Tai Chi Class

---

Yesterday I arose at 7am and realized I had beaten the sun up. Why, oh, why am I doing this? Oh, right. I've been wanting to take tai chi since I got here but had been unable to find any group to join. My friend, Harry, had been looking for a good group since last year . I had mistakenly assumed that Harry's class would be some little thing in the park with only senior citizens and would last half an hour or so. So I only ate a banana for breakfast. (I hate exercising right after eating.) Nope. I learned that Harry had found a group he thought was good, serious, and had instruction. I was joining him.

I set out, dressed somewhat warm since my room was cool, only to discover that outside was warmer and the air was so damp I could get rehydrated by just breathing. We met up at Windows of the World by the pyramid and walked 2 bus stops to catch our ride to wherever we were going.

Half an hour later we arrived in a small little village area that seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of the Shenzhen I know. People were warming up. I stood in the back, feeling self conscious. I had no idea what I was doing. And as an American, people were sure to stare anyway, right?
Surprisingly, they don't. We're just that focused on our tai chi.

They split us up into two groups: the Juniors and the Seniors. I, a newbie, was put into the Junior group with Harry. We went upstairs of a building with 12 other people. Harry said our instructor spoke English but he had never seen her use it. Of course, Harry speaks decent Chinese, so why would she? Fortunately, she does. And after all my years of reading health magazines, taking dance, or watching people on the dance floor trying to mimic moves I liked, I was able to follow along even with the language barrier. (She gives instructions to the class in Chinese.)

We took water breaks every half hour. During one, we all watched the Seniors practice. They were using swords and some were leaping around. It was impressive and exciting! I had forgotten that tai chi isn't just for little old ladies in the park, but is also a martial art! By the end of the first class (2 hours) I felt great. I was relaxed. I discovered new muscles. I felt in touch with my body. I was sweating. But I wasn't out of breath. And I was hungry!

We ate lunch at a noodle place for Y10 a piece and then figured out which bus to take back. The bus we took to class only seems to run one way as far as we can tell. After walking a few bus stops, we hopped on one that actually stops just a few blocks from my school. What luck!

"Same time tomorrow?" Harry asked me before he got off the bus. "You bet!" I said. I'm hooked.

Essentially, the classes are on Saturdays and Sundays every week. They let you try a few for free but then you have to pay for them. One reason Harry took so long to really get going was the committment. Getting up every weekend morning by 7am means no going out the night before, at least not really late. And since there's money involved--and it's a fair sum--only an idiot skips class. I found out today that they also offer practices Tues and Fri nights for 2 hours each. This is included in the price. I'll try to make it to the Tues night ones, but with my Chinese classes on Fridays until 430, I don't see myself making it to the opposite end of town unless I haul all my stuff with me. I wouldn't get home till 1030 at the earliest, either, leaving no time for much else, much less rest. And these past two days, I've come home and napped.


I got up today at 645am and it was pitch black. The air hung heavily, clinging to me like a thick winter coat. Ugh. I ate a larger breakfast today and was out the door around 720. My bus arrived just as I was taking the final steps to the stop, and honked at me. I was glad I didn't have to wait in the thick air. I arrived at the meeting place 15 mn early. And, of course, Harry was running late. I sat down under some trees that remind me of weeping willows back home. I had a museum in front of me, surrounded by flowers. A woman was sweeping up the loose dirt around the beds. Beside me was a snail, trying to figure out which way it wanted to go. They're very indecisive.

Harry arrived and we were off. I was pleased I remembered the stop we get off at. Not bad for one day. And I pretty much remembered where to go after that. But I don't think I realized how far it was! We discovered on our way home that the bus we ended up on actually stops right next to where we practice.

We were only a few minutes late and joined everyone in warming up. There were more people today. My teacher seemed happy to see that I had returned. As I was attempting to follow the instructor (I was in the back row, 5 deep) I was obviously not doing it quite right. The man on my left told me I needed to relax and raise my arm higher. This is as relaxed as I get! Then my teacher came over and they, with one more person, proceeded to talk about me while fixing my stance. I was embarassed and ended up giggling. Which got a glance from the instructor in the front.

We split up again and this time we went down a path (where a woman was walking a puffy, purple dog) and up a hill. We had a larger group and needed more space. Luckily, it didn't rain today like it did yesterday. We went over the moves we had learned yesterday, trying to remember the routine. After that we learned more moves. On one hand I feel like the class is going really fast. On the other hand, if it goes slowly I'll be bored. I know that part of the reason it feels fast is because it's all so new to me. I'm trying to figure out where my hands are supposed to be, where my center of gravity should lean, not which way my foot points or how high up my hand should be!

Maybe that will come next week.

---

Comments

[Philip]

Interesting!
wonderful experience,Tai Chi sounds exciting!