T'ai Chi as a Healing Art: Enhancing Resiliency & Restoring Balance
The experience of physical and sexual violence can affect the mind, body, and spirit. It can alter the way we perceive and move through the world. Individuals who have endured or witnessed violence often develop ways to disconnect their mind from their body. While it may be useful to psychologically disengage from acts of brutality, this coping mechanism can have lasting unwanted consequences, especially as it relates to emotional and physical intimacy. The Rape Crisis Center's group "T'ai Chi as a Healing Art" focuses on restoring mind/body balance.

Through the practice of T'ai Chi, the group focuses on the simplicity of fluid body movement that both relaxes and strengthens our mind. A vital aspect of this "soft" healing art is the mind, body, breath connection. Central to this is "being in the moment." This means increasing one's attention to the here and now, rather than allowing our attention to be diverted and scattered. In doing so, we increase our powers of observation. Over time, practitioners become both soft and resilient, gaining the flexibility to manage (not escape) the world.

The group encourages participants to experiment with the principles of T'ai Chi in a safe, cooperative environment. Sitting mediation (Neigong) is also incorporated to help bring our breath to its natural state. Group participants can control their level of participation.

Please note that this group's focus will be on movement and not discussion. For those interested in a discussion-based support group for sexual assault survivors, please see the information regarding Rape Crisis Center's Drop-In Group.

For more information or to inquire about our next scheduled T'ai Chi as a Healing Art group, please call the Rape Crisis Center at 251-7273.