Gill South tries out the gentle art of t'ai chi for total body relaxation.
T'ai chi is like swimming, except you are out of water, says my instructor. As someone who feels happiest when swimming, could this be the healthy activity I've been looking for?
I am at my first t'ai chi class at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall, on a damp Friday morning - with a group of largely grey-haired men and women, all dressed in black silky trousers and overlarge white T-shirts. This class is run by T'ai Chi New Zealand, part of Robert Gemmell Martial Arts, with instructor Quintan Derham, the regional director for Auckland.
I am here because my nutritionist, Linda Outhwaite, has suggested I do something to "slow me down" once a week and I've been meaning to try t'ai chi for ages.
T'ai Chi New Zealand says it is a "gentle exercise that assists with the reduction of stress". I like the sound of that. Quintan's assistant, a very patient woman called Julie, takes me aside from the group who, despite their mild appearance, are pretty hot stuff and include some black belts. One of the class members, Betty, has been on the telly for being an empowered t'ai chi granny. Julie and I do four basic exercises together, which immediately leave my head when I'm trying to replicate them at home. One of them is bouncing the ball, it reminds me of basketball.
We go through one of the exercises I did with Julie, where you stand, feet apart, bend your knees a bit, put hands across each other low, and open your arms wide meeting your hands at the top, and bringing them down in a big circle, breathing out. It's called breath of the heart. Quintan suggests doing a couple of these first thing in the morning to oxygenate my body, stretch the spine and raise the blood pressure.
One of the first things with t'ai chi is to learn to relax.
"It's all about the shape of the body. It's about softening the body to a better shape and it allows you to dissolve tension," says Quintan. As your body gets softer, you can be more flexible and less angry, he says. (He should have seen me grinding my teeth behind suburban drivers as I drove to Titirangi).
We talk about the differences between yoga and t'ai chi. Quintan says it is about flexibility associated with a range of motions. With t'ai chi there is an elasticity, with yoga you might be stretching to the limits.
He says: "Assign a space: 'this is where I go to do my t'ai chi'. It brings life to that area." It is about reaching out to the elements, and natural energy. I like the idea of doing t'ai chi in my back garden.
Leaving the class, I should be feeling an energy that permeates the day, Quintan tells me. I energetically meet a friend at a cafe on the way home.
Next week
I'm seeing a reflexologist in Long Bay. She's meant to be the best there is. Apparently reflexology increases blood flow to the feet, brain, kidneys and intestines. I'm sure my acupuncturist would be pleased to hear that.
