We recently connected with Shravan Avyukta and have shared our conversation below.

Shravan, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I knew I wanted to become a Martial Artist was when I decided to pursue martial arts after years of focusing on my engineering career. Growing up, I was fascinated by martial arts films from 80s, 90s and 2000s, watching legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. The discipline they embodied left a lasting impression on me, but circumstances kept me from pursuing martial arts as a child.

It wasn’t until I experienced stress-related health issues as an adult that I found my way back to that passion. I realized that no amount of gym time or conventional stress management techniques was helping, and I needed something deeper. That’s when I sought out Wu Style Tai Chi and I knew I had found my creative and wellness outlet.

The power of slowness in Tai Chi spoke to my desire for inner peace and control over my body & mind. What began as a way to manage stress quickly transformed into something much bigger, something more than a pursuit of mastery in a practice that felt both physically and mentally enriching. This was the moment when I knew that Tai Chi wasn’t just going to be a hobby, it was going to become an essential part of my life and my professional path.

Shravan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I specialize in Wu Style Tai Chi, a modern martial art form that emphasizes slow, controlled movements within the natural body frame. What sets me apart is my dedication to this discipline, especially since I started later in life. I’ve always had a passion for martial arts, and I wanted to pursue a holistic way to manage my health.

In less than two years, I’ve performed at over 15+ events and have started writing essays about Tai Chi on my website. I’m happy to share that my creative writing has attracted other Tai Chi practitioners from around the world. I’m super-passionate about sharing how Tai Chi can transform your body and mind, offering both physical fitness and mental clarity. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and of the fact that I’m able to give back by writing about it.

The main thing I want people to know about my practice is that Tai Chi is more than just exercise, it’s a practice that helps people find balance, reduce stress, and connect with their inner selves. That’s why it’s called internal martial arts. My goal is to share this powerful practice and show people that it’s never too late to start their own journey towards better health and wellness. Whether through training, performing, or writing, I’m dedicated to making Wu Style Tai Chi accessible and impactful for others.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One story that stands out from my journey is when I first started practicing Tai Chi at 28 years old, and it was an uphill battle to catch up with the other more experienced practitioners. I set a personal goal to make it to the demo team and that wasn’t an easy thing to do. I knew I had to dedicate extra hours to daily practice if I wanted to truly excel. One of the most challenging aspects was mastering the Tai Chi Walk, it’s a fundamental move that required over 100 hours of training. There were moments when I questioned if I could keep up with more experienced practitioners, but my determination to learn and grow kept me going.

My background in engineering helped me approach the practice with a methodical mindset, and this perseverance allowed me to catch up and perform Wu Style Tai Chi at the first-ever AAPI Heritage and Dragon boat Festival hosted by Dallas on May 19, 2024, at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake. The event was attended by 7000+ people. This experience solidified my belief that my resilience, paired with my consistency and my willingness to push beyond my limits, can help me achieve incredible progress.

Little did I knew that a little resilience could actually help me, a dedicated Tai Chi practitioner become a part of Dallas’s AAPI History through Martial Arts Performance. As I reflect on this moment during this interview with CanvasRebel, I’m still in awe of the journey that brought me here.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, my creative journey in writing essays on Tai Chi as a health practice is driven by my mission to inspire others to live strategically and with purpose. I named my blog – Tai Chi Nerd. Through taichinerd.com, I share practical frameworks and life experiences that people can apply to their own lives, helping them manage stress, improve productivity, and ultimately grow into their best selves.

I’m passionate about breaking down myths and offering fresh perspectives, particularly around personal development and wellness through Wu Style Tai Chi. My goal is to show that it’s never too late to begin a new journey—whether it’s mastering a new skill, improving health, or finding balance. The key is simply to start.

Through my writing, and future plans to become a Tai Chi instructor at my school, I hope to create a lasting impact that helps others lead fulfilling, intentional lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shravanavyukta.com/