EnerChi challenges the body and mind by practicing, awareness and attention with flowing movement. New participants often desire the end result of a flowing sequence without realizing that learning and perfecting the subtleties of each form takes practice. Time and patience are necessary to experience the physical and mental benefits that come from moving with purpose and concentration.
The benefits of practicing EnerChi do not come all at once or even in the first few classes. Continued practice is what provides the benefits. Learning EnerChi is similar to learning an instrument. Beautiful music is not performed in the first class. With patience and practice, one learns to create beautiful music. It is the same in EnerChi: the beautiful and graceful flowing movements come with patience and practice. To be successful, consistent effort is necessary to learn and practice the basics.
In SilverSneakers EnerChi, we take an incremental approach, learning a new form each week and then building on it to create a dynamic and varied experience. Set the expectation at the beginning of each class. Guide participants to enjoy the learning process. They will be flowing in a beautiful sequence before long.
Below are some helpful tips and cues for instructor and participants:
- “Be accepting of your starting point, whatever that may be. Self-acceptance grows with practice.”
- “Move slowly, giving your brain a chance to create new pathways and patterns between your mind and body.”
- “Learn to be supple, bending and moving easily and gracefully. EnerChi teaches agile movement with flexibility.”
- “Think about moving within 70 or 80 percent of your full range of motion. This allows your body to absorb the energy and react with gentle power.”
- “Let go of tension in your shoulders. Relax your shoulders. Relax your elbows.”
- “Keep knees slightly bent.”
- “Your head should feel as if suspended from above.”
- “Develop an awareness of your body. EnerChi movement is performed in a connected fashion. Move as one unit.”
- “The importance of moving slowly through the form cannot be overemphasized. It will improve the smoothness of your motions, which will improve the connectedness of your motions.”
- “Calm your mind and your breath. Breathe naturally, slowly and deeply without holding your breath.”
- “Stay curved like the river with many winding paths continually flowing.”
- “Quiet the mind. Feel the chi, or energy, flowing.”
- “Rather than thinking about what you should be feeling, quiet the mind and notice what you are feeling.”
- “Practicing SilverSneakers EnerChi requires patience. Enjoy your EnerChi journey.”