I hear from many students that they are dealing with so much stress and anxiety. They are having trouble coping. There are so many reasons for stress in our current political, cultural, family, financial, and spiritual environment. The list goes on and on. We feel out of control. Our brains become overwhelmed with emotions and we start to “tune out”, become numb and detach. This is often known as emotional numbness. It has been described as a “survival mechanism from our sympathetic nervous” system.
Here’s the problem: emotional numbness affects our mental, emotional, and physical health. We may become apathetic and lose interest in the many areas of our life that once gave us joy. We often are not even conscious that this is happening as we slowly disconnect from our senses, actions, thoughts, and so on.
Depending on how intense, frequent, and lengthy your emotional numbness is, it may be time to get professional help, especially when it starts to interfere in your life.
We know by now that there are the three different responses that happen when we encounter trauma, physical, and/or emotional pain: we fight, freeze, or leave (flight). Emotional numbness is one way that we freeze to protect overloading our nervous system. But even though we feel more calm, is that a good response?
Unfortunately, some people isolate themselves or reach for alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy outlets to deal with the overwhelming stress. That just adds another problem to their lives and doesn’t solve anything. They then have to deal with the negative effects on their body, mind, relationships, finances, and the list goes on and on.
A better way of coping is moving your body (exercise). That works, doesn’t it? Depends on the exercise. How long does the “calm” last once you are finished?
So why am I blogging about this? In today’s world, we often encounter high pressure to excel at life as well as fitness. Here’s where Tai Chi and/or Qigong stand out because of its slow, gentle, soothing pace. Tai Chi and/or Qigong are powerful methods of coping with and managing our stress. No need to exhaust ourselves or run the risk of injury because of overdoing it. Practicing either or both teaches us to cope by combining deep breathing and awareness with slow, flowing movements. The result is relaxation and a calm feeling that doesn’t disappear when we finish practicing.
Tai Chi and/or Qigong students (and practitioners) have already taken the healthy steps to learning how to cope and how to avoid emotional numbness. They are practicing Tai Chi and/or Qigong for their emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
How does Tai Chi help us cope with stress?
By requiring your focused attention on the movements and breathing, Tai Chi strengthens the mind/body connection. The smooth, slow movements help reduce your physical tension (which can contribute to your stress). Your focus is removed from the source of your stress (what’s bugging you) and into awareness of the present moment. The slow, deep abdominal breathing in Tai Chi helps to reduce release of stress hormones (such as cortisol), as it regulates the nervous system. According to numerous studies, practitioners enjoy reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as more stable moods.
Here’s the best part, according to Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, when you repeat certain activities (Tai Chi, Qigong, for example) you can “change the connection between your behavior and activation of your stress-response”! This is a fascinating, although sometimes technical, book dealing with stress-related diseases and coping. Dr. Sapolsky explains the scientific with humor and wit. If you decide to buy it, be sure to get the latest edition as he adds new chapters and information in new releases.
Tai Chi and Qigong can help “melt stress away”. In one study “healthy but stressed people” practiced Tai Chi for 12 weeks. Their anxiety levels were significantly lower by the end of the study. While Tai Chi is eliminating (or at least decreasing) your stress, your balance, flexibility, awareness, and muscle strength improve. In this way, we not only change the way we cope with stress (both physically and mentally), we also change our important health markers: our blood pressure, heart rate, stamina, and lung capacity!
What about our physical condition?
According to personal trainer and traditional Chinese medicine specialist Tim Sobo, MAOM, CPT: “Although the motions of Tai Chi may seem leisurely, they are bodyweight exercises with physical demands”. Sobo finds that Tai Chi is great for your muscles and, when you focus on your strength and balance, you will feel it.
So why keep doing it?
Many exercises today are exhausting as well as competitive. Unfortunately, frequent injuries happen. Tai Chi is not competitive. That is, unless you decide to train to join competitions. You don’t wear yourself out even though you are working smarter, not harder. You don’t need time to “recover”, even if you do it daily. Plus, the more you practice Tai Chi, the better you get at the movements and flowing them together in a smooth, meditative way. You enjoy a higher/deeper level of awareness and relaxation.
As Sobo says, “You can learn dance steps within a few days, but you can spend a lifetime mastering the dance. The same goes for Tai Chi. It’s not a quick fix!
Bottom Line: Tai Chi, Qigong, and any other mind/body exercise you decide to undertake is a great way to cope with stress and not resorting to emotional numbness, while improving your physical and mental states.
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