A story of how I found a new tool and community to welcome mindfulness and movement into my life
Those were my thoughts as I carried out my usual morning martial arts based routine – the same routine I had been practicing for nearly ten years.
For so long, I had been deeply in love with the art of Tai Chi, having discovered it around 15 years ago when at a wellness resort.
It was an early morning, I just woke up to enjoy the early morning sun when I spotted a group of around 20 people all moving in a beautifully synchronized fashion.
Their bodies were flowing in such a harmonious way – I was mesmerized.
I wondered when was the last time I felt at peace, the same way they looked then.
I watched them for a good few minutes, fascinated with what they were doing – until they invited me over to join in with them.
I moved closer to the group, trying to replicate their movements. I frowned whenever I mixed up a group’s move, but I loved that it was as much of a memory exercise as a movement exercise.
It was especially quiet. Everyone was just moving and flowing in harmony with one another – it felt deeply spiritual.
I took it upon myself to learn as much about Tai Chi and martial arts as possible.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of shadowboxing for physical and mental health.
Regular practice of Tai Chi improves well-being, and it’s pretty easy to learn, so very accessible for beginners. The movement is very gentle. It’s almost a meditation for the mind and body.
You move energy gently throughout various parts of your body, gracefully and slow.
You have to concentrate on how your body moves and feels, which is excellent for people with a limited range of movement.
I dedicated myself to chasing my dream. I searched for like-minded people, seeking to take my abilities to the next level.
I even took the plunge and traveled to China, where I met some remarkable people and practiced the art of Tai Chi with the locals.
But upon my return and more persistent searching for guidance and other martial arts fans or Tai Chi users, something became apparent to me.
Had people fallen out of love with it, or was this just a fading movement?
Maybe it was just another trend that had its moment in the spotlight and now lurked in the shadows, replaced by yoga or something.
This sudden realization really put a dampener on things.
I adored this way of working out and combining movements, but practicing it with others is part of the unique experience.
Rather than sit around and mope, I thought I should research something similar, not just the next in-thing that influencers rave about.
I am a sucker for low-impact exercises, anything more, and my joints will simply give up.
I have my family to thank for the long tradition of joint pains.
I started flicking through Google and YouTube for some inspiration, hoping to find something that suited me.
By sheer luck, I came across a video from a guy called Rokas, the founder of a company called Octomoves.
In many of his videos, he demonstrated techniques for his flow rope products based on popular Tai Chi and other martial arts movements.
I felt like I had hit the jackpot.
This was everything I had been looking for and more.
I rushed over to their website, where I was greeted with a choice of ropes (they vary based on whatever you are looking to achieve).
Most importantly, because I had never used a flow rope before, I could fill out a quiz that suggested the best rope for me.
I was so excited to get started, and I had that same feeling I got when I first discovered my love for martial arts – it was immense.
Let’s bring it back to today.
Five months from my first use, I am gobsmacked by how much I love these ropes.
They feel so nice in my hands as well – I was quite anxious about them in the beginning, but the sheer quality of the rope made me feel that whoever made them really knows what they’re doing.
From the first day I picked them up, I felt such relief around my joints and whole body.
I have been learning new patterns each week, and I love it. They even come with a load of functional movements to try with the ropes to keep things fresh.
I have persuaded all my friends and family to give them a try, and the feedback has been the same (maybe not quite as enthusiastic as me, but who could be?)
Since then, I have started to see some noticeable differences in myself.
For one, my joints feel loose and free, not rigid and tight like they usually do, and my cardio health has improved massively.
I may not seem like the type, but I was an occasional smoker – someone who often turned to quick nicotine hits when things got a little challenging.
But since I have started using these ropes, I swear the cravings have long gone (weird, I know.)
Maybe it’s because I now grab my ropes rather than a cigarette when things get stressful.
Ultimately, I have found something to engulf myself in, and the love is back.
This is the closest thing to Tai Chi I have discovered – for anyone who loves martial arts, shadowboxing, etc., I encourage you to try this out!
But the beautiful thing is, you can use one of their ropes for any fitness purpose you might have.
I have family members who want to shed a few pounds and friends who want to add some muscles – they have something for everyone.
And don’t be shy; they are so simple to use – anyone can pick them up, follow some basic patterns and get involved.
And even if you don’t know where to start, you can be sure that the rope selected for you by the end of the quiz will fit your needs.
I am well and truly back in my happy place.
If you are like me and love Tai Chi or any form of mind-freeing exercise, I cannot recommend OctoMoves and their flow ropes enough.
You can head over to their website and see how they can help you.
Tell them what your goals are and what you want to achieve, and let them take care of the rest.
You’ll be met with a rope that fits your needs and goals and feels great to hold and look at!
It is a beautiful community, and they have a fantastic team on hand to help you with any questions or queries that may crop up along the way.
If you head over to their website, you can see how the different ropes work.
You can choose whatever rope suits you best from their range, each tailored to different fitness needs, or like me, to help reduce pains.
Or, if you (like me all those months ago!) are unsure about which rope is the right fit for you, take the free OctoMoves quiz, and they will help you find your perfect match.
💦 Heavy
1.1 lbs
🏋️Heavy
1.1 lbs
⚡ Lighter
0.99 lbs
🌀 Lightest
0.66 lbs
Thank you for your comment
I love it! I have been using flow ropes for nearly six months now. They have been a game-changer for me! So glad to see others getting the benefits.
A fascinating take on Tai Chi. I will have to look into this myself – thanks for sharing.
Amazing! I have been a lover of Tai Chi for many years and agree it’s harder to come by now. I will be sure to check out OctoMoves!!