mmm Fact: We expend energy doing bodywork.

mmm Fact: We work with other people’s energy.

mmm Fact: Even experienced therapists collect energy debris from patients.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could recharge, read energy better, clear energy debris and have more fun at the same time? You can. Taiji (Tai Chi) does it. And I can’t wait for you to try it. Taijiquan (T’ai Chi Ch’uan) is a centuries old movement art originating in China. Whereas Taiji is rooted in the martial arts, its modern application is less for defending the village and more for structural and energetic balance. The beneficial results of Taiji are studied and well documented: better balance, pain relief, cardiac fitness, stronger immune function, and a sense of calm, peace and joy that flows from actively harmonizing body, mind, and breath. When you create a Taiji practice, your energy becomes clearer and more abundant and you and just plain feel better.

mmm Relax. You can learn it.

mmm Relax. You will gain health benefits.

mmm Relax. You will strengthen your intention for your life and practice.

I stand by Lake Washington almost every morning breathing the misty air, being still, feeling my feet and my body connect more deeply to the earth beneath me, listening to the waves and the ducks gentle conversation. I feel Qi - life force – all around me, I feel part of it. As though being played, stillness flows into rhythmic movement I begin to dance the music of Taiji's circles. As a result, I arrive at my office, 50 yards away, rested, clear, and centered. I am not rushed. I am peace itself. My inner dance of Taiji allows me to dance with my patients. I move around the table easily, re-centering and recharging in a moment. All of this makes my work with patients fun and very powerful.

And, you will really want to hear this too:

mmm You will gain a stronger center and clearer boundaries

mmm You will become resilient.

mmm You will create more sustainability for your practice.

If you’re like me, your want your work to be a pleasure that you will do for a long time. I have been a practicing CranialSacrial Therapist for over 30 years and Kim has been teaching Taiji for over 18 years. As you read this, you yourself are probably already imagining how practicing Taiji will benefit you in the short term, but what about the possibilities for supporting your life-long practice? Though the movements of this art are graceful and dance-like, they are founded in the martial arts. This helps you in your work because practicing the movements of Taiji naturally transmits to both body and psyche a sense of protection and resilience. Imagine the wind blowing the willow branches. Instead of meeting the wind with resistance and snapping, they bend and return to their shape, remaining full and graceful long after the winds have changed direction. Couldn’t you use that skill and more in your practice?

mmm True: Prosperity requires generosity.

mmm True: Collaborative body work sessions are more successful.

mmm True: Happy patients make great referral sources.

You are probably already searching for a great Taiji class near you, but would you also like to know how to increase you referral business? Like you, I want my clients to feel great. So, I send many of them to Taiji. I find when my patients develop their own Taiji practice, two things happen: they achieve their goals and I get great dance partners. Our sessions together go much deeper and we all experience a great sense of joy. When patients are happy and pro-active, they will refer more wonderful patients to you, helping you thrive. These are the patients I most want to work with. Don’t you?

William Wittmann is a practicing Certified Cranial Sacral and Life Coach for living whole-heartedly. You can get his FREE newsletter or RSS feed at www.VitalArts.net. (206)328-2073 William@VitalArts.net

Kim Ivy, founder of Embrace the Moon, Tai Chi and Qigong in Seattle has been practicing Tai Chi and other energy martial arts for 28 years. Her website is: www.embracethemoon.com
(206)789-0993. She will be offering CMU credits in early 2005. kim@embracethemoon.com