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December 2024/January 2025| maconmagazine.com 41 Mind & Body F I N D I N G Y O U R C E N T E R T oday's modern landscape of constant connectivity, job pressures, and financial stress often leaves us feeling exhausted and de-energized. The relentless pace and information overload can leave us feeling like we have lost our center. Tai Chi, often referred to as "meditation in movement," is an excellent practice for relieving stress and re-centering. It's not necessary to be an expert or a regular practitioner to enjoy the benefits. Even incorporating a few basic steps into your daily routine can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being. Tai Chi offers accessible, effective ways to achieve balance and serenity. Tai Chi helps clear mental clutter and fosters patience, clarity, and a deep sense of harmony. As you flow through graceful movements, you cultivate a profound connection between the mind and body. Even when life's chaos threatens to spin you off course, Tai Chi provides a grounding force to navigate with grace. In this basic exercise, you can go outside in nature, or a quiet place inside away from screens and other stressors. In that space, stand in a relaxed position with your arms by your side and begin to breathe slowly in the nose and out the mouth. Do this deliberately, but in a natural manner. While continuing to breathe, put your hand on your stomach. Try it. As you breathe in, fill your belly, and when you breathe out, your hand moves in with your belly. Once your breathing is in a nice rhythm, stand with feet apart in a natural position. Bring both hands up – as if you are holding a beach ball about chest level – and then sink down, bending your knees with the weight evenly distributed between both legs. This pose is commonly recognized and demonstrates the balanced, centered stance that Tai Chi aims to cultivate. Stand in this position for approximately three minutes while continuing to breathe. When in this position, you need to begin to find your center, or your Chi. If you do this exercise for three minutes every day for a week, you will begin to find your Chi. Think about the inner stomach as one location of your Chi. Tai Chi masters recommend using an inner smile to symbolize the origin of your Chi. Once you focus your Chi and find your center, your life will begin to find balance, which is important to inner happiness. Jerome Gratigny has a principal role in bringing Macon Magazine events to life. We practiced some belly breathing and took a moment for mindfulness during the 2024 University of Georgia SBDC Women's Business Summit. Take a photo belly breathing and tag us with #MaconMagFindingMyCenter BY JEROME GRATIGNY "To find peace, you must be willing to stand still in the midst of the storm." – Georgia O'Keeffe Attendees at the UGA SBDC Women's Business Summit pause for a breath during a full day of connecting and engaging with regional professionals.