Kyle V.

I am in my 17th year of tai chi practice with Sifu. It has been an enjoyable experience that is notable for ever deeper understanding of the techniques and ideas behind them. There have been moves that I have done many thousands of times. I am constantly amazed at how there are many levels of mastery, so these moves never get old or boring. There are many health benefits to tai chi practice. As a forensic psychologist, I have noticed that these include psychological effects that I do not get from other forms of exercise. Among these has been improved cognitive functioning. This has been studied by researchers for decades. For example, because tai chi at higher levels requires great mental focus on multiple details, my overall concentration has strengthened. During practice, one must keep the mind relaxed and stay in the moment, while at the same time making sure to consistently following the principles of tai chi that are sometimes counterintuitive. A lack of sustained focus results in poor technique. After two hours of class, I often found that my mind had at least as much of a workout as the body. I find that improvements in focused attention during practice can be applied to other areas of life, including my work.