What My First Tai Chi Class Back in Canada Taught Me About Resilience 

I was not only returning to Canada. I was also returning while recovering from an injury. Although healing was progressing well, I was still wearing a hand brace.

As the date of my first Canadian session approached, I wasn't worried about teaching. Teaching has been part of my life for years. What I didn't know was how the experience would feel.

What happened surprised me.

I didn't just teach a class.

I rediscovered my connection to Tai Chi.

The Perfect Setting for Shared Movement 

The opportunity came through the June 6 WOWSA Wellness Event in Palmerston, where I was invited to lead a 30-minute Tai Chi and Shibashi Qigong session.

The day was centered on wellness, learning, and community. Participants had already enjoyed a morning yoga session and a variety of presentations and conversations designed to support healthy living.

My session was scheduled toward the end of the event, creating an opportunity to bring everyone together through gentle movement.

After a day of learning, connecting, and sharing ideas, we stood side by side and shifted our attention from information to experience.

There is something special about ending a wellness event this way.

No notebooks.

No presentations.

No expectations.

Just breathing, moving, and being present.

As we began practicing the Shibashi movements together, the room filled with a sense of calm, curiosity, and connection. It was a beautiful reminder that wellness is not only something we learn about—it is something we experience.

Keeping It Simple

I introduced participants to the Shibashi movements one at a time.

We practiced each movement several times together.

I demonstrated.

They followed.

We laughed.

We learned.

Most importantly, we moved.

There was no pressure to perform perfectly.

No expectation to memorize an entire sequence.

No concern about whether someone had previous experience.

The focus was simply on exploring movement and enjoying the process.

This approach aligns with what I have always believed about teaching adults, particularly adults over 50.

People do not need perfection.

They need participation.

They need encouragement.

They need opportunities to experience success.

And they need permission to move in a way that feels good for their own bodies.

The Most Beautiful Part of the Session

For the final ten minutes, something special happened.

I stopped talking.

The music continued.

The verbal cues disappeared.

And we simply flowed.

Together.

There is something powerful about moving without constant instruction.

The body begins to trust itself.

The mind becomes quieter.

People stop worrying about getting everything right.

Instead, they settle into the rhythm of the movement.

For ten minutes, the room transformed.

We were no longer a group of attendees and an instructor.

We were simply people moving together.

Breathing together.

Sharing a moment of calm and connection.

It reminded me of one of the greatest gifts of Tai Chi and Qigong:

Sometimes less instruction creates more experience.

Teaching While Wearing a Hand Brace

One detail that made this session especially meaningful for me was that I taught while wearing a hand brace.

Several days earlier, I had experienced an injury.

Like many people who teach movement, I found myself navigating an unexpected reality.

How would my body respond?

Would certain movements feel uncomfortable?

Would I need to modify more than expected?

These questions linger in the background during recovery.

The truth is that healing is rarely a straight line.

It requires patience.

It requires adaptability.

And sometimes it requires trust.

As the session unfolded, something wonderful happened.

There was no pain.

No discomfort.

No struggle.

I moved naturally alongside the participants.

Rather than focusing on the injury, I found myself fully immersed in the practice.

In that moment, I wasn't thinking about what had happened.

I was simply grateful to move.

What Recovery Has Taught Me

Earlier this week, I wrote about experiencing a fall despite teaching fall prevention.

That experience sparked important reflections about credibility, aging, and resilience.

Can a driving instructor have a flat tire?

Of course.

Can a physiotherapist become injured?

Absolutely.

Can a Tai Chi instructor experience setbacks?

Without question.

The measure of credibility is not whether challenges occur.

The measure is how we respond to them.

My recent injury has reminded me that movement is not about achieving perfection.

It is about maintaining possibility.

It is about adapting when circumstances change.

It is about continuing forward, even when the path looks different than expected.

These lessons are not theoretical.

They are lived experiences.

And lived experiences often become our greatest teachers.

The Questions That Told Me Everything

After the session ended, participants approached me with questions.

Not questions about technique.

Not questions about memorizing forms.

Instead, they asked:

• Where do you teach?

• What is "fake" Tai Chi?

• Is this suitable for someone in their 80s?

I smiled.

Because those questions revealed something important.

People were interested.

They were curious.

They wanted to learn more.

Perhaps most meaningful was the question about older adults.

"Is this good for someone in their 80s?"

My answer was an enthusiastic yes.

One of the beautiful aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong is their adaptability.

Movements can be performed standing.

They can often be modified for seated practice.

Intensity can be adjusted.

Participants can move within their own comfort zone.

This accessibility is one reason I am so passionate about sharing gentle movement with older adults.

Age should never be viewed as a barrier to movement.

In many ways, movement becomes even more important as we age.

Why Gentle Movement Matters More Than Ever

As we grow older, maintaining strength and flexibility remains important.

But movement offers benefits that extend far beyond physical fitness.

Gentle movement can support:

Physical Well-Being

• Improved balance

• Enhanced mobility

• Better posture

• Increased body awareness

• Greater confidence in movement

Mental and Emotional Well-Being

• Reduced stress

• Improved focus

• Greater mindfulness

• Enhanced mood

• A sense of calm

Social Connection

• Shared experiences

• Community engagement

• Meaningful conversations

• Reduced isolation

• Opportunities to build friendships

This is why I often say that Tai Chi is about much more than exercise.

It is a practice that supports the whole person.

A Lesson in Connection

Looking back, the greatest success of the session was not the movements themselves.

It was the connection that emerged.

People connected with their bodies.

People connected with one another.

And I reconnected with something within myself.

After nearly two months of teaching in the Philippines, returning to Canada felt like closing one chapter and opening another.

The experiences abroad enriched me.

The recovery process humbled me.

And this session reminded me why I continue to teach.

Not because I want people to master forms.

Not because I want perfect technique.

But because I want people to discover what movement can offer them.

Returning Home

As I reflect on that 30-minute session, I realize that I arrived expecting to teach.

Instead, I received a gift.

I witnessed a room full of people stand after hours of sitting and embrace movement.

I experienced the joy of moving comfortably while continuing to heal.

I watched curiosity emerge.

I felt connection grow.

And perhaps most importantly, I rediscovered how deeply I love this work.

Sometimes life takes us on unexpected journeys.

We travel.

We encounter challenges.

We heal.

We learn.

And when we return to familiar practices, we do so with greater appreciation.

That is how this experience felt.

Not simply a return to teaching.

Not simply a successful class.

But a homecoming.

A homecoming to movement.

A homecoming to community.

A homecoming to Tai Chi.

And for that, I am profoundly grateful.

Continue Your Movement Journey

If you enjoyed this post, you might find these resources helpful for your daily practice:

• Resilience Through Movement (Life Applications)

•  Tai Chi and Healthy Aging in Canada

•  Fall Prevention and Tai Chi: What I Learned After My Own Fall

• A Fractured Wrist and a Continuing Path

•  Small Town Wellness & Community in Canada

•  Emotional Healing & Life Transitions

Ready to join a class? Click here to find Daily Movement with Nelda on Google Maps and explore our gentle Tai Chi sessions in the Town of Minto. Move with community, confidence, and quiet joy.    

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