During training do we release or do we relax. Let’s first think about the primary object of training, and for Calligraphy Health that is enhancing blood circulation for health and well-being, good blood circulation being the key to having all the body’s organs functioning well.
Blood circulation
In accordance with TCM and Daoism, although each organ has its own set of guidelines/obligations, each organ requires the oxygen, nutrition and information it receives from ones blood for optimal performance. When blood circulation through the body’s passageways, the meridians, arteries, veins etc is obstructed, the organs suffer and this is the precursor to ill-health/dis-ease. As such keeping these passage-ways open is of primary importance. Yet everyday worry, anxiety that has the potential to build-up to more chronic stress, creates tension in the body, constricting these passageways.
To counteract this constriction and open-up the passageways is the work of Calligraphy Health. But do we relax or do we release the tension created by the anxiety and stress we experience.
Relaxing
The common everyday use of the word relax is often equated to softening the body, in a sense deflating the body. For example it is quite common to relax after a hard days work with a glass of wine or a beer, soak in a bath or watch a movie. Or on the weekends curl up with a book or go to the beach and lay in the sun. In these and many other ways of relaxing, the body is not really attuned to the work we do in training. In these most everyday ways of relaxing, the body is curled up, rounded off, even twisted and/or slumped over. Such forms see the body deflated, compressed even, as the weight is unevenly distributed throughout the body – ways of being that are not conducive to being in a balanced state, without tension. And having the body in a balanced state without tension is what we are aiming for, as this allows Qi to flow freely throughout the body.
Releasing
During /practice we are not relaxing the body, rather we are training the form of the body to be balanced and centred, allowing it to open up and create space for Qi to move blood through the passageways – the veins, arteries, meridians etc. Relaxing as it is commonly known, doesn’t do that as it oftentimes implies without form – and this is definitely not part of training for optimal health. In fact it contradicts what we are aiming for as the form the body takes on inhibits the release of tension and subsequently Qi/blood flow.
This release of tension is particularly important in the beginning of training, when we are working on re-shaping the body to enhance the efficiency of Qi flow, the first stage in helping the body to heal. We are looking to re-shape the body physically through form. Hand-in-hand with re-structuring the form of the body is the internal opening of the passageways, the meridians, veins, arteries etc. Think of bamboo – hollow inside, yet, it holds its form and is flexible enough to withstand the strongest of winds. For maximum efficiency of Qi flow, what we are working towards in training is releasing tension, to make hollow the meridians, arteries etc to allow blood to flow freely. It is not possible to realign the body if we do not release the tension it holds.
Tension and contraction
The body holds tension through contraction. When we are tense, we contract, we pull-in the muscles and fascia thus inhibiting the circulation of blood. During practice we are re-moulding the body using form; posture and movement, internal and external. These forms or movements are designed to realign the body for optimal blood circulation throughout the body.
Tension and contraction is an outgrowth of the mind. The worries we hold-on to are fear based, created through past experience that transfers into future expectations, fear of the future based upon past experience. We hold onto this fear in the body and it controls us. Through training we are literally opening-up the body to release the tension created by these experiences. Releasing this tension requires presence of mind – that is of dropping into the body, being situated and centred internally, of sinking Qi into the lower dan Tian and of scanning the body for any tension that needs releasing.
Releasing tension in the body is all about creating space within the form, paramount to realigning the body and enabling better blood circulation, the basis of good health and well being. This is quite different to relaxing. So the next time someone asks you in class to relax, before you start thinking of that glass of wine at sunset, think again – what they should be saying is release any tension you are feeling. Be mindful of the tension you hold, allow it to fall away whilst simultaneously opening up the body. Start rethinking relaxation as part of your daily Calligraphy Health practice.
Releasing helps in relaxing
Releasing tension on a daily basis through practice is all positive. Releasing tension comes with many bonuses: you start to feel more relaxed throughout the day, you are more likely to be in tune with your body and able to recognise anxiety and stress when it arises, and, with this recognition are able to deal with problems before they create ill-health. And when the time does come to relax with that glass of wine, watch a movie, go to the beach or curl-up with a book you have better quality relaxation time. Start releasing all that stress the body holds on to and enjoy the moment.
Pam Hellens for Calligraphy Health
