Tilt-A-Whirl and Tai Chi

I have noticed a phenomena among some beginning students and occasionally advanced students of Tai chi.  From time to time there will be a feeling of disorientation, slight dizziness, lightheadedness, or even nausea.  This often occurs during periods of quiet standing, but also during movement.  At times it can be attributed to low blood pressure or not eating for a significant amount of time before class, but often there seems to be no obvious explanation.

I think a possible explanation could have to do with the relatively sudden contrast or jump between a person's daily way of being and the stillness and quiet that are experienced in class.  A sort of sensory deprivation occurs.  The multitasking, texting, emailing, phone answering, driving in traffic existence suddenly shifts to the meditative experience of Tai Chi - quiet, focused, internal.  It's like the feeling you get when you get off the Tilt-a-Whirl at the carnival (do they even have a Tilt-a-Whirl anymore?).  A fairly sudden switch in speed happens.  If it's your first experience with this kind of shift, it could be quite disorienting, particularly if your world tends toward the frenetic.

Truly this is all part of the Tai chi experience.  Your daily existence will always be busier and less calm than what you can experience in class or when you have a focused practice at home, but as you grow accustom to making the switch from Tilt-a-Whirl to Tai Chi I think you will be able to bring more of the Tai Chi into your daily life.