Using Qi flow in Taiji effecting structural change in feet and ...

REPORT DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003

Life Research January 2019 vol.2 no.1 14

Using Qi flow in Taiji effecting structural change in feet

and reduced pain: a case report

Suzanne Newnham*

*Correspondence: Suzanne Newnham, P.O. Box 720, Mawson ACT 2607, Australia. E-mai l : su [email protected]

Author's website:https://suzanne-newnham.com

In the article, the author reports on a case study of chronic pain problems caused by her own foot deformity. The author began using Taiji, Chen style Chan Si Gong (Reeling Silk), and Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation) to relieve chronic pain since 1986. After more than two years of Qigong training, the structure of the author's foot changed from the previous deformity to normal foot shape. These changes enabled the author to walk normally and to be free from persistent chronic pain. The article discussed the methods of using Qi currents and other issues that need to be paid attention to when practicing Tai chi, such as how to adjust one's mental focus and maintain a state of relaxation to "mindful". Tai chi involves a number of internal "micro-adjusting" about how these techniques relax and strengthen muscles to reduce chronic pain. The report and discussion on the treatment principle of Qigong can provide new strategies for the treatment of chronic pain.

Due to advancing deformity i n b o t h m y f e e t , t h e

likelihood of being incapacitated and wheelcha i r r e l i an t was imminent, and attending a Taiji class in 1986 was with a view to strengthening my legs to relieve p ressu re on my fe e t . Good movement memory resulting from years of intensive training for a classical ballet career, Taiji routines were quickly learned and strengthening of my legs and feet progressed rapidly. These classes were for health instead of martial art-based, though applications of each movement were shown or explained depending upon the teacher’s abilities. In the mid-1980s the concept of Qi (chi – internal or vital energy) fl ow being taught locally was from a western perspective:

re laxing the body; al lowing the Taiji (Tai Chi) exercise and Qigong (Chi Kung) breathing skills to enable greater fl exibility, and to strengthen the body. As a student, the principles of Taiji were mentioned, however, the actual teaching of correct posture was more akin to replicating the stylized body on an anatomical chart, plus "Taiji principles" of rounding the back "to allow the Qi to move"; relaxing the shoulders; and bringing the mind to the Dantian (energy center in the abdomen) whenever the mind strayed. It was in the context of that limited approach that this case study, of my own structural health and chronic pain issue, is now discussed.

Awareness of QiIn 1989, Wang Chang Fei, an accomplished martial artist and traditional Chinese medicine ( T C M ) p r a c t i t i o n e r f r o m Shanghai, was a guest teacher for the Tai Chi Academy where I was studying. Dr. Fei Wang recognized changes in my Zhan Zhuang ("quiet standing") and issued an invitation for me to ask him quest ions about Qi and what was happening in my practice. Dr. Wang encouraged self-development, and to move beyond the exercise of a Taiji or Qigong form. Zhan Zhuang became more than standing in a meditative pose, I experienced various manifestations of Qi e.g. sensations on my skin, increased depth of stance, some practice sessions increased to 90 minutes

DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003 REPORT

15 no.1 vol.2 January 2019 Life Research

or more. The interesting aspect of the latter was that the passage of time seemed like only minutes. In hindsight, the Qi fl ow at this stage was erratic, with "body and mind relaxing" the main focus. My fi rst introduction to the power of Qi was during preparation for a class starting with Zhan Zhuang (Figure 1), which is essential to becoming centered, familiarizing and realigning one’s posture. With my eyes closed, arms "holding the balloon" pose, with hands turned towards my body, the teacher moved my arms to the "correct" height as per the picture on

Figure 1. Zhan Zhuang (Reeling Silk) An essential basic for Taiji. Also known as "quiet standing", "standing like a pole". Arms are shown in "holding the balloon" posture. Anchoring feet in sand and then adjusting posture for uneven and unstable ground are important. Once the posture feels correct and strong the meditative part of Zhan Zhuang can develop for that session, thus allowing the body to auto-micro-adjust internally so the fl ow of Qi (chi – internal or vital energy) can move unimpeded along a given pathway.

