By Sophia Bo Zhou
Translated by Shiaw-Ling Lai
We have been in motion from birth. Even during sleep, though still and seemingly inert, our bodies continue to move internally, our hearts pumping, our blood circulating. Our waking and sleeping motions differ only in the magnitude of our movements; our entire lives the sum process of an infinite number of activities. Every person undergoes the stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and old age, and throughout a lifespan, the human body never stops working. Complete stasis happens only at the end of one’s life.
Human movement is tied to human wellbeing, and we want to take a scientific approach to understanding human wellness. We know, for instance, that excluding the period of our infancy, when we followed our natural instincts, humans have grown to always adapt our movements to the needs of the society, such as when we study, work, or complete mundane chores. Take for example students who studying in the same posture for extended periods, or workers who must stay in the same fixed position during work: in these roles we all engage in activities which reduce our natural muscle capabilities and force us to confine our bodies in rigid, damaging ways.
Conversely, even many of our modern sports exercises can be detrimental to a person’s complete health. Many soccer players have repeat injuries to their legs and knees. Tennis players have similar damage to their wrists, and weightlifters usually experience sever pain in their backs and waists. The more an individual practices a repetitive strenuous activity, the more likely they are to sustain severe body damage. Many professional athletes have so many injuries that they require intensive care even mid-life. Such examples are common and widespread.
Human exercise can be divided into two basic categories: activities that burn energy and require a kind of “cost” in the form of energy and muscle power, and activities that are restorative, which reinvigorate and energize. We’ve already described the types of activities that bring only wear and tear to your body. So how do we engage in exercise that restores and rejuvenates?
tai chi is an exemplary form of restorative exercise based on hundreds of years of Chinese practice and experience. Modern medicine has research to prove that taichi has clear benefits in preventing age-related heart, cerebral, and blood-related diseases such as coronary heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage, and stroke. People who are engaged in desk jobs that require long periods of sitting—such as software engineers—tend to maintain the same posture for extended periods as well. Such habits can restrict blood circulation, cause muscular fatigue in the spinal area, deteriorate vision, and increase blood pressure. Untreated over time, these conditions worsen and become serious hidden injuries. Regular tai chi practice cleanses the body and purges the toxins that have accumulated, using qigong to unify heart and body into a state of purity.
Movements in taichi are designed to cultivate fluid movement in the human body. On the surface, the movements of tai chi are soft, natural and fluid. It contains the essence of Chinese cultural traditions. tai chi movements are focused on “relaxation, serenity, and fluidity”, and based on the principals of “center, balance, and curvature.” The tai chi movements are natural: the feet, hands, torso, limbs all move in circular movements in coordinated manner. All the movements promote healthy blood circulation, circulate vital energy, and regulate bodily functions. It also increases ones immune system, realizes ones true potentials, and returns the human body to the most optimal state. The theory behind tai chi is best described as “what comes from nature returns to nature.” This epitomizes the utmost optimal balance attainable by self-cultivation.