Standing for physical health, emotional wellness, and mental clarity

All you really have to do is stand!  Ideally everyday, and in a very particular way.  I’m talking about standing meditation, as taught in taiji and qi gong schools.  Standing meditation is an ancient practice used by many cultures to improve health, generate energy, and prepare for martial arts training.  I personally used standing meditation to survive (and actually thrive) during medical school. I now use it in a daily practice to maintain health and wellness.

The practice promotes internal strength by maintaining the stance for a period of time.  Standing also teaches vulnerability and letting go by shedding the concrete of tight muscles and negative emotions.  Performed properly, the standing meditation can bring great health emotionally, physically, and mentally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying the fresh air and the horse stance. (Golf coast, FL)

The health benefits are seemingly limitless with standing.  Studies are coming out nearly every day regarding the benefits of regular taiji and qi gong practices.  One recent example shows that taiji practice, including standing, treats chronic knee pain as effectively as regular physical therapy.  Osteoporosis (thinning of bones) also greatly benefits from taiji and standing, as seen in countless medical studies. Additional health benefits documented in studies include improvements in:

  • Chronic pain
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Mental focus
  • Blood pressure
  • Chronic lung infections
  • Weight reduction
  • Balance

So it’s not all easy.  As my teacher likes to say, “You must taste the bitter to savor the sweetness.” When you are first beginning, the new stances can be challenging and uncomfortable.  However, with a little time, the standing becomes relaxing, and is a home base to return to in difficult times.   

This is a practice to adopt with the help of a trained instructor.  There are many subtle nuances that make the practice rich and help generate qi flow.  They can be very difficult to capture without proper guidance. With a few simple directions, you will be well on your way to feeling incredible!  

Thus, I invite you to be vulnerable, be bold, and try this practice to taste a new sweetness of life.  If you are interested, please join me, I will be hosting a group for standing and basic tai ji instruction in Drake Park Tuesdays – Fridays from 7 – 8:30 AM all summer long at the top lawn next to the bathrooms.  

 

References to studies:

Tai Chi Versus Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2016.

Sun Z, Chen H, Berger MR, Zhang L, Guo H, Huang Y. Effects of tai chi exercise on bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2016.

Kong LJ, Lauche R, Klose P, et al. Tai Chi for Chronic Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Sci Rep. 2016;6:25325.

Hempel S, Taylor SL, Solloway MR, et al. Evidence Map of Tai Chi. Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs (US); 2014.

Yeh GY, Chan CW, Wayne PM, Conboy L. The Impact of Tai Chi Exercise on Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Empowerment in Heart Failure: Insights from a Qualitative Sub-Study from a Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(5):e0154678.