Category: News

The article “Health Defence” is reprinted on Slanted Flying website with the permission of the author Sam Langley from his personal Blog.

This morning I’ve awoken with a desire to write. My Tai Chi practice can wait for an hour.
At the moment everyone is thinking about health, their own and their family’s and friend’s. P  but what can be done? Eating better, sleeping better and exercising more will help.

Or you could just practice Tai Chi. Believe me when I tell you that it will help more than anything else. Whilst exercise alone might give some benefit, mindful exercise that promotes relaxation is better. Stress and anxiety have a powerful and detrimental effect on the immune system. Tai Chi practice calms you down to a profound degree and so undoes the harm caused by stress.

Being sedentary is not good and so we need to move but we need to move in the right way. Going to the gym and lifting weights is not the best way to exercise, sure you might look toned but you are probably physically tense and posturally imbalanced. Tai Chi is all about balance. You never force anything. Even if it’s done badly it’s very unlikely to cause injury. If it’s done properly, however, the health benefits are myriad. After a short while, you’ll notice that you feel stronger, fitter and significantly calmer.

Many people take up Tai Chi after ruining their bodies with other physical pursuits. Tai Chi is a martial art and in the long term can be extremely effective but it also works as a different kind of self defence: Self defence for your health. Karate, Jujitsu, boxing and Muay Thai all have their place but are very likely to cause damage long term. Go to youtube right now and look at the power and grace that Chen Xiaowang displays, you won’t find many septuagenarians from other disciplines that can move like that!

There is something special about Tai Chi beyond the mechanical. Something energetic. Tai Chi was probably influenced by traditional Chinese medicine which has a different way of looking at health to the western model. It’s quite understandable to be sceptical when you hear people talking about Qi energy and it’s not something I spend much time dwelling upon but….there IS something there. Go and have accupuncture and you’ll see what I mean.

Tai Chi is an internal art. It is the product of hundreds of years of introspective practice. What happens when you look within? When you feel your own body? Beginners often think they are feeling Qi. They might be but what’s more likely is that they suddenly start to experience their own bodily processes. On a simple level, this can involve a growing awareness of what you’re doing wrong. I stopped drinking coffee soon after starting Tai Chi because I realised that my heart was racing. The calmer you become, the more your awareness grows and the more you perceive in yourself.

There are many reasons to start Tai Chi, especially right now and not many reasons not to.
Sitting at my computer writing this I feel the need to move and so I’m off to practice.

America is a stressed nation, with an American Psychological Association survey noting that three out of four adults report having one stress symptom in the previous month, and 45% admitting to lying in bed at night, plagued by worry. The situation is particularly dire for those working in high stress jobs, including military personnel, firefighters, air pilots, and health care professionals (doctors and nurses). If you work in one of these professions, it is vital to take a proactive approach to stress, in order to enjoy sound physical and mental health while enhancing your work performance.

Why is Stress so Dangerous?

Stress does more than keep us tossing and turning at night. It is linked to serious diseases like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It also affects fertility, making it harder for women to conceive. Stress is additionally linked to anxiety and depression – the two most common mental conditions plaguing Americans.

Why Tai Chi?

Numerous studies have shown that Tai Chi and two other mindful practises – meditation and yoga – are particularly effective at lowering levels of stress hormone, cortisol. One study published in the Applied Nursing Research journal offered Tai Chi to older nurses for a 15-week period. Findings showed that, compared to a control group, the Tai Chi group had a 20% greater reduction in work stress after the end of the study period. They also showed a 23% greater reduction in general stress. Researchers noted that preserving nurses’ mental wellbeing is particularly vital because sufficient numbers of younger nurses are not available to replace the large number of nurses retiring. The aim is to keep nurses working longer, but in order to do so, the important issue of stress must be addressed – and Tai Chi can clearly form an important part of a successful strategy.

Not all Workers are in Optimal Health

Many people forge ahead at work despite battling conditions like osteoarthritis and heart disease. Studies have shown that Tai Chi can significantly improve the quality of life for people with these conditions. Performing well at work involves psychological as well as physical strength; the ability to interact with others and maintain a positive mood. Tai Chi has been found to beat depression and help people cope with even challenging diseases such as cancer. Its ability to keep the mind ‘in the here and now’ allows many people to escape the negative thought patterns that worry about the future can bring about.

Tai Chi and Veterans

Work related stress is particularly devastating in those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as a result of experience on the battlefield or in wartorn countries. Researchers at the Boston University Medical Center found that Tai Chi was helpful to those with PTSD. In particular, this ancient practise helped soothe symptoms like intrusive thoughts and difficulty with concentration. Of course, it also significantly boosted participants’ flexibility, strength, and ability to manage pain.

Tai Chi for Everyone

Tai Chi (as well as yoga and mindfulness meditation) are ideal stress busters for busy workers for many reasons. Since it is a low-impact activity, it is suitable for people of all fitness levels and ages. It is great for older executives who may be just starting an exercise regiment, because it does not strain the joints and muscles. It does not leave practitioners breathless or cause a spike in the heart rate, yet it incredibly effective at boosting strength and mindfulness – a quality which busy workers can find very elusive in their day to day lives.

Tai Chi has so many benefits that busy workers can enjoy. These include a reduction in osteoarthritis related pain, improved balance, and, as mentioned above, an improved ability to manage stress. Many modern day individuals may not be able to work less or for shorter hours, but one thing they have the power to do, is reduce stress through the powerful yet gentle practise that is Tai Chi.