The Chinese refer to life’s energy flow as chi, also spelt qi. Chi, or energy, is the core and basic foundation of all of their methods for healing. Tai chi is a method of manipulating chi through controlled movements or postures. It is a martial art, and is now recognized as a remedy to assist patients of chronic illnesses or cancer when they are in a weak state of body and mind.
Since the chi and the human body have to work in harmony, it is believed that through a series of precise movements, the energy field within is revitalized. In other words, the movements are designed to bring about a change in the chi flow to the body and mind. When the chi is flowing uninterrupted a person is healthy, but when someone becomes ill it is necessary to perform these movements to energize and return the chi to a normal flow. This basic concept is also a focus of other energy-healing techniques, like Reiki and Qigong.
Tai chi is similar to a dance, in that each movement is followed by a counter-movement that perfectly coincides with the previous movement in the opposite direction. This is a perfect balancing technique that is slow, yet graceful, similar to a choreographed performance. Concentration on proper breathing from the diaphragm is also critical. Progress with Tai chi is ultimately followed by increased muscle mass and tone, flexibility, improved posture, stamina, and even improved balance in a person’s stature. It is through repetition and mastery of technique that a higher and healthier attainment of strength and well being is achieved. Cardiovascular benefits are another result from the carefully articulated and focused breathing throughout each movement of the body.
This martial art is a great exercise for everyone, there are many testimonials urging the use of Tai chi during cancer treatments. Though it is not a direct cure for certain ailments and cancer, it helps ease the pain of treatments, relieve stress, and promotes immune system function. Martha McInnis, a breast cancer survivor, learned about using Tai chi as an integrative medicine when she was undergoing radiation, and hails that Tai chi made her live better and gather the strength to fight her cancer with full force. Many doctors agree with Martha, and recommend patients diagnosed with an aggressive or low-survivability rate cancer, to adopt a complementary therapy.
So far there have been positive results in patients with deadly cancers like non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, pleural mesothelioma, or pancreatic cancer. The increased wholeness and wellness in the whole body is what doctors and patients claim to be the benefit of using Tai Chi with conventional cancer treatments.
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With very special thanks to Allison Brooks from Orlando for this article.
