| Interview
Managing Chronic Illness
through Tai Chi
– interviewed by Instructor Lis
Lillian suffers from Crohn's disease, a chronic recurring inflammation of the lining of
the bowel. In 1995, after two years of illness and several serious bowel operations, she
was looking for a form of exercise which would be effective but would not involve
excessive movement of the whole body.
An active person up until that time, Lillian had always cycled, walked, or played
basketball. Sitting about doing nothing was not in her agenda but she really didn't know
what she could do, post operations.
As luck would have it, she saw a demonstration of Tai Chi in the Belconnen Mall performed
by the instructors of the Tai Chi Academy. Lillian had never seen or heard of Tai Chi but,
"I thought it looked fascinating and was something I'd be able to manage."
She took a brochure home and read it thoroughly. In the first term of 1995, she joined the
Beginners class and hasn't missed a term since, apart from a few weeks here and there due
to her illness or overseas travel.
Her main reason for beginning Tai Chi was obviously for exercise but one of the unexpected
benefits she discovered was in the meditation. Crohn's disease is exacerbated by stress
and she found that by learning meditation techniques, she could manage her tension levels
very effectively. As is the case for many students, Lillian finds the Quiet Standing
Qigong difficult. This is partly because of the ever active mind but also because a
childhood upper back injury makes it hard for her to relax the whole left side of her body
when standing. This is an injury that will never be completely cured.
Lillian learnt the Taoist Chi Kung set (Yin Yang Fish, Yin Yang Ball, etc.) and enjoys
practising these exercises more than the Standing. "I can go off somewhere for
fifteen minutes at work, like taking a coffee break and do those exercises. I really love
the Yin Yang Ball." The constant repetitive movement suits her body better and she is
able to close her mind down more effectively than when "Embracing the Tree." She
likes to do the form for the same reason but space at home is limited.
Lillian's health has improved over the years since she began Tai Chi. Suffering from
chronically cold hands and feet was something she had accepted for years. Now, although
her hands stay cold, Lillian's feet are generally warm due to improved circulation. As all
our students know, the Tai Chi Walking exercise is to strengthen the legs. Lillian
discovered the validity of this claim when on an overseas trip last year. Knowing how much
walking a traveller does, a travelling companion was skeptical about her ability to keep
up.
"You'll be worn out," she said. "You don't do any exercise except that Tai
Chi."
"I outwalked her," said Lillian proudly. "I surprised even myself."
Learning the movements was somewhat easy but remembering the sequence was another thing
altogether. "That was hard. I did Level 2 twice and Level 3 twice although that was
because I was ill and missed half the term first time through. Mike, my Level 3
instructor, was really good and that was the breakthrough level for me. I suddenly
understood how to let my body guide the movements, slow it all down and relax."
Lillian has learnt the Tai Chi Sabre and would like to follow up with the Sword at some
stage. She knows it would take a lot of practice and consolidation to remember the
sequence because that's the part she finds most difficult. We all know how easy it is to
change movements or even leave them out.
About two years after she'd began to learn Tai Chi, Lillian happened to meet her surgeon
from those earlier operations.
"You're looking very well," he said. "What have you been doing?"
"Tai Chi," she answered, having just come from class.
"Well keep doing it," he said.
And she will.
(This is an actual interview, but the name has been changed for reasons of privacy.)
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