Anyone who does Tai Chi for any length of time usually finds that their mood improves quite noticeably. Sometimes it takes you a little while to actually see the difference. It is only when other people comment that you appear to be calm and collected that the change becomes apparent to you. It’s like most things in life when it happens slowly you simply get used to it. That’s the interesting thing about Tai Chi, you simply do it every day and things get slowly better. Or, as the Chinese say, one day of work, one day of progress. However, sometimes the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong can be quick and dramatic.
So why does it happen?
Under all circumstances modern man lives in a state of stress. It’s gotten to the stage where we don’t even realise that we are stressed. In this constant state of tension our bodies ceased to work correctly. The stress chemicals fill our bodies and our whole systems are knocked out of whack. However, because this happens so slowly we do not even realise we are feeling below par. It’s become a natural state of being. It is only when we start to feel better, quickly that we notice the change. It’s a bit like going on holiday and taking it really easy, all of a sudden you start to remember what it feels like to be relaxed and at ease. Well, you do not need to go to the Caribbean to experienced this state, you can find it right here at home.
Tension
Tension plays a great part in interfering with the correct running of your body. By holding your posture correctly, as in Tai Chi, you allow all of the natural processes to happen as they should. When tension is released and blood and energy start moving freely, our internal balance tends to correct itself. Everything starts to behave the way it should. You quite often start to see the changes by improved sleep patterns and waking more refreshed. After a good night’s sleep we always feel so much more energised and alert. This, in turn, should make you feel as if you want to do things. This is all part of the bodies’ biofeedback mechanism.
Our bodies constantly monitor themselves, making sure that everything is in balance. When an imbalance is detected the body will attempt to correct it. This can work well over a short period of time, so long as you stop doing what is causing the imbalance in the first place. Quite often though we do not seem to realise that what we are doing is wrong and carry on doing it anyway. This could be eating the wrong foods, doing too much or too little exercise, being constantly stressed and so on. This constant pressure on the body eventually causes a malfunction and suddenly we are shocked to find that we are ill with some chronic condition. Tai Chi brings us back to a focus point of stillness, where for 20 minutes a day we exercise and allow the body to heal and repair itself. Its effects accumulate over time and many chronic conditions can be either alleviated, or even cured. The most important thing is that Tai Chi reinforces what medical advisors are doing.
Relaxation Exercise
This is an exercise I learned when I was studying Autogenic’s. Autogenic’s emerged out of Eastern Europe some decades ago and, I believe, was originally used to help learn foreign languages quicker. But, its benefits on the mind and body soon became apparent and it was extensively used behind the Iron Curtain to develop their athletes. It is simple and straightforward to do this exercise, but its effects can be profound on your state of tension.
The Exercise.
The exercise is simplicity itself, it is becoming aware of the tension in your shoulders several times a day. Close your eyes and feel your shoulders. Say to yourself “my shoulders are heavy and warm” and feel the heaviness and warmth spread through them. Say this three times, several times a day. Eventually it will become a natural state of being, having relaxed shoulders. The important thing about your shoulders is that they register any tension felt throughout your body. So, if your shoulders are relaxed the rest of the body tends to be relaxed too.
