More and more frequently we hear about the “multitasking” woman, that is the woman capable of taking care of family, work, self-care, social role at the same time. This is what society expects from the “modern” woman and what women have learned to expect from themselves. Often, however, those who commit themselves to this goal remain, sooner or later, disappointed by their performance and end up taking a negative point of view towards themselves.
There are women who have difficulty having children and undertake long and demanding health care paths that put them to the test, women who forget their needs in favor of the family, women deeply disappointed by the job position they hold, women who give themselves day after day in the care of a sick person …
In these and many other cases, women are committed to becoming “well-rounded” people, capable of taking care of everything and everyone, simply neglecting themselves. Thus, they develop physical ailments closely related to the psychological condition they experience: they present anxiety attacks, eating disorders, insomnia, problems related to the sexual sphere, even depression. In most cases, due to the need to always be efficient, they look for a quick solution to such symptoms and resort to medication; They often abuse it. Few are the women who turn to a psychologist, precisely because they do not realize how much the discomforts are linked to expectations towards themselves. In addition, the specialist constitutes an expense that would weigh on the family ménage, a “luxury” that cannot be afforded without further worries.
THE ORIENTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE BODY-MIND UNION: TAI CHI
The Chinese term Taijiquan (simplified Tai Chi) refers to a method, a specialized art for the cultivation of health, martial practice and spiritual growth. It is a traditional practice, where traditional means its ancient origin of at least three thousand years, since the Taoist ascetics, inspired by nature and in particular by animals, devised a system of exercises to preserve health, longevity and well-being. Tai Chi, with its simple and slow movements, does not require any physical preparation and can be practiced by everyone: the exercises are gentle and can be done according to one’s abilities.
The therapeutic effects of the practice are different: the lungs are toned, and the breathing rate is reduced with a healthy saving of energy. It improves blood circulation, increases lymphocytes and antibodies that defend the body. The heart “rests”, the heartbeat slows down and blood pressure regulates. It increases salivation and accelerates peristalsis (movements and secretions of the stomach) with great benefits for digestion. It stimulates thermoregulation, growth hormones and those that regulate sexual development. It is a recommended practice in case of various pathologies of the genital and urinary tract.There are many scientific studies that, especially in recent years, highlight the beneficial effects of Tai Chie show how a regular practice can fully fall into treatment paths: rehabilitation in various cardio-vascular diseases, slowing down cognitive and neuro-motor decay, pressure control in patients with arterial hypertension, prevention of relapses in cancer patients, These are just some of the health fields in which the effectiveness of this practice that identifies body and mind as a single entity has been proven all over the world.
Calming the “heart” and clearing the “mind” increases calm and “centering”. You establish a positive relationship with your body and you feel active and vital. Tai Chi is also a martial art that strengthens character and will. It teaches to keep calm and cool in the face of danger (diseases