Never too late to learn. . .

Don't mess with me. I'm learning Tai Chi and I'll deliver a karate chop to your jugular if you so much as raise an eyebrow.

I hear you. You're saying to yourself, "What is she doing now? Isn't it time to just sit down and read a good book, Joan???"

Actually, I read lots of books and I didn't go looking for this activity. Benard's daughter-in-law, Stephanie, is a certified instructor with a best-selling DVD available on the internet called Tai Chi For Enlighteners. She describes it as "a new philosophy of living well and wisely for those over 50." OK, so I'm a little late coming to it, about thirty years to be exact, but I figure it's never too late to be enlightened.

Steph runs a class here at Grove Isle on Thursday nights that I attend. We who attend are a lesson in diversity, both men and women. With the exception of one woman, we are all new to the art, but our teacher has endless patience as we all try mightily to achieve the fluidity that is the mark of this ancient form of self defense.

For the briefest moment, before class starts, I am back in China several years ago, with my daughter Andrea and my friends Alice and Barbara. We are standing in front of our hotel across the street from a small park where a man is leading 20 or 30 not very young looking Chinese men and women through what is ovviously their morning exercise routine. We are awed by the ease and beauty of their efforts.

I'm not quite up to the ease and beauty stage yet, folks, but I'm really trying. Mainly because Tai Chi is widely recognized as an excellent means of enhancing balance in addition to strengthening the body and mind. Can't hurt, guys, no matter how enlightened you think you are.

While it may look easy when Steph demonstrates a move, doing it yurself is actually very demanding of your total attention. In other words, it's damned difficult, but I am getting better as the weeks go by. We work out in a room with mirrors on four sides so there's no escaping when your pose is a long way from graceful. But it's also kind of gratifying when you glance at the mirror and actually look like you know what you are doing.

Stef tells us that Tai Chi is the "grandmother" of all Chinese defensive arts. So like I said, don't mess with me. I'm not only working on my balance but I've developed a mean right elbow and a wicked left kick.

Not too bad for an octogenarian.
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Photo: Stephanie's "Tai Chi for Enlighteners". Visit her website at www.enlighteners.com
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