If you’re a Star Trek fan and happened to watch The Next Generation shows, you may remember Lieutenant Worf, the Klingon warrior, practicing a series of slow, deliberate movements resembling those in a martial arts class. Of course, in the science fiction world it was some Klingon ritual he was doing, but in reality, it was based on the ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi.
Historically, Tai Chi Chuan (translated as “supreme ultimate fist”) was a form of self defense in which the practitioner neutralized his opponent’s use of force before applying a countering force of his own. Students learned how to efficiently transmit energy, relax the mind, and control the breath. Such skills translated into other areas of their lives, promoting health and well-being.
Today, thousands of people find health benefits from daily practice of the graceful exercise of Tai Chi-and many of those are cancer survivors. It can ease pain and stiffness, build muscle strength, improve coordination and flexibility, and improve sleep. Studies funded by the National Center for Complementary Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) suggest that it may enhance the immune system and reduce blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic says it can reduce stress and anxiety, relieve chronic pain, and improve everyday physical functioning. A small study of breast-cancer survivors showed that the women in the Tai Chi group had improved flexibility, strength, and aerobic capacity. The slow, graceful movements accompanied by deep, mindful breathing help increase circulation and promote relaxation. Practitioners claim that it balances the flow of vital energy (called “qi”), which helps improve health and extend life.
The nice thing about Tai Chi is that the movements are gentle, so if you’re going through cancer treatment and/or recovering from it, this exercise can be the perfect way to help maintain or regain your flexibility and strength with a low risk of injury. Slow, precise movements are good for muscle control, while deep breathing creates a sort of meditative trance that can help ease stress. Of course, talk to your doctor first to discuss any limitations you may have before starting.
To find a class in your area, check your local health clubs, schools, YMCAs, and recreational facilities. There are a lot of books and DVDs out there for self-teaching, but as a cancer fighter or survivor, you’re safer with an instructor. He/she can show you how to practice safely to help avoid injury. You want to learn the fundamentals well, so choose someone who has received good instruction. (Lifematters.com has some more recommendations for finding a good instructor here.) The T’ai Chi Magazine is also a good source for instruction.
Once you get started, you may become addicted, as this exercise is not like you’re usual aerobic pounding. As Aldous Huxley describes in Island: “No leaps, no high kicks, no running. The feet always firmly on the ground…movements intrinsically beautiful and at the same time charged with symbolic meaning…The whole body transformed into a hieroglyph, a succession of hieroglyphs, of attitudes modulating from significance to significance, like a poem or a piece of music… ”
Have you found Tai Chi helpful in dealing with cancer treatments? Please share your experiences.
Photo courtesy of ziga-zaga via Flickr.com.
