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YOUR WELLNESS SPA Mind-Body Health 66 DAYSPA | JULY 2014 There is no mystique to tai chi chuan [practice]. What is diffi cult is the perseverance. It took me 10 years to discover my chi, but 30 years to learn how to use it. Once you see the benefi t, you won't want to stop. —Ma Yueh Liang, tai chi teacher, (1901 – 1998) It's common knowledge that the human body is built for motion, and that it relies on regular physi- cal activity to maintain optimal function. The notion of achieving inner peace through very specifi c bodily movements is not as widely known—even though the concept is thousands of years old. Two cases in point: the ancient Chinese arts of tai chi and qigong. Sometimes referred to as meditation in motion, tai chi is increasingly used by people of all ages to improve mental and physical health. There are varying theories as to its origin, but one of the most common is that it was developed by a Taoist monk, who based the prac- tice on a set of 13 exercises that imitate the movement of animals. The exercises called upon the use of internal force and concentration. (This is in stark contrast to the external force used in other martial arts, such as kung fu.) Although tai chi was fi rst developed as a method of self-defense, those who engaged in it found its pre- scribed formula of breath, posture and movement to have a profound effect on their well-being. Though less well known in the West, qigong is in essence the mother of tai chi, having been developed before the idea of martial arts took root. It is often re- ferred to as Chinese yoga and is an integral aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Millions of people practice tai chi and qigong daily. In China, large groups gather in open, outdoor areas every morning to practice these activities as a means of starting their day. THE QI TO UNDERSTANDING Tai chi and qigong can be used to balance qi (or chi), the fl ow of energy that allows the body and its sys- tems to function. According to TCM, humans com- prise fi ve elements found in nature: water, fi re, wood, metal and earth. The energy of these elements travels through channels, or meridians, in the body. For good health to be achieved, these elements must fl ow and interact smoothly. The other "balancing act" that may be addressed via tai chi and qigong involves two opposing principles in nature: yin, the feminine, cold, soft force; and yang, the masculine, hot, solid force. In a single body, yin and yang must be in harmony for health in the body (and in the natural world) to be realized. Everything from stress to illness to restriction of movement can interrupt the fl ow of these unseen but vital forces. Tai chi and qigong, through their gentle move- ments bearing poetic names such as Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain or Eight Pieces of Brocade, en- able the body to rebalance. Multiple studies show that practicing tai chi or qigong can help improve balance, fl exibility and stability; ease pain; improve sleep; and bolster the immune system. The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine at the Na- tional Institutes for Health (nccam.nih.gov) is currently supporting studies on tai chi's effects on cancer survi- vors, depression in elderly patients, bone loss in post- menopausal women, fi bromyalgia and arthritis. Gentle, low-impact and non-competitive, tai chi and qigong are appropriate for a wide range of people. They carry little risk of injury when practiced correctly —and they can be done almost anywhere. Plus, the restorative calm and focus people fi nd when they em- brace these practices encourage them to keep them doing them day after day, decade after decade. MIND, BODY & SPIRIT Aided by thousands of years of scholarly writings on tai chi and qigong, many styles and families of these arts Peace in Motion More Westerners are embracing the Chinese internal energy arts of tai chi and qigong. By Andrea Renskoff © ISTOCKPHOTO Y o u r W e l l n e s s S p a . i n d d 6 6 Your Wellness Spa.indd 66 6 / 3 / 1 4 1 1 : 4 1 A M 6/3/14 11:41 AM