mamculuna | (no subject)

(no subject)

I'm not surprised to find out that balance is one of my weak spots. According to this article in the New York Times, I should be able to stand on one foot with my eyes closed and my arms crossed for 10 seconds--and I'm not doing that. I know from yoga that the balance poses are the hardest for me. Guess it's time to get back to Tai Chi--actually, I love it and have a friend who teaches it, so I'll practice the forms with my tape and then get back to class soon. Or at least back to practicing each morning.

Except that sticking to a routine practice is another one of my weak spots...

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I tried Tai Chi for six months in hopes of specifically improving my balance... only to discover that my poor memory wouldn't allow me ever to memorize the form! :o( But I'm sure you will do fine!

It took me a long time to learn the form when I did it before--I finally got it with the aid of a list of the different steps and a video of the instructor. I tried to add one step a week (that's how slow I go!) But I suspect for me at least, memory is like balance--not so great, but possibly improvable.

But the persistence to keep doing it everyday...that I'm not sure about.

I wish you much success with the Tai Chi!

I have balance issues myself, but I'm forcing myself to include balancing poses in my yoga practice. I still fall, of course, but I am practicing! ;-)

It's my yoga issues that make me notice the balance problem the most. Interestingly, I'm fine with things like ardha chandrasana, and others that let me touch the floor with one hand and one foot. But the one-legged standing poses like garudasana and standing padmagustasana are really tough! I used to think it was my form in those poses, but this article made me realize that it's something in the balance process itself. Proprioperception gets worse as you get older.

What a very interesting article! I'll try some of those tests and exercises tomorrow. Right now, I'm too sleepy, I don't think I'll stand terribly well on both feet, never mind one.

I've always been tempted by Tai chi but have never tried it at all. I ought to force myself to do that at least, since I appear to have a violent aversion to vigorous exercise! (I'm so unfit, thinner than a rake and am liable to blow away in a gust)

What I love about Tai Chi is that it doesn't seem to be vigorous at all, just moving gently in a pleasant way, but in fact makes you more flexible and gets your circulation moving because you keep doing those simple moves without stopping. And the balance part really helps. And being slender is really helpful. If you live in a city, you'll probably find quite a few teachers, these days.

Yes, those are just the things that appeal to me about it.

Balance is definitely an issue for me-- I can barely stand up with both feet on the ground, let alone only one. Good luck with Tai Chi!

Tai chi is really fun--I used to do it, for several years, and then got into yoga. Now I seem to have time for both :o)

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