the wall and a "large lump of energy" rushed from my Dantian to my throat causing me to choke. The response was not the same as being startled into a panic attack. It took a few hours for the discomfort to settle, but it created concern about being "corrected" or adjusted – that was until I attended my first workshop in 1990 in Canberra with Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang, 19th Generation Lineage Holder Chen Family Taijiquan, a direct descendant of Chen Wangting, creator of Taijiquan. I explained my concern with Grandmaster Chen’s assistant who reassured me that I had no need to fear. Even though I was apprehensive, Grandmaster Chen’s initial touch while I was in Zhan Zhuang was vastly diff erent to that previous "correction". Qi did not rush out of the Dantian, instead, I felt stronger with my feet very grounded. As a result, I did not want to move out of position just in case I never experienced combined strength and freedom again. Unbeknown to me, in 1981 Chen Xiaowang realized a concept, "a principle that would form the basis of the (Taiji) art, … to which all the ten thousand techniques would return as one (Wan Fa Gui Yi)…". Chen Xiaowang called this the Yundong Guilu (the Principle of Movements) and expresses it as: "Dantien is at the heart of the body's motion; Once a part moves, the whole body moves; Joint by joint energy threads through – thus the force transmits unimpeded in one action. … It is easy to see a breach of this Principle and its ramification. When struck by a sudden fear, your breath would rise and be arrested in your chest. This condition, caused by the fear, would be a violation of the Principle. Take a simpler example. Let someone twist and bend your index fi nger at the joint. What happens when it hurts? The pain causes your inside to hollow as your body rises. You lose your root or your guard. You know how vulnerable you have become in this off -balance situation. The body state is in violation of the Yundong Guilu." [1]. It was no wonder in my first workshop with Grandmaster Chen that he was able to adjust my posture without eliciting the same choking response during Zhan Zhuang as had happened previously. After attending Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang’s workshops for 12 months he off ered me an invitation to study with him. On telling him about the issues with my feet he reassured me that this was not a

REPORT DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003


problem, and private training commenced.

Qi fl ow and reducing chronic pain limitationsAlthough I had attended various workshops by a number of Taiji teachers recognized in China, up to that point my knowledge of Qi and the principles of Taiji was still limited to the fact that Qi existed and Taiji movements were through the waist. It wasn’t until Grandmaster Chen demonstrated Qi, holding a final Taiji position, that subtle auto-adjustments became evident to me. As Grandmaster Chen spoke no English, and I don’t speak Chinese, everything was via observation and tactile sense. I felt that this unspoken communication helped enhance my practical understanding of Qi movement. Awareness of how my feet responded while moving from one pose to another was crucial, such as noticing whether all parts of my ankle through to my foot were moving independently or as a block; what parts were holding and in what way; as well as checking if my foot was tense or felt elongated and "connected into the ground" holding the fi nal position. This intimate knowledge of exactly what part was active or inactive was key to identifying areas needing to be worked with in each session. Other factors requiring vigilance were recognizing whether breath was held, and if so in what section of the movement or pose; and feeling if other areas of my body were altered or strained by compensating for the new way of placing my feet. Properly aligned posture was not as shown in photographs and pictures – instead, angles and height or depth of stance were individually corrected for each transition from pose to pose, sometimes with a marked variance to what I expected. This type of correction formed the basis of lower limb and ankle to foot placements, thus allowing Qi access and smoother transition throughout my feet. Initially, my awareness of Qi flow was mentally visualizing the pathway that Qi would follow down and back up my lower limbs. However, it was during Grandmaster Chen’s adjustments that as my ankles and feet slowly changed structure these Qi pathways also changed. Depending upon each pose, multi-changes of Qi pathways might occur within that day’s session. My daily practice was two to three hours, though I also utilized the principles in a practical manner such as on queue at the supermarket

