Most people walk without thought. If you watch carefully, you will notice that most of us walk using the "Controlled Fall" method. We lead with our upper bodies, which is in reality the beginning of a fall. This method uses the leaning upper body to create momentum, and we simply hope our legs will keep up. Works almost all the time, BUT if anything hinders or slows the legs - a fall ensues.

The faster we want to go, the farther forward we need to lean, creating a situation where the legs MUST keep up.

Is there a safer, more effective way to walk? Absolutely. I demonstrate a more upright style of tai chi walking on the Tai Chi for Busy People video. Once you give it a try, you will never walk the same way again! www.easytaichi.com

a. Each day, spend some time alone. Time in prayer, meditation, yoga or tai chi. Time just sitting. Not reading, knitting, watching TV, talking, scratching, or sleeping. Just sitting. Not even thinking. Thoughts will of course try to invade. That's fine, but let them drift away, like clouds floating across the sky.

This process will awaken you to the frenetic, constant, repetitive activity of the mind. The constant pressure to be elsewhere with the assumption that something more needs to happen so you can be "happy". The first step is the recognition of this process on a regular basis. The next step is to continue spending time alone, in prayer, meditation, yoga, tai chi...

b. Each day, find something simple in your life that is beautiful, interesting, wondrous or amazing. Like a spider web. Or a flower. Or the sun reflecting off a colorful bird. Or a sunset. Maybe the moon. Or a smile. You get the picture. Living in appreciation makes every day better, and there is always something to appreciate.

c. Each day, decide to listen completely in every conversation. Without second guessing the content you are expecting from the other person. Without finishing the sentences for him/her. Without already preparing your rebuttal to the anticipated conversation. Just listen. Listening is a rare skill these days. It takes practice, and is enhanced considerably by having a quiet, still mind.

d. Quit fighting "what is". Whatever is happening in the present moment is happening, whether or not you like it. It is as it is for now, so increase your level of contentment by accepting each moment as if you have chosen it. Of course you can take actions to improve your life, but you can't change the present moment because it already is... 

The key to survival? BREATHE. Find just a few minutes  - stop, and breathe.

Slow, easy, long, deep and peaceful breaths all the way into your abdomen. And feel each relaxing breath expand into your lower back, so your entire midsection is inflated. Then blow out any tension, stress, tightness, frustration and anger with each exhale.

Teach yourself to breathe better using either of these videos. Tai Chi for Busy People at www.easytaichi.com 

And/or 4 Minute Fitness at www.4minutefitness.com

The act of taking big breaths and smiling will help you re-focus on the big picture. When you become more deeply and profoundly peaceful inside, you will realize is that the craziness is superficial, existing only on the outside, as waves are of little consequence to the vastness of the oceans.

Stress affects every one of us, seemingly more-so every year. One popular solution - personal development courses - can be truly life changing. After two or three days of intensive learning, we begin to feel deeply relaxed, joyous, at peace with the world. Then, more often than not we are asked to commit an hour or two a day to meditation, yoga, tai chi, prayer, journal writing or whatever. No problem, we say. I deserve to feel this good all the time. I'll just get up an hour earlier every day...

Within 24 hours of returning home, the harsh reality of life smacks us right between the eyes. We truly and often desperately want to keep up ‘the practice’, but family, business and life commitments simply demand most of our time. Usually after a day or a week, we quit. This sad end result can be just one more blow to our self esteem, rather than the anticipated path to enlightenment (or at least reduced pain). Sound familiar?

I've been instructing tai chi, which is often called a moving meditation, for over two decades. For most of that time, I asked my students to practice a long and complex series of moves for an hour a day. Most didn't do it. Nor did my assistant instructors. Then one day I came to realize with unexpected surprise - neither did I…

Why not? Well, I had too many demands on my time. Too many obligations. My life is huge! Just like yours. But I need the benefits, just like you do.

So do we just forget about our personal development for a few years (or decades?), and receive zero benefits? Do we simply tolerate the stress and pain? No we can make small, manageable goals.

Tai Chi for Busy People and 4 Minute Fitness are designed to give you maximum benefits in minimum time.

The result? A few minutes before going to work, before interacting with the family, or before sleep can significantly improve your quality of life. And then, after a period of regular practice you may begin to make decisions, even lifestyle decisions that will bring more balance into your life.

I firmly believe that a few minutes a day is infinitely superior to no minutes a day, and that even just a small amount of this quality time will increase your productivity and performance at work, improve health in all ways and reduce your stress levels.

I recently received a question about ways to improve balance while standing on one leg.

It seems that most people have poor balance. In fact, we are a nation of falling people. Sadly, falling related injuries take a huge personal and financial toll. Beginners in my tai chi classes who stand on one leg look like a forest of trees in a strong wind, initially swaying all over the place. Yet, with practice and technique, balance improves in a matter of weeks. The key? Learn how to improve balance, then practice.

Anytime you need to stand on one leg, or need to have better balance when standing on both legs, here's what to do. Relax onto the supporting leg(s). Bend your supporting knee(s) a little more, then feel all the weight sink onto the foot, drop the shoulders and relax the abdomen (thereby lowering your center of gravity). Then take a breath as deep as it will go into your lungs, so it actually feels like you are breathing into your abdomen. And keep breathing this way. Soon you feel rooted, solid and connected with the ground.

