Earthquake Stress Reducer: Tai Chi

There have been a recent wave of earthquakes (7 in a week + over 1800 aftershocks!) here in Costa Rica; we live in close proximity to  where they are being generated, near Poas Volcano, and that first one was a real shaker.

Hailing from California we tend to be  non-pulsed about them, but many Tico’s here are terrified of them and I found myself becoming stressed with all the helicopters flying overhead and reports of devastating destruction, not to mention the continual shaking going on.  I decided to apply some type of earthquake stress reducer with Tai Chi.

No matter where we are in the world stress is part of daily life.  Our body responds differently to various types of stress but when stress becomes chronic the affect on our health can manifest in various illnesses.

For example, chronic stress (and worry) can cause us to feel excessively tired; long term fatigue can lead to increased risk of developing a particular type of diabetes. Stress can also prevent proper digestion; increased blood pressure can lead to cardio vascular disease.  All this stress prevents the body from performing as it should.

When I began to research Tai Chi and how the body responds to this discipline of gentle and physical excercise, I discovered that with only twenty minutes a day Tai Chi is an effective stress reducer and will not only increase physical stamina but also improve flexibility and strengthen the body and promote better health.  A recent purchase of a book on Tai Chi provided the information needed to determine this was a type of stress reducer I was looking for.

Of course, one needs to learn how to properly train to do Tai Chi effectively and a class is the best way to do so.

If you have not witnessed a person or group perform Tai Chi it’s a very relaxing and gentle form of excercise…but those who incorporate it into their daily life promise it is a workout.  And that, yes, it greatly helps find that calm, less stressful place within.

As my beginning class continues over the next four months, I’ll report back here with my experience. In the mean time you can learn more about Tai Chi and its health benefits, especially as a stress reducer, with this website on Taoist Tai Chi Society.