Time to make a move with tai chi

If you want to correct your body’s balance, de-stress, or get a handle on hypertension, diabetes and other lifestyle health conditions, then tai chi might be just what you need. And what better time to start than on World Tai Chi Day tomorrow, with a free session? (But don’t forget to consult your doctor before trying it out.)

“Tai chi is medication and meditation in motion,” says Dubai-based martial arts, tai chi and qigong master John Duval, of the Golden Eagle School of Martial Arts. John, an Austrian, was introduced to tai chi at the age of five and has been practising it ever since. He explains that the host of health benefits include reducing stress, improving flexibility and muscle strength and boosting stamina and agility, adding that regular practice can even help control hypertension and mood swings.  

Tai chi or tai chi chuan is a form of exercise that traces its history back to Taoism, one of China’s oldest belief systems. John points that, in addition to being beneficial for your health, tai chi is a subtle and scientific method of self-defence. A major advantage of tai chi is that it is suitable for children above the age of three and for adults of all ages. Also, you don’t need special equipment and you can practise it in a relatively small area, indoors or outdoors. John adds, “The Chinese arts of tai chi and qigong began over 2,000 years ago and their health benefits abound – from boosting the immune system, slowing the ageing process and offering the most effective balance and coordination conditioner in the world, for young and old alike.”

John and a team of tai chi masters, all proficient in Chinese martial arts, will be leading a free tai chi class for all members of the public at the Dubai Police Academy grounds near Garhoud tomorrow morning. This will coincide with events held around the world at 10am in each country where tai chi enthusiasts will be performing exercises to mark the special day.

Annie, 34, who has been practising tai chi for about a year, says that it has helped her a lot in controlling her blood-sugar levels. “I was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago. Fortunately I did not require insulin shots and the doctor suggested that I could control it with exercise and diet. I used to go for walks in Bur Dubai and one evening I got talking to a fellow walker who mentioned that he had hypertension and how it was largely brought under control after taking up tai chi. I promptly enrolled for it and today, almost nine months later, I must say there’s been a huge improvement in my fluctuating blood-sugar levels,’’ she says.

Tai chi has various movements that can stimulate the internal organs and improve their wellbeing, for example, there are tai chi exercises that stimulate the stomach muscles and intestines to improve digestion, increase appetite and regularise bowel movements.

John, who has a 6th Dan Black Belt from the Shaolin Temple China and the Chinese Wushu Federation, says “I grew up idolising all the martial-arts heroes such as Bruce Lee and several Shaolin monks. My parents supported my passion and I decided early on that this was what I wanted to do.” He now teaches kung fu to children as young as three at the Yellow Brick Nursery in Dubai and then gives classes for adults in tai chi, qigong and other forms of martial arts in the evening.

John feels tai chi is a form of martial arts that is therapeutic for all as it not only strengthens the limbs and improves balance, but has a positive impact on the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. “The World Health Organisation supports tai chi as its benefits have been proved. Tai chi improves the overall body kinetics. It helps your mind-body equilibrium while also getting you to remain focused,” says John.

Qigong, which like tai chi also has roots in Chinese medicine and philosophy, is a slow stylised repetition of movements which aid in calming the mind and helping an individual develop his potential. “Qigong is called the Fountain of Youth exercise as it helps you look young and healthy,’’ says John. The exercises in qigong activate the acupressure points of the body stimulating meridians (energy pathways) and thereby helping improve the health of a person, John says. Other health benefits include greater stamina, an enhanced immune system and improved cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions. John says qigong will also feature in the world celebrations tomorrow.

'Tai chi gave me a good night’s sleep’

Suchitra tries out a tai chi class and is surprised to find she manages a whole hour

Ten regular tai chi practitioners and I were outdoors at International City’s China cluster preparing for a session of tai chi. Not an enthusiast of high-intensity exercise, I was looking forward to tai chi after I heard it is an effortless set of free-flowing exercises done in tandem with music, which could help in the control of several health conditions.

Martial arts master John Duval asked us to begin the session by maintaining a semi-squat position while keeping the back straight. It sounded easy. But within seconds pain began shooting through my legs and back. Maintaining balance in the position was, at least for me who’s doesn’t regularly exercise, almost impossible.

Once we were able to maintain some balance, John suggested we concentrate on our breathing for a few minutes. Then, after a short break, he started teaching us a few basic tai chi movements. Fluid-like and gentle, one of them could be described as reaching up as if to grab the clouds. Other movements too were slow-paced and involved moving the arms and legs in wave-like or curling motions.

“Concentrate on your hand movements... get your mind to focus on the exercises,’’ John told us.

The moves were easy to follow and I soon realised that they were getting the muscles to work and I was loosening up and beginning to feel flexible.

The best thing about the session was, of course, the break we got every 5-10 minutes to relax and hydrate. By the end of half an hour, I was getting the hang of it and was proud that I was able to survive the entire hour.

Did I manage to get my mind to focus on the movements? I am not quite sure, perhaps I could perfect this if I started practising regularly. What I know for sure is that night I had a very restful sleep.