Tai Chi after a big night

Warning:
The article below is based on personal experience and by no means considered medical advice. Please consult your doctor before following any of the examples and stories

Hangovers are multicausal; as an example a few studies of which remedies may help the symptoms of a hangover has been published by the British Medical Journal. Dr. Max Pittler from the Peninsular Medical School in Exeter has researched a few common home remedies. I would like to mention a couple of them before I proceed into the details of how Tai Chi relieved my hangover:

Eating sugary and starchy food
Drink plenty of water
vit B12, Ibuprofen as for the inflammation, Aspirin or Paracetamol
The "hair of the dog" remedy like drinking more alcohol than the night before
Mild exercise like Yoga or gymnastics, a gentle Tai Chi form like laojia yilu

These remedies have been studied with reasonable results and very effective for my needs. Tai Chi makes the blood flow more constantly. Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that Tai Chi makes the qi or vital energy flow better, improves blood circulation, de- and rehydration..

After a big night, I practised in the park near Bondi Beach. I had my new bikini on and just thought could practise a few forms. There were not too many spectators except the families and other martial artists I knew. In the beginning, I had to overcome the demon within and my form was not particularly strong.

However, after the first reeling silk exercises and two rounds of laojia yilu,I began to feel a warm, friendly energy spreading throughout my whole body. Between the forms I had some iced water and Tim Tam Latte. My initially stiff kicks became more flexible and strong;I could hear the usual strong patting sound. I felt calm and content, proud that I could overcome my hangover. I don't suffer a hangover very often. It needs a vicious mix of alcohol consumption to make me feel the symptoms of a hangover. Half a bottle of ginger Whiskey(sweet Bourbon with ginger), an uncontrolled mixture of beer and wine of approximately the quantity of one whole barrel was enough to do the job.

It was Australia Day when Chen YIngjun offered us a class at his house. I came to his house with a big head and started off with 3 reps of the sabre form. Weapons are the best weight training in Tai Chi I could think of and tried YIngjun's heavy new sword.I asked him whether he noticed my hangover and he said:"NO." Probably he was too polite. Anyway, I felt my blood flowing better and I naturally took a deeper breath.

My water consumption was higher than usual but I did not expect that my form was relatively centered after so much booze consumption. On the same night I returned to the city and had more booze.......The "hair of the dog" remedy plus Tai Chi was most effective!!!!

HOwever, there is no real cure for a hangover because the body needs a certain amount of time to dehydrate and excrete the alcohol. One of the above remedies may help some people to alleviate the symptoms. Recent research has shown that psychological issues seem to have an influence. Somebody who is predisposed to depression or who generally expect to experience a hangover after a night of alcohol is very likely to feel the symptoms. Some people never have a hangover, some others develop it after just one pint of beer. The levels of ethanol in the blood are however more dependent on weight, health and food intake

Chen style for the health-compromised

There are many methods of teaching Tai CHi. Traditionally there are many teaching methods and these are very black and white. Just to mention how to memorize a form: My teachers have been traditionally taught how to observe their teacher, give up themselves and follow. It is by no means just monkey sees monkey does. After following my teacher for some time, I experienced somethng in my body had changed. Apart from the movements I also felt that I started to feel without seeing. My awareness increased, I sensed mistakes and could correct them nearly instantly. I sensed my center of gravity, whether the body is balanced or not, how rooted or uprooted I am, what application the movement is all about........I was able to listen into my own body.

When a newcomer comes to the class, h/she is urged to follow the group and do the form, right or wrong. The teacher emphasized that one does not see oneself. If we focus too much on what is wrong, it will result in unnecessary tension. The newcomer can copy the movements as well as s/he can; the more advanced will get different information for their level. Subconsciously the beginner will imbibe the advanced information as well. After the plenary session with the group, the large group is split up into smaller groups. The beginners or those who do not practise will always be taught a new movement without slowing down the more advanced.

A person with limitation and critical medical conditions is very often unable to lead a normal life. These people may need a special class and attention. It depends on the sensitivity of the teacher how much this group of students is prepared to learn the form or just to enjoy social interaction and some exercise.

