Expert Q & A:
Ancient Chinese Stress Relief?
At The Queen’s Medical Center, stress-relieving tai chi is showing promising results.
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Jerry Punzal leads tai chi classes as part of Dr. Todd Seto’s pioneering pilot study on the discipline’s effects on morbidly obese North Pacific islanders. A certified instructor, Punzal focuses on health-based tai chi programs. He also teaches tai chi classes for patients with arthritis and reports improved range of motion, balance, strength and pain and stress management.
Queen’s sent Punzal to Harvard University to study tai chi for heart patients. The knowledge he brought back helped form the basis of an ongoing study.
Punzal: Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that’s at least 800 years old. The martial art aspect isn’t the main thrust now—there’s a lot of healing aspects, with the main emphasis on internal energy flow.
Tai chi movements look so simple, but when you actually try it, it takes a lot of repetition and mind-body coordination to become good at it, or to feel a difference in your body.
Punzal: The biggest difference that I’ve found, having done other styles of martial arts, is that tai chi emphasizes this internal energy, which requires relaxing muscles. More external styles require muscle contraction or heavy hitting or stomping; in tai chi, you’re looking to build strength through the release of muscle tension. You let your body be completely unified. You become aware of this momentum of flow in your body, and you get strength through that.
Punzal: Actually, I was looking for an activity for my parents. They were not able to do it for a variety of reasons, but I really liked it.
I was enlightened by how much strength and power there is in tai chi, but not muscular strength—it’s a relaxing energy, moving with the flow. I was really blown away by that.
Punzal: You look to define where the stresses are, and when you find them, you visualize them and exhale, haaa—and let them melt away. With enough repetition, the body starts remembering this feeling of relaxation and release, and then you can progress.
We worked on a modified tai chi program that had five movements. Through those five movements, we worked to have the participants relax, have a sense of center, groundedness, a feeling of haaa—just releasing and letting go.
Many of us are too tense all the time. If we can find that place to haaa—just release—a lot of healing goes on.
Punzal: I’ve had people come in on walkers who, after a few months, don’t use the walker because they feel comfortable enough with strength in the lower torso, and balance issues have been resolved.
Punzal: The difference in stress levels are the thing that I see a big difference in with people who persevere. The deeper the relaxation, the less muscle tension, the less stress, the more clear the mind can be, the more natural the body can be.
I’m told that people sleep better, they eat better, overall their cardio life improves with this type of training. We find a big reduction in stress.
Punzal: There are many, many great classes in our state, many different styles. Look for websites or check the newspaper—many tai chi classes are listed.
I would recommend going and trying first to find out what styles and teachers suit you best. You should have a real good, harmonious feel, so you’ll feel comfortable as you progress through your training.
Queen’s sent Punzal to Harvard University to study tai chi for heart patients. The knowledge he brought back helped form the basis of an ongoing study.
AL: What is tai chi?
Punzal: Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that’s at least 800 years old. The martial art aspect isn’t the main thrust now—there’s a lot of healing aspects, with the main emphasis on internal energy flow.
Tai chi movements look so simple, but when you actually try it, it takes a lot of repetition and mind-body coordination to become good at it, or to feel a difference in your body.
AL: Compared to other martial arts, what’s different about tai chi that helps with healing?
Punzal: The biggest difference that I’ve found, having done other styles of martial arts, is that tai chi emphasizes this internal energy, which requires relaxing muscles. More external styles require muscle contraction or heavy hitting or stomping; in tai chi, you’re looking to build strength through the release of muscle tension. You let your body be completely unified. You become aware of this momentum of flow in your body, and you get strength through that.
AL: How did you discover tai chi?
Punzal: Actually, I was looking for an activity for my parents. They were not able to do it for a variety of reasons, but I really liked it.
I was enlightened by how much strength and power there is in tai chi, but not muscular strength—it’s a relaxing energy, moving with the flow. I was really blown away by that.
AL: How does tai chi help relieve stress?
Punzal: You look to define where the stresses are, and when you find them, you visualize them and exhale, haaa—and let them melt away. With enough repetition, the body starts remembering this feeling of relaxation and release, and then you can progress.
We worked on a modified tai chi program that had five movements. Through those five movements, we worked to have the participants relax, have a sense of center, groundedness, a feeling of haaa—just releasing and letting go.
Many of us are too tense all the time. If we can find that place to haaa—just release—a lot of healing goes on.
AL: What differences do you see in people before and after they start taking tai chi?
Punzal: I’ve had people come in on walkers who, after a few months, don’t use the walker because they feel comfortable enough with strength in the lower torso, and balance issues have been resolved.
AL: What’s been most gratifying for you about teaching tai chi as a healing tool?
Punzal: The difference in stress levels are the thing that I see a big difference in with people who persevere. The deeper the relaxation, the less muscle tension, the less stress, the more clear the mind can be, the more natural the body can be.
I’m told that people sleep better, they eat better, overall their cardio life improves with this type of training. We find a big reduction in stress.
AL: How does someone who’s interested in tai chi get started?
Punzal: There are many, many great classes in our state, many different styles. Look for websites or check the newspaper—many tai chi classes are listed.
I would recommend going and trying first to find out what styles and teachers suit you best. You should have a real good, harmonious feel, so you’ll feel comfortable as you progress through your training.
