My Tai Chi journey began on March 1, 2023. Initially, I was drawn to the warm-up exercises and Five Elements Qigong with a yearning for health and grace. However, like many beginners, my path was not a straight one. Due to physical weakness, I couldn't follow the live classes every day, and over three months, I only managed to practice consistently for about a month and a half.

At first, I was impatient, eager to perform the movements with the same standard and elegance as the instructors, instead of feeling like a stiff "robot." I insisted on practicing morning and night, but my body sounded the alarm, forcing me to slow down. Despite the setbacks, the feeling of exhilaration after each session showed me the genuine changes happening within my body. After a good sweat, the previously blocked and stagnant Qi and blood began to circulate, my steps became lighter, and I felt as though I could fly. My spirits were lifted, I felt refreshed, and the insomnia that had plagued me for so long disappeared—I could lie down and sleep soundly until dawn.

As time went on, miracles began to happen. The Leopard Stance to Bow Stance transition, which used to require my hands on the ground for support, became effortlessly smooth. What surprised me even more was the previously impossible Kneeling Stance; one day, after about a month of practice, I was suddenly able to drop into it and immediately rise into a Horse Stance. It was an incredible sense of accomplishment. Every leg-stretching session, though initially accompanied by pain and tension, was followed by an amazing lightness and flexibility in my legs, a sensation I now crave daily.

From my initial state of being wobbly, weak, and stiff, to my current stability and ease, I have come to understand that this is a gradual process, moving from shallow to deep. Tai Chi is not just a physical practice; it is a mental and spiritual one. I've learned to listen to my body's signals, slow down, and contemplate carefully.

Tai Chi has taught me the principles of "gentle, slow, and even; orderly opening and closing; relaxed and natural; soft on the outside, strong on the inside; calm and composed; unhurried." These are not just the core tenets of Tai Chi, but have also become my life's philosophy. My journey with Tai Chi has been a transformation from rigidity to flexibility, from impatience to composure. It has helped me find harmony and joy in my body and has taught me profound life wisdom.