Chen style is the oldest style and the origin of all other styles. Most Chen style forms are athletic, characterized by low stances, jumps, stomps, obvious martial movements, fast and slow intermixed. However, the main characteristic for Chen style is not the above mentioned outer appearance but sophisticated spiral force or reeling silk.

The reeling silk qi gong and short forms are an excellent way for the less athletic practitioner to obtain the very high health benefits. The muscles and tendons are stretched well by the joint rotation caused by spiral movements. Apart from this, the inner organs like the heart or intestines receive a gentle massage through the twisting and uncoiling movements. The body is squeezed like a sponge which results in better lymph drainage.

A good teacher who has a certain sensitivity for the students will be able to teach the students with physical limitations. It is important that the teacher works in cooperation with doctors and physical therapists. A medical training would be ideal but it is not really necessary.

Playing the form

It is nearly impossible to play a form exactly like another person. We are all made up of different material and within ourselves, our body cells constantly renew and decompose. The principles are all the same: focused, relaxed, rooting, balanced, centered. A good posture and alignment apart from the appropriate martial applications. The movements needs to be in accordance with the intention of the creator of the style and form.

I have already experienced myself that every time my form feels different, the energy flows differently and the intention varies from moment to moment.

There are times that I play extremely slow to be able to experience the inner awarenes of my body and mind more intensely. Some other time I reduce the time to 7 minutes only while I can still feel the inner energy spiralling from inside. When I have just been working with GM Chenxiaowang or his son YIngjun I feel their energy being magically being transferred to me. A feeling I cannot just share with words; it is a sensation of being submerged into their power.

I still feel that my postures like Dragon on the Ground, Falling Lotus, Lotus kicks, Double Jump Kick needs some improvement. My teacher Jan correct Que Di Long more as sitting into the right leg. Indeed I could feel the difference between substantial and insubstantial a lot more.At least I try to maintain rooting and balance, acting from inside the center all the time. After my positional vertigo last year, I have developed some avoidance behaviour while executing slap kicks. Now that I hardly experience the vertigo, it is becoming better but sometimes I have to start all over again.........

Practise the principles in life

HOw can we practise and embody the Tai CHi Chuan principles? There is no other reasonable answer than going through the form. It incorporates all the principles and with the guide of a good teacher, as time goes by we discover the principles by feeling the changes in the mind and body. The journey is a lifetime discovery, layer for layer within the form and everyday life.

"I work the whole day, coming home with a bad mood walking through dreadful weather." said one of my students. It is only reserved to a few; dedicating our whole life to Tai CHi and practise 8 hours a day like the big guys out there. Most people need to fulfill their daily tasks in family, job and life.

My students come from different walks of life and through them, I could find out that Tai CHi principles can be practised anywhere in any activity. Just a few of the many activities we can practise our principles:


1. Sitting in front of the computer, train, aeroplane, waiting at a doctor's surgery

We practise the head straight like suspended by a thread from above, the back upright, shoulders sunken, mingmen(lower back area acupuncture point) expanded laterally(to the side). Imagine ourselves relaxed and not floppy: Our vertebraes(spinal parts and joints) separating from each other; our spine is stretched and we become taller.

2. Surfing, skating, skateboarding, skiing, walking

My main sports which I competed in the Olympics(figure skating). In these disciplines, maintaining our center and balance is crucial. Those who play these sports hear it all the time from their coaches:" Shift weight!!. Weight on right/left leg, look right or left."

3. Chopping onions

Chefs teach their students similar principles. Relaxed, the arm and fingers only the lead, everything comes from the whole-body movements. The force comes from the center. Keep natural angles in your arms.

4. Vacuum cleaning or pushing a car

Move with the strength of the legs, use the power of weight shifting. Force from the dantien leading to the arms and hands, back aligned with the rear leg. Chen style "Pushing the mountain"

5. Dealing with abusive people

Keep the thoughts on the center and balanced, physically and mentally. Take a deep breath into your abdomen, cleanse your thoughts from all dirty thoughts but maintain focused on your goal. Do not use brute force against brute force. LIsten, find out where the energy is, redirect, yield, use his own force against the opponent after unbalancing him. "Grasping the sparrows tail" Yang style


There are many opportunities in life to practise Tai CHi CHuan principles. It does not replace our daily qi gong and form practise along with push hands and applications, but it is a most effective complement.