checkout practicing "quiet standing". With my hands on my Dantian, adjusting my feet so weight was even, and being aware of any variances of pressure across feet and ankles through to hips, all built up a new "normal". Practicing Yang style "Taiji walking" was instrumental in fully immersing my mind into the physicality of my feet. However, the forward and backward walking from Chan Si Gong, (Reeling Silk) developed a new awareness of Qi flow, and "Taiji walking" became more than just a physical action. In practicing at the beach pressure variations in the sand were visible while maintaining balance on fi rm or soft sand also produced diff erent results. From the "fixed foot" position of Zhan Zhuang, to moving, holding and working with poses within a Taiji form, refocusing into the Dantian was important. This reconnection meant shifting sand did not cause instability and imbalance (Figure 2). I used to practice ballet in water, easily correcting positions supported by the water’s buoyancy. Taiji water practice also gave another dimension to learning stability and grounding of movements. A video of Grandmaster Chen demonstrating Chan Si Gong while explaining the pathway Qi takes in each part of every move became available early in my training, supplementing my home practice. I found the minute detail benefi cial to help me understand how to move to facilitate and not limit or block Qi fl ow. Grandmaster Chen taught regular classes in Sydney (Australia), and for three years taught many ten-day Taiji Chen Style, Chan Si Gong, plus Tui Shou (Push Hands) workshops and classes in Canberra. The reason why Reeling Silk is important is explained in John Voigt’s article [2] "…Silk Reeling relates to unwinding silk from the cocoon of a silkworm, which must be done with the utmost care, mental focus, and relaxation. Silk is unbelievably tensile, but if pulled too harshly or sloppily it may snap. All this is a metaphor in which silk is Qi, which when carefully merged with muscular strength may be harvested as the awesome physical power and force called Jin."

Qi and Taiji levels of skill First, the Taiji form as a class then it was time to practice independently. Grandmaster Chen would adjust each student’s transitional and final position

DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003 REPORT


from that day’s moves, allowing the student to feel a correctly placed limb and body while experiencing the solidity and strength of Qi-activated-alignment. I would imitate the posture of the student that Grandmaster Chen was adjusting and alter my posture to correspond and feel the diff erence, before readjusting for my normal posture. I felt this copying extended my practical understanding of Qi fl ow. The pain in my feet after these 18-hour weekends ranged from discomfort to severe depending upon the nature of training, and walking to and from transport, accommodation and venues. Following the fi nal Sunday class I had an hour to catch two trains and dash to the interstate coach with minutes to spare before its departure. This combination of all-day training, fast walking, plus fi ve hours sitting

Figure 2. Taiji poses, Brush KneeUsing Zhan Zhuang principles to spiral Qi through the upper body fi nishing one pose connecting Qi in Dantian with the lower hand, and simultaneously Qi to the fi ngers on the outstretched hand. In the lower body Qi flow spirals to Dantian from one leg and from the Ming-men (energy point VG4) down the other leg to the toes.

on public transport traveling 360kms home meant stiffened muscles, coping with cramping pain, and partial plantar fascial tears in very cold feet. Were the training and effort worth the additional pain? Yes. It was the potential for improvement in my feet in the longer term that fueled my commitment. Over time Zhan Zhuang became a highly benefi cial exercise allowing minute internal adjustments as I focused on the Dantian, with the heat that this generated eventually reaching my feet. At this stage I was unaware of how the heat went from the Dantian to the feet, it was just the end result which I appreciated. Grandmaster Chen explained through an interpreter about philosophical principles contained in the Taijiquan Chinese Classics. These principles also included methods of practice and application, so I asked him about learning Chinese to read the Classics. His response was that learning the language would not equip me to appreciate and understand those principles, further explaining that it was preferable for me to practice for 20 years thereby experiencing and incorporating them into my Taiji. Looking at the process of learning Taiji, J. Justin Meehan states in his article [3], Grand Master Chen said that a very simplifi ed classifi cation of the three major levels of development of Chen style T’ai Chi could be categorized as follows:Level One: Learning the form, choreography, and body mechanics correctly. This could correspond to the Yang or external aspects of T’ai Chi development …Level Two: Learning to perform the form movements in a slow, continuous and smooth which exemplifi es correct T’ai Chi principles and the correct fl ow of Qi internal energy throughout the body. This could be considered the Yin stage. Level Three: Performing the movements with proper Qi fl ow and also with a correct understanding of martial intention and applications. Both Yin and Yang aspects - ordinate and combine into a comprehensive whole or "T’ai Chi balance". Guiding Qi along its pathway spiraling out from the Dantian and returning to the Centre is integral to Chen style Taiji and Chan Si Gong. The motion originates from the waist with the "energy of the breath" in the Dantian; releasing Qi to the Ming-Men, the energy point located at the second lumbar

