Tabloid
Feel the flow of energy
Primarily practised for its health benefits, Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that helps relieve tension and stress.
- By Joanna Longworth
- Published: 00:00 October 13, 2004
Primarily practised for its health benefits, Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that helps relieve tension and stress
It seems every week we hear about a new state-of-the-art therapy that promises to calm us down, keep us centred and get our energy flowing. Many of these treatments are costly and time-consuming; also there is little or no research to prove their effectiveness.
So how do we know which one of them are worth experimenting with and which are not? One way is to look at how long the human race has been using a given therapy. If it is over a 1,000 years, then surely there must be something to it. Tai Chi is one such activity, it originated in China hundreds of years ago.
It is a series of coordinated arm, hand and leg movements which flow together to become one continuous movement.
The idea is that through the relaxed flow of these movements, and co-ordinated breathing techniques, one can better understand ones own posture and correct misalignments.
Being relaxed in every muscle and joint is the key to Tai Chi, which over time makes the body stronger and healthier. Tai Chi is a martial art but its aggressive, fighting origins are long gone.
Spiritual side
There is a deeper, more spiritual side to Tai Chi and one that takes a leap of faith. The word Chi means energy. Tai Chi encourages energy to flow through the body's meridians, which the Chinese believe allows a person to self-heal.
Practitioners think the mind is the single-most important factor that helps to achieve excellence in all areas of life, including health.
They work on the ability to centre the mind, keeping it interested and involved with a series of movements, which take considerable concentration and co-ordination to get right. This also stops the mind from being distracted and worrying about the past and future.
Generation after generation of Chinese people have used Tai Chi knowing it increases the body's range of movement, aids relaxation, reduces stress and assists with good balance and posture.
Now scientific research in the United States has backed up what China has always known. The American finding shows Tai Chi can improve balance control, flexibility and the condition of heart in people with chronic health problems.
The Archives of Internal Medicine said it also reduces stress, falls, pain and anxiety and can be helpful for people with psychological problems, such as depression.
Favourable effects
"Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi practise had favourable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders," the researchers said.
Bob Weatherall, secretary of the British Council of Chinese Martial Arts, welcomed the findings.
"The health aspects of Tai Chi are well documented. It is used extensively in hospitals in China to improve the health of patients. Hospitals in England have started using it too. Tai Chi is all about breathing and posture. It's about getting the mind and body to work together. Some people call it moving meditation."
To this day scholars argue about the true origins of Tai Chi but they all agree it has been around for a very long time.
The first Tai Chi documents in China date back to the first century, but even at that time these exercises were referred to as 'ancient'. It's believed there was once a Taoist hermit who, after long hours of meditation each day, would leave his cave in the mountains and perform a series of movements that would increase his circulation and restore his vigour without disturbing his deep meditative concentration.
The movements he made imitated what he saw in nature: the movements of birds, animals, streams, clouds and wind. For centuries, the practice has been transmitted and modified.
Today, there are five different schools of Tai Chi in China, the most common being Yang. In classrooms all over China, youngsters learn a martial art as part of their curriculum.
Tai Chi is actively encouraged by teachers to improve concentration and general behaviour. This idea has been copied at an English school in Swindon.
Better atmosphere
Teacher Anne D'Souza believes the children respond better in class since they began morning exercises. "After doing their Tai Chi the children come into the classroom and it really quietens them down. They are more prepared for their work and it creates a better atmosphere for the school."
The Tai Chi phenomenon is fast catching on here in the UAE. A large number of gyms offer Tai Chi classes and groups, especially from the Chinese community, are beginning to meet in parks across Dubai for early morning sessions.
Share this article
Covering everything from entertainment and lifestyle
