How to practise Taijiquan to attain super health and longevity #3

Zeng:
This is quite a unique feature. How does it come about, and what particular benefits and advantages does it offer?

Wu:
Aside from what are noticeable to the causual observer as described above, there is, or should be, in these continuously flowing movements, an alternative change from "insubstantiality" to "substantiality" or from "to open" to "to close" as they are termed in the Taijiquan classics. Or simply as the actions themselves show: there is a constant shift of body weight, letting the greater part of it be borne on one of the legs (bent to a certain angle) alternatively, as well as an alternative change of stretching-out and drawing-in movements, keeping the whole body alternatively in a stretched or relaxed state both internally and externally. Practising Taijiquan with a greater part of bodyweight borne on a single and bent leg alternatively for 20-40 minutes in continuity is certainly demanding both to the mind and the body, thus comes the perspiration. Keeping a part of or the entire body in a stretched or relaxed state alternatively is a good means of conserving energy and a way of letting the workload be shared evenly by the different body parts. That, together with coupling deep respiration naturally with body movements in rhythmic harmony as far as possible, makes a good supply of oxygen available right from the beginning to the end of the workout. Thus no oxygen debt is formed, and the performer will not be out of breath.

The benefits and advantages concomitant to this unique feature are many: as the exercise is actually quite demanding, so it enhances cardiovascular efficiency, increases the elasticity of the lung tissue and improves digestion and assimilation. As it is generally done slowly and gently, it is not too hard a task even for the aged or the weak. And as a good supply of oxygen is available at all times and no oxygen debt is being built up throughout the whole practice, it is entirely suitable for those with chronic illness such as high blood pressure, or pulmonary tuberculosis.

Zeng:
That explains the popularity of Taijiquan with people of different ages and health problems. Are there any new findings regarding the health promoting effects in relation to this aspect of its uniqueness?

Wu:
There certainly are. I'll just cite one of the latest. As reported in the newspaper Tiyubao (The Sports Gazetts) a researcher at the Henan Medical College made an observation of the changes in the immune functions of nineteen 50-68 years old Taijiquan practicians and twenty-five 18-32 years old middle and long distance runners after their workouts. The procedure is to let the two groups walk slowly to a designated place after rising from bed in the morning, then with the Taijiquan group doing a set of simplified Taijiquan and the runners group running in full speed a distance of 1,600 metres.

Both before and after their workouts, samples of their saliva were collected and tests were made of the contents of the immune substance, the secretive type globulin (SlgA) contained in their saliva. The result was that an increase of SlgA was gound in about two thirds of the Taijiquan group, while a decrease was found in about two thirds of the runners group right after the workout. It shows that exercises of different intensity will bring about good or bad infulence, at least right after the workout, to the immune functions of the human body and an exercise of moderate intensity like Taijiquan will bring about a good infulence. This is another proof offered by modern scientific analysis of the multivalent effects of this unique and popular traditional Chinese form of mental and physical culture.

Zeng:
All that I have learned from you to day is most interesting and enlightening. Now is there anything else that you would consider of particular importance for me to observe?

Wu:
Well, yes. Though you are much younger than I, you are now already sixty-six, and as enthusiastic as you are, it is all the more necessary to be aware of over training. Anything done in harmony with the law of nature is liable to bring you good results, and aging is a natural law. Don't take yourself as still young when you are already old, or are becoming older. In my own case, I used to train not less than three hours a day when a youth. The whole programwas very strenuous, including "keeping pile-stance" (holding a fixed position for a number of minutes, a sort of isometric training) in several different stances; kicking a foot high up forward, touching the forehead with the toe and kicking a foot high up backward, touching the back of head with the heel; doing a set of Taijiquan under a kind of long rectangular table only a few inches higher than a dining table, so as to make sure that I was taking a very tiring low stance, etc. Then about 2 hours during my middle age. After sixty, about one hour and a half. Over seventy, about an hour. Over eighty, less than a hour. Over ninety, about 30 minutes. Now I do only about 15 minutes early every morning and sometimes another 15 minutes before going to bed, and I have kept myslef all the time fit and healthy.

The second thing I want you to keep in mind is that the healthy and strong body one has built up through long years of Taijiquanpractice or any other sports activity is not one that can stand limitless abuses. Over-eating, over-smoking, over-drinking, over-indulgence in sex, and working beyond a certain limit will surely ruin the mind and the body.

Finally, I hope you will not limit the application of the basic priciples of the art to your daily Taijiquan only. For instance if, while walking, you remember to stick up the top of your head lightly, loosen up your hip joints and raise the knees, you will instantly feel spirited and nimber. If something vexes you, you can throw it off by a few minutes of deep breathing, slowly and evenly, and, by shutting off all disturbing thoughts, as you do in the "Preparatoin Form". Then follow with an actual round of Taijiquan, or just picturing it in your mind. When you are at a scenic spot of in a place full of sunshine, fresh air and fresh food, don't hesitate to take these good things into your bodyand form a deep impression of them in your mind, to be recalled with joy afterwards, by doinga set of Taijiquan on the spot. That will certainly help you attain super health and longevity.

Zeng:
Thank you ever so much for your valuable and detailed advice. As the old saying goes: "I profit more from one consultation withyou than from ten years of reading." I wish you a long, long life and I hope that more and more Taijiquanenthusiasts will learn of your teachings and be benefitted by them.