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ORIENTAL EXERCISE
Dedicated to maintaining health and vitality through movement

Stress, the constant pressure of modern life, can be exhilarating on certain occasions and it can also be a useful motivator. In every other respect, however, and particularly in terms of health, stress is really public enemy number one and has been clearly linked to the following illnesses:

asthma
back pain
coronary heart disease
diabetes
hypertension (high blood pressure)
indigestion
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
migraine
menstrual disorders - PMS, PMT etc.
rheumatoid arthritis
skin disorders
stomach ulcers

Stress also depresses the function of the immune system and so lowers our resistance to common ailments such as colds and flu. It is also implicated in the development of certain cancers. It makes us age much more quickly than would normally be the case. And of course it aggravates all manner of mental and emotional disorders, as well. Stress is NOT GOOD NEWS.

So what happens when we are stressed?
The processes that take place inside of us is described as the 'fight or flight' reaction. This is something left-over from our primitive past when it was often a matter of survival to be able to mobilise the body's resources quickly - for example being confronted by a wild beast looking for a meal. It was essential on such occasions to be able to react and run away fast from danger. Although the chances of being eaten by a wild beast are somewhat diminished these days, the body still reacts the same way to stressful situations, be it sitting in a traffic jam, or arguing with the boss at work.

These modern fight or flight situations are in some ways worse than in primitive times, since in our 'civilised' society we cannot usually run away, or fight or even 'let off stream' appropriately.

Changes inside
The body reacts in a very dramatic fashion when stressed. Here are just some of the things that happen ...

• Adrenaline is released into the blood stream, increasing heartbeat and blood pressure and so aggravating the condition of any damaged or furred-up blood vessels.
• Breathing becomes shallow, affecting asthmatics in a particularly unpleasant way.
• Blood flows away from the skin surface to parts of the body that require more energy in an emergency - the internal organs and brain, for instance (so we turn pale and, in the long term, our skin itself lacks nourishment).
• The tendency of the blood to clot increases, to help any potential wounds to heal quickly in the fight or flight confrontation. Again, this is not at all good for anyone suffering from arterial disease where blood vessels are already narrow.
• The stomach releases more hydrochloric acid than it would normally require, aggravating the formation of ulcers in the stomach.
• The muscles tense up - leading to shoulder and neck pain, and tension headaches.
• All the internal organs - spleen, liver, brain, heart and so on, go into over-drive. This uses up lots of vital energy, blood supply, oxygen, nutrients and so on - all wasted.

OK. But does it really matter?
Yes, it does matter! - especially if it happens too often. The body can cope with it occasionally, and calms down in time. If we allow it to take place too frequently, however, the body gets locked into what is termed a state of permanent stress arousal. Even the most trivial of occurrences can then send the system into a state of anxiety and nervous tension. This leads to a kind of free-fall situation in which the whole physical and mental system, unable to relax at all, gradually exhausts itself of energy and health. The heart is continually beating rapidly; adrenaline is constantly being released into the blood stream; the muscles are constantly tense; the blood vessels constricted and under greater and greater pressure. The result is quite simply illness, often life threatening, sometimes fatal.

That's stress. So how do we deal with it?

Oriental Exercise and the Art of Slowing Down
In oriental exercise systems such as yoga, qi gong or tai ji we first of all cultivate the ability to move slowly, and to move in a relaxed and controlled fashion. We also cultivate a well-balanced posture when standing, connected firmly to the earth. We encourage the arms and hands to become pliable, soft and yet also strong and the spine to become flexible and suple. The breath is usually centred low down, in the abdomen, instead of high up in the chest - allowing the diaphram muscle to do its work properly so that the breath itself rises and falls in a calm regular fashion as we progress calmly and deliberately from one posture to the next, moving to the rhythm of the breath.

Tai ji and some kinds of qi gong are often described as 'moving meditation.' This is because they combines movement with one of the key requisites for any kind of contemplation or meditation - that is calm and regular breathing. When the breath is still and centred, the mind becomes tranquil - and the body becomes calm also. The heart-beat regulates itself, the breathing deepens and the organs and vessels of the body are nourished by oxygen in a steady, sustainable way. All of these changes, even when viewed in isolation, are of great value. Combined in a daily routine they become extremely beneficial indeed. It is this regular, daily cultivation of relaxation which adds up over time to accustom the mind and body to a state of equilibrium, to stay cool and to deal with stress as it happens - and is why exercises such as yoga or tai chi are rightly described as the perfect antidote to a hectic, modern life-style. 

An overview of the principles of oriental medicine
 What is Qi   Taoist Bookshelf Seasonal Notes

  

    

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