REPORT DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003


vertebra, facilitating Qi distribution throughout the upper and lower bodies. In my practice I noticed where Qi was stuck and instead of moving that part physically or "jumping" over the area causing a compensatory response, I would remain focused on that area allowing the Qi to "unstick". The key word here is "allow" which is diff erent to consciously moving the part to eff ect change. A joint might be fl exible or a stance low but this physical capability doesn’t necessarily mean that the action allows Qi to flow smoothly. When practicing a form, I would move very slowly to locate where posture was altered and no longer true; or fast, faltering at the weaker areas. Sometimes to prevent absentmindedness and complacency I would start mid-form. All these techniques helped me to understand what was happening to Qi fl ow and my body’s response. In the 1980s and 1990s authentic information about Taiji was difficult to find. However, from 1991 magazines on Qi, Qigong, and Taiji became available from local news agencies. In May 1992 Inside Kung-Fu, Howard Choy and Ahtee Chia published an article [4] Master Chen XiaoWang’s 5 Levels of Skill in Taiji Training which discussed the aims and training. These levels were:1. Form and posture;2. Qi fl ow;3. Body-mind synthesis (from large to medium circle);4. Medium to small circle;5. From small circle to no circle. Most schools of Taiji at the time offered a numbered form of a particular Style, from level one to six, or similar, however, these levels indicated the number of terms to learn the sequence of that Taiji form. Likewise, beginner or basic to advanced levels referred to the months or years one had been learning Taiji or the number of forms learned. The fi ve levels of skill, as discussed in Choy and Chia’s Article, relates to proficiency from mastering the external to progressive internalization of movement, and thus Qi fl ow. For about a year I attended private Taiji sessions with Grandmaster Chen at Howard Choy’s premises and when Mr. Choy or Mr. Chia was available they interpreted so that I was able to discuss Qi and principles with Grandmaster Chen. While martial arts applications and Tui Shou (Push

Hands) were demonstrated in Canberra classes, to become familiar with the martial origin of moves in the form students generally just went through the motions of "twisting their waist and hips", rather than leaning backward or forward to turn an opponent away or defl ect an incoming move. Sydney Tui Shou classes were martial-based utilizing key elements of grounding, fi nding balance as the body moves, coordination, and timing eventually my feet became stronger and less painful and I was able to more fully engage in martial arts-based activities.

Benefits from Qi flow changes in structure and function of feetIn my teens the structure and function of my feet deteriorated and a potential career in ballet was no longer viable, so my intensive dance training ceased. Then an injury to my feet occurred and walking became severely compromised. I started attending regular podiatry and physiotherapy clinics. In 1989 the podiatrist I had been seeing since 1977 left and I began sessions with a new podiatrist. From 1991 the new podiatrist noticed "that the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles gradually became stronger and her arch structure and toe position improved significantly. … More specifically, a significant straightening of the inward turning metatarsals and toes was noted." (Figure 3). "Although the evidence is anecdotal, I (the podiatrist) am of the opinion that Tai Chi has been beneficial in improving Suzanne’s foot position, function and symptoms." Over a period of 18 months training with Grandmaster Chen, my feet became stronger and stopped being elongated twisted painful blocks at the end of my ankles. In 1992 an opportunity arose for me to join a bushwalk in the Australian Alps, with sections of track classifi ed as moderate to hard – to even consider this walk was a mental challenge. Prior to Taiji a painful 10 - 20 meter shuffl e before needing to rest my feet were normal. My concern wasn’t walking to the Hut, but would I be able to complete the 10km return journey? Even though the Trail is rated as a day-walk we allowed two full days with many rests. My feet were painful on return however no more than what one would have expected from a bushwalk on rough stony tracks. Following the success of the bushwalk, Grandmaster

DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003 REPORT


Figures 3. The foot condition referred to in this article is called "Metatarsus Adductus" or "Forefoot Adductus". The pain was caused by chronic plantar fasciitis. The conditions and pain affected both feet. a. Left: Moderate metatarsus adductus with vertical alignment line. Right: Normal foot with vertical alignment line. Metatarsus Adductus causes the front half of the foot, or forefoot, to turn inward. Forefoot adduction is located in a pure transverse plane at Lisfranc’s joint. b. Lisfranc’s joint. The Lisfranc joint is the point at which the long (metatarsal) bones that lead up to the toes and the tarsal (in the arch) bones connect. The Lisfranc ligament is a tough band of tissue that joins two of these bones. This ligament is important for maintaining proper alignment and strength of the joint. c. Plantar fasciitis. This is an infl ammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Area of chronic infl ammation, pain, and limitation of movement prior to Qi fl ow training is shown. d. Left and right feet in January 2019. Structural change can be seen from Metatarsus Adductus (fi gure 3 image on left) after intensive practice of Taiji focusing on Qi fl ow. resulting in normal foot alignment in both feet.

REPORT DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-003


Chen while continuing to help me develop a deeper understanding of Qi and Fa Jin (explosive energy), altered the emphasis of my sessions to include training with a view to Taiji competition. The physical nature of training increased, however, integration of Qi fl ow was still paramount. Playing with upper body awareness, for example with an arm in a "holding the balloon" pose, with both hands facing the body, focusing on the inside space becoming larger allowing the arm to move has a diff erent eff ect on back, shoulder, and neck muscles to the same move with the focus of the arm being "pulled" to create the larger space between it and the body. These changes of focus were also helpful in looking at where and how Qi was stuck, or fl ow limited. In May 1996 I accepted an invitation to participate in a Taiji competition. A week later I sustained an injury in an accident, and training was discontinued. For the next two months I watched videos of the competition Taiji form and Chan Si Gong observing my breath, mind to Dantian, sensing a connection to Ming-Men, then pressing start on the video remote control, and "seeing" the movement internally as I watched the screen. This technique was more than imagining doing the form, more than thinking about the form, it was as though I was doing the form energetically. I experimented and observed the diff erence between images in my mind, and feeling the Qi gradually spreading to the rest of the body as if I was actually performing the movements. I found mentally visualizing the moves seemed to create a projecting out rather than engaging internally. This "seeing internally" was also diff erent from listening to music and allowing the body to express feelings in a fl ow of movement as with creative dance. When I studied ballet some routines were standard curriculum; others created for that class; or taught for performance. The teacher said the individual movement names in sequence within a section of choreography, and students memorized those names while outlining the moves in a minimal way with their hands and feet. Simultaneously the student visualized performing the complete routine as a perfect set of movements for an audience. Students were given three to four minutes of mind, visualization, and minimal movements’ preparation before a practice run, followed by the

class presenting the routine. Each student was expected to have correct steps and sequence so that the expressive component could be explored thus developing from a routine into a dance recognizable as classical ballet. Since the 1900s dance teachers have encouraged their students to connect to imagery. Lynnette Young Overby & Jan Dunn [5] explain "Dance imagery is the deliberate use of the senses to rehearse or envision a particular outcome mentally, in the absence of, or in combination with, overt physical movement. The images may be constructed of real or metaphorical movements, objects, events, or processes." Dancers tend to have a high tolerance to pain and I was no exception, especially to the early distortion of my feet. At times I needed to practice Taiji energetically instead of physically to reduce further damage to my feet and cope with pain. I believe this method of practice in developing strong internal Qi fl ow rather than just physical movement was also instrumental in helping me to win the Taiji competition. Research into the motor and mental imagery for elite athlete training has shown "Brain activation during the imagery of an action is stronger when sensory inputs are similar to those that occur during the actual execution of the same action." [6]. Stan Rockwell [7] in his Doctoral Project on "Mental Imagery to Enhance Performance and Heal" states "Healing and improvement in health and performance can be accomplished by the person performing physical qigong through imagery (directing qi fl ow with the mind)." Rockwell [8] reports that "Weinberg & Gould (2007:296) refer to imagery as visualization, mental rehearsal, symbolic rehearsal, covert practice, imagery and mental practice. Vealey & Greenleaf (2006:307) defi ne imagery as using all the senses to re-create or create an experience in the mind. Hardy, Jones, & Gould (1999:28) distinguish between mental imagery and mental rehearsal. They define imagery as a symbolic sensory experience that may occur in any sensory mode and as such is a mental process and a mode of thought. Mental rehearsal or going over a performance in your mind, on the other hand, is a technique or process which is better than no practice at all, … Imagery is thus multi-

