Most people do Tai Chi in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Rightfully so, they do Tai Chi to age well later in life. However, people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s need Tai Chi the most.

Why do people need Tai Chi earlier in life?

The midlife period is typically the hardest period of life. It is the period where you concentrate on working the hardest, carefully raising your family, and being the most productive human being you possibly can be. The pressure is on during this period of life.

One can argue that the pressure started earlier in your 20s, with full-time work, social and family responsibilities rising year over year. In these years, you have to stay healthy and strong. Otherwise, life is going to just pass you by. It makes sense that we spend this time gaining a competitive edge and keep climbing that ladder of success.

My Journey with Tai Chi:

Tai Chi can give you an edge. I started Tai Chi when I was at the age of 25 and believe me, I wish I could have started earlier. It increased my capacity to endure the ever-increasing pressures brought on by work and family. To this very day, it boosts my physical and mental stamina. It helps me to relax more easily and recover from stress. It gives me more Chi energy, which increases my personal confidence and enthusiasm for life. With Tai Chi, you are dynamic, energetic, lively, and spirited. These are qualities people want to see in their leaders and colleagues at all levels.

As previously discussed, Tai Chi lowers your blood pressure that might otherwise rise to dangerous levels during this period in life. When you’re working hard and trying to maintain a happy and healthy family in midlife. You have the most stress, eat the poorest of diets while losing time for physical activity, exercise or sports.

Tai Chi has many known benefits, and practicing it can actually increase your productivity and creativity while you work. Daily Tai Chi routines leave you in better shape after your day job is over. This gives you increased energy and leaves you feeling recuperated to spend and enjoy time with your family.

What are you recuperating from?

One thing is prolonged sitting at your desk. Sitting too much has many effects on your body. It gives you poor posture, repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.  Prolonged sitting gives you pain, especially in the neck, shoulders, and back.

How can Tai Chi help?

Many Tai Chi techniques can be adapted so you can do them while sitting in a chair. But, I’m not going to actually recommend those to you since we are trying to combat sitting too much. If you can stand up, that is the preferred method for doing Tai Chi.

Short Tai Chi sequences can be done intermittently during work hours. For example, while going on a bathroom break or while waiting for a conference call, you can do a little Tai Chi exercise. Perhaps, even when you go on a coffee or lunch break, you can actually find time for a little Tai Chi.

Tai Chi can be done in as little as 10 square feet of space. Personally, I use my building’s fire stair landing to do my routine. Many companies have outdoor spaces where Tai Chi can be practiced or they can also have in-house facilities to maintain the good health of their employees. I encourage you to use them.

Let me show you a short routine that you can do right now. Follow my video to watch it step-by-step.

1. Let’s start by turning your right foot 45 degrees, stepping forward, and get yourself into a classic ward off position with your left foot.

2. Then, shift the weight back, exhale into your right foot, turn the body, and then shift the weight forward and energize with your left foot. Ward off left.

3. Exhale right into your right foot.

4. Turn the body in the opposite direction, shift the weight. Inhale, moving one hand up and one hand down.

5. Then relax, exhale. Let everything go into your right foot, turn and then shift the weight.

6. Energize, moving one hand up and one hand down.

This is one short routine that you can do on one side.

Now, we are going to do the other side by taking a step forward with our right foot and getting into a classic ward off right position. (If you aren’t familiar with ward off right, follow along with my video to see.)

1. First, shift the weight back.

2. Exhale, let your arms fall, and go towards your left foot.

3. Turn and energize with your right foot, ward off right.

4. Exhale, relax. Let your arms go and sink into your left foot. Shift the weight and energize. Ward off right.

5. Exhale, relax, sink back down into your foot.

6. Let go, and then work your way around into your right foot. Ward off right.

Stress builds up exponentially during the day and taking the time to do Tai Chi during breaks can benefit you immensely. Short Tai Chi breaks just a few minutes a day can relax your nervous system sufficiently so that you can rest and come back to your desk fully capable to engage in your work again.

What if you can find times throughout your workday to increase your calmness, awareness, and inner balance?

What are some other short Tai Chi routines you can do on your breaks?

Stay tuned and follow me on Instagram for more short Tai Chi routines for people who work all the time. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel as well.