Cooped up inside while the world outside sits frozen in ice, I’ve been aching for the thaw of spring. That restless energy recently drew my mind back to a Tai Chi course Dad and I took years ago. He was the one who signed us up, and I was all in. Each week, we learned new movements in the the Sun Style mini-set sequence by Dr. Paul Lam. The sequence is a series of slow, mindful movements that help harmonize the heart, spirit, and body. Though we were both initially amused and stymied by the complex “Waving Hands Like Clouds” sequence, Dad was eventually captivated by this beautiful move and it became one of his favourites.
While Dad kept up the practice after the course, my life – cluttered by five jobs along with pets to care for – got in the way. Though we searched for videos online over the years, we only found a VHS tape which is now potentially too old and brittle to play.
While hunting for clear envelopes to preserve some found feathers (yes; more.) this past weekend, I found myself digging through layers of the past. Tucked deep in a basket, inside a folder from 2003-ish, my original Sun Style pamphlet literally fell into my lap. Pure joy. Somewhat anticlimactically and incidentally, the envelopes I’d been looking for appeared immediately thereafter – an afterthought to a quest I hadn’t realized I was on. As is often the case, Dad led the way.
To my delight, I’ve since found the specific mini set sequence on YouTube. Armed with my original course notes and video links I look forward to revisiting the moves once more with renewed intention.
For anyone else curious and/or seeking low-impact exercise regiment for joint health, stability and balance, this set creates a meditative flow that gently improves flexibility and internal energy, one example of a link is here: https://youtu.be/yoN6P9D4yAY?si=Bc-EDJj-6OEtT4Xt (The tricky bit will be to follow along – the instructor was our “mirror” in the courses).