Better balance comes with PRACTICE. Everyday. It will not get better by wishing it so. Tai Chi for Busy People (and/or) 4 Minute Fitness teaches effective and easy balance exercises. (add URLS).

4. Finding balance in life

Ever find yourself juggling your life, feeling out of balance? First thing you need to do to regain a healthy perspective is to become grounded. Stand on both legs and begin taking deep breaths. Breath deeply and fully, focusing only on the inhale and exhale. Nothing else matters. This is a perfect time to do a little tai chi or yoga. It seems that people who improve physical balance find an improvement in life balance. Interesting...

Perspective is needed to help you determine what is actually important in your life. Take a few moments to determine the most important parts of your life - your relationship, your family, your own mental, physical and spiritual health - and commit to attending to those first!

Determine what is least important (many phone calls, junk mail, other peoples' drama, many TV programs and junk novels) and reduce those significantly. I found the book First Things First by Steven Covey very helpful. Especially his powerful question How many people on their death beds wished they had spent more time in the office?

I love this concept. We are a civilization of "human doings" not "human beings". Don't get me wrong I do as much as the next guy. But as I approach 50, I am more and more interested in slowing time, in enjoying each precious moment. In appreciating all that is profound in its simplicity. I still set goals by visualizing exactly what I want, but I'm not assuming that my peace and contentment is dependent on the achievement of those goals.

In fact, more and more I am finding ways to enjoy the journey toward the goal. Here are some ways that may help you be present. Methods to pull yourself out of the past and future, places of residences preferred by the mind.

1. Each day, spend some time alone. Time in prayer, meditation, yoga or tai chi. Time just sitting. Not reading, knitting, watching TV, talking, scratching, or sleeping. Just sitting. Not even thinking. Thoughts will of course try to invade. That's fine, but let them drift away, like clouds floating across the sky.

This process will awaken you to the frenetic, constant, repetitive activity of the mind. The constant pressure to be elsewhere with the assumption that something more needs to happen so you can be "happy". The first step is the recognition of this process on a regular basis. The next step is to continue spending time alone, in prayer, meditation, yoga, tai chi...

2. Each day, find something simple in your life that is beautiful, interesting, wondrous or amazing. Like a spider web. Or a flower. Or the sun reflecting off a colorful bird. Or a sunset. Maybe the moon. Or a smile. You get the picture. Living in appreciation makes every day better, and there is always something to appreciate.

3. Each day, decide to listen completely in every conversation. Without second guessing the content you are expecting from the other person. Without finishing the sentences for him/her. Without already preparing your rebuttal to the anticipated conversation. Just listen. Listening is a rare skill these days. It takes practice, and is enhanced considerably by having a quiet, still mind.

4. Quit fighting "what is". Whatever is happening in the present moment is happening, whether or not you like it. It is as it is for now, so increase your level of contentment by accepting each moment as if you have chosen it. Of course you can take actions to improve your life, but you can't change the present moment because it already is... 

Mental stillness, discovering the profound in everyday life and living in the moment are very elusive experiences for most people. We put so much value on doing, on accomplishment, and so little on being. One of my favorite cartoons showed two cigar smoking, pinstriped executives in discussion. One lamented that "maybe true happiness comes AFTER the first $700 million".

Tai Chi for Busy People and 4 Minute Fitness teach methods designed to help you become present. Both offer vital principles taken from tai chi, chi kung, yoga and meditation, as well as a powerful sense of body awareness and energy (chi) development. Just a few minutes a day. That's it...

Tai Chi for Busy People (and/or) 4 Minute Fitness offer terrific methods designed for slowing down, for getting off the increasingly fast "treadmill of life". The slowness and gracefulness of these movements allow us to notice subtleties in our energy and movement, the fascinating ways all our body parts work so well in harmony, and the depth of our breathing. And that same awareness of seemingly simple, but very profound aspects our bodies begins to spread out, affecting all aspects of our lives.

After a few minutes of movement, colors seem more vivid, scenery more interesting, sounds more pure. The sounds, scenery and colors haven't changed. Just our perception of them. We simply see "what is right now" with a greater clarity.

Even better, most of us notice that our general sense of peace increases. So our satisfaction with "what is right now" is enhanced significantly.

Do we need to do these movements to feel so connected with the beauty of the present and the fascinating depth of our own being? No, but we do need to slow down, to pull out of the past and future. And Tai Chi for Busy People and 4 Minute Fitness, are powerful tools which can help in attaining that clarity.

Try this. While you are sitting there, close your eyes and begin taking long, slow, deep breaths, breathing deeply into your abdomen. Continue this for a few minutes. If thoughts come into your mind, simply re-focus on your breathing. Begin to notice all the sounds around you. Pay close attention to those sounds.

Then open your eyes and look around. Notice the colors and beauty in everything you see. (Keep breathing). Spend just a few minutes appreciating your heightened awareness of all the mundane sights and sounds you often take for granted every day. Trust that whatever you experienced was just fine, and that practice leads to an increased ability to be present.

We really only have the present moment, so we may as well fully participate in it. Tai Chi for Busy People, and 4 Minute Fitness will help you experience greater depth in each moment.