When most people think of or decide to start practicing qigong or tai chi, it is usually for the tremendous health benefits they bring, whether it is for symptom management for a chronic condition, balance improvement and fall prevention, mental and emotional health, etc.
Have you ever thought about what qigong or tai chi may do for your golf game? Tennis? Running?
Qigong and tai chi are full body workouts, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Most western style workouts may involve one or 2 of these aspects together, but usually not all. In regard to physical workouts, most western based workouts typically focus on 1 muscle, joint, or linear movement at a time. However, most functional activities including sports rely on the simultaneous and coordinated effort of multiple muscles and joints in a variety of planes at any one given time. In tennis, your body may be heading in one direction while you are attempting to hit the ball in another; at the top of the golf swing, your hips may be moving in one direction while your shoulders and upper body are still moving in another.
During the practice of qigong and tai chi, many of these same movement patterns are performed repetitively in a slow, safe, and controlled fashion, giving your body and brain time to hard-wire them. What then happens is that rather than your body tensing up when you are required to perform these movements, your body is already familiar with them, resulting in more flexible, freer, controlled motions. These repetitions over time also strengthen your nervous system and muscles, resulting in increased strength as well. Overall, this leads to improved performance and a reduced risk of injuries.
If you golf like I do, then you know there can also be a mental/stressful side to the game that is sometimes more impactful than the physical side. Time and time again, qigong and tai chi have been shown to improve stress, anxiety, and mental focus and concentration in not only people with clinical conditions, but those without them as well. These improvements can carry over into every aspect of your life, including sports or recreational activities.
Whether you are practicing qigong or tai chi for health related reasons, think of other areas in your life where they may be helping? Maybe it is golf, tennis, or running. Maybe gardening or other activities. Chances are, an activity you enjoy doing and have done for quite a long time has already experienced benefits from your practice of qigong or tai chi.
We would love to hear from you. What are some activities you feel have improved from your practice of qigong or tai chi?