to explain the importance of each position. The placement of your feet matters for balance. "Center yourself" and "take your time" are heard often.

The instructor reminds us to focus on slow, steady movements. He takes the time to explain each movement's importance; he has a particular explanatory teaching style.

Before I enrolled in this class, I knew little about Tai Chi. New can be intimidating. During class, I focused a lot on the teacher. I watched his movements doing my best to imitate. I honestly didn't notice that my attention was mainly on the teacher, not me. Where is he placing his foot? Did he turn left or right? What's going on with his hands?

It's normal to pay close attention to the teacher when learning something new.

I watched him closely because I wanted to do a "good" job and learn the movements. I was imitating the teacher, but was I truly learning?

We worked on Chapter Two over and over. I wondered if I could do this on my own in my backyard.

The instructor asked a volunteer to lead us through Chapter Two in the second to last class session. The usual panic and fearful responses echoed through the class, "No, not me. I'd mess up."

One gentleman seemed confident. He volunteered, explaining that he might make a mistake but that he'd repeatedly watched the suggested video tutorial and practiced.

When he began leading the class, I noticed a shift in my focus. He wasn't "The Teacher," so his authority vanished.

After a moment of panic, I heard a voice. "Time to see what you can do by yourself, Allison. Trust that you have learned enough and that this will be easier than you think."

Focused returned to my heart space. "I've learned enough," I thought. "Relax and let it flow. You got this."

Instead of watching the student leading the group and attempting to mimic his movements, I focused on what I knew. I allowed the movements to flow THROUGH me instead of coming TO me from an outside source.

I did the whole Chapter Two sequence with minimal hesitation. Aha! I can do this. I do know enough.

Aha! Moments never get old. I'm continually surprised that as much as we know about spiritual concepts, only experiential learning makes the difference.

Experiential learning is where you are moving through the process of learning. It's your POV that makes the difference in expanding your awareness. Mimicry never produces the same level of awareness as remembering to look at life through your own eyes instead of trying to "be like someone else."

I wasn't truly in my body when focusing intensely on moving like the teacher. My external focus made it seem like I could not know what I was doing. Once the gentleman I perceived as not the teacher took over, I let go of the idea that I didn't know what I was doing and realized I did.

It didn't matter that the official teacher repeatedly said, "This is not about perfection. Let your body lead you. You can't do it wrong." I immediately fell into "follow the leader" mode and strove to "get it right."

Life is a beautiful series of moments allowing us to know ourselves from new POVs. I talk a lot about breaking free from the framework of standardized learning. It shows up everywhere and is a sneaky paradigm to spot, even for the most aware among us.

I teach a lot about intuition; it's one of my favorite topics. If you're new to intuition, see if you can look away from your learning from a specific teacher just long enough to allow your inner guidance to kick in. Only when you experience competency in your body do you realize you already know enough.

Give it a go—that thing you think you aren't ready to try. Allow it to flow as it does. You know enough today. You got this.