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modal and may include any or all of the fi ve senses … Imagery may also include kinesthetic awareness, which is the innate feel of the body in motion." Rockwell [9] quotes Shane Murphy who explains "Internal imagery is imagery that is more seen through one’s own eyes and body. You image from a fi rst person perspective. … External imagery is more third person in perspective. You view the scene as a camera. In effect you watch yourself perform the task from outside yourself."

ConclusionEven though my feet are not entirely cured, I fi rmly believe the changes in foot structure of both feet have been due to Taiji, Zhan Zhuang, and Chan Si

Gong. This belief is supported by the podiatrist’s assessment. Those modalities have reduced the severity of chronic pain and acute pain episodes, and enabled me to live and be active well beyond what I could have imagined. Beyond the relaxation of meditation, or increased stamina and flexibility that usually happens with the practice of Taiji and Qigong, it takes diligence and a dedication normally associated with athlete training. Nonetheless, with good tuition by Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang, a teacher who understands Qi flow, and is familiar with limitations caused by chronic pain, as well as consistent attentive practice, has led to unexpected and welcome changes.

References1. Ong CP. Chen Xiaowang carrying the burden of taiji legacy – Lonely Quest and Insight. http://www.kungfumagazine.com/index.php?p=article&article=380 (2003)2. Voigt J. (compiled from various sources), Qi and Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi) – Reeling Silk. http://qi-encyclopedia.com/?article=Qi-and-Chen-Taijiquan (acc 30 Jan 2018)3. Meehan J. Justin, Grand Master Chen Xiao-Wang Teaches Standing Meditation. http://www.stltaiji.com/articles/StandingMeditation.html (1996)4. Choy H, Chia A. Master Chen Xiaowang’s 5 Levels of Skill in Taiji Training, Inside Kung-Fu Vol. 19, No. 5, CFW Enterprises Inc Burbank CA (1992). http://www.nickgudge.ie/5.d.ix.-five-levels-of-gong-fu-choy-chia.html (2018)5. Overby LY, Dunn J. The History and Research of Dance Imagery: Implications for Teachers, International Association for Dance Medicine & Science. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.iadms.org/resource/resmgr/Public/Bull_3-2_pp9-11_Overby.pdf p9 (2011)6. Mizuguchi N, Nakata H, Uchida Y, Kanosue K. Motor imagery and sport performance. J Phys Fitness Sports Med. 2012; 1(1):108.7. Rockwell S. Mental Imagery to Enhance Performance and Heal: A Synthesis of Western and Eastern Methods, California Southern University, p6. http://stanrockwell.

com/documents/Stan_Rockwell_Doctoral_Project.pdf (2012)8. Rockwell S. Mental Imagery to Enhance Performance and Heal: A Synthesis of Western and Eastern Methods, California Southern University, p5. http://stanrockwell.com/documents/Stan_Rockwell_Doctoral_Project.pdf (2012)9. Rockwell S. Mental Imagery to Enhance Performance and Heal: A Synthesis of Western and Eastern Methods, California Southern University, p7-8. http://stanrockwell.com/documents/Stan_Rockwell_Doctoral_Project.pdf (2012)

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing fi nancial interests. Readers are welcome to comment on the online version of this article at www.tmrliferes.com

Copyright: © 2019 TMR Publishing Group Limited. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License.

Received: 2 January 2019; Accepted: 11 January 2019; Published online: 25 January 2019

Using Qi flow in Taiji effecting structural change in feet and ...

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