Tai Chi to lose weight and ease depression

The University of Queensland, Australia has released an interesting study for anyone looking to lose weight.  Researchers found that the gentle, yet powerful, exercise known as Tai chi helps with obesity and excess weight, in a number of ways.  The Australian scientists discovered that tai chi:

• Improves body mass index (BMI);
• Reduces the amount of abdominal fat and overall waist measurements;
• Improves blood sugar balance–a critical element for maintaining a healthy weight or to lose weight;
• Reduces high blood pressure;
• Significantly reduces depression; and
• Improves the body’s use of insulin (insulin resistance)–a significant factor for weight gain and diabetes, among other serious health conditions.

Tai chi  is a Chinese internal martial arts often practiced to improve health. It is designed to facilitate the flow of fluids and Qi (life force) in the body, promoting good health and vitality. Tai Chi generally utilizes martial arts movements.

Tai Chi is suitable for most people, including those suffering from injuries and illness.

World Tai Chi Day in Dothan

Yinglong, one of the famous dragons of Chinese Mythology said to be the god of rain spared us this morning while we celebrated World Tai Chi Day at Solomon Park in Dothan.

A small group of us braved the threatening clouds and practiced Qi Gong and Tai Chi on the lawn. Actually, the conditions were close to ideal with a temperature way below what we had experienced for this event on the previous years. We practiced together low intensity breathing exercises based on Sanchin kata as well as the 4 Winds Short Form.

An alternative way to practice Sanchin kata is by focusing one's attention on the 3 parts of the Torso : High (Chest), Medium (Stomach right under the solar plexus) and Lower (right above the groin).

Chi follows will, or attention. By focusing on these three parts one moves the Chi along the Conception Vessel - This is a first step on the path of Small Circulation Qi Gong. 

Meditation and exercise - an Eastern Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicinen (TCM) Pain is an indication of Chi Stagnation.

Chi normally circulates within the body through lines called Meridians. (this concept is not accepted by Western Medicine - but this is not the point).

If a Meridian is blocked or interrupted (by a cut, an hematoma, a bent limb), the flow of Chi through it is interrupted. One speaks of "Chi Stagnation". The result is a poor irrigation of tissues and organs. Tis, in the short term results in local pain, and in the long term, if not addressed, internal organs might be damaged, and their functions hampered.

For TCM Blood nourishes the body, moistens body tissues and ensures that they do not dry out. Blood and Chi are interdependent and perform many of the same functions.

If Blood or Chi are blocked or stagnant in one area of the body, they will circulate through a different path, creating an imbalance between arteries for the Blood, and between meridians for Chi.

But Blood also contains Shen (Japanese Shin, Kokoro), or spirit, which balances the psyche.

If Blood or Chi are blocked, Shen cannot freely circulate inside and becomes restless. There can be no quieting of the mind.

Long periods of immobility tend to block the path of Blood and Chi. This is evidenced by the pain felt by the practitioner. In the long term, specially for beginners, this may make Shen restless, unbalance the Mind and disturb Meditation.

Which is why we practice Kinhin - walking meditation - between sitting periods.

Proper meditation practice should incorporate exercises promoting Blood and Chi circulation, while at the same time harmonizing the Shen.

Conversely, proper martial art practice should incorporate Spiritual discipline to avoid mindless emphasis on Physical accomplishment - but this is an other story...

Mind, Body, Spirit - JING, QI, SHEN

One term that often comes back in Martial Arts or Zen is "SHIN".

SHIN as in ZANSHIN, MUSHIN, HEIJO SHIN is usually translated as "Spirit".

In the West, although we very often hear about "Mind, Body, Spirit" we generally consider that Mind and Body are equivalent, that it is the same entity, which somehow would be eternal, by opposition to the Body, which will eventually die.

Chinese Medicine has a different and unique view of mind/body/spirit. According to it humans comprise a triplicity of inter-related aspects called Jing, Qi, and Shen. (Shin in Japanese)

• We can translate Jing as Essence. This is the physical template of a human being our biology and genetics our physical substance.
• Qi we can call Function. This is our vital energy, our breathe, our movement. It is an immaterial force that is responsible for metabolic energy and the integrity of our structure.
• Shen (Shin in Japanese) is best translated here as Mind, our consciousness, awareness, and mental function.

These three aspects of a human being are related and interdependent. Jing and Qi engender mind, and the mind influences Jing and Qi. All three are actually different densities of Qi, Jing being the most dense, and Shen the most rarified. This is an important point. It means that in Chinese Medicine the body/mind is not just a relationship between two different fields that intimately influence one another, (an idea now common in Western alternative medicine), but is in fact two aspects of the same field of qi. This means everything about a human being can be treated by harmonizing the chi.

In Chinese Medicine mind equals Shen, a function that is stored in the heart and has nothing to do with the brain. It is believed that if the heart is well nourished and calm, it makes a comfortable home for the mind which can then remain peaceful, harmonious, and undisturbed.

You may look at the Jing Qi Shen trinity as you would a riding chariot : The Horse is Qi, the Chariot is Jing and the Charioteer Shen.

Next time I'll post about how Chinese Medicine looks at Shin, not as a single entity, but as a juxtaposition of several souls or minds related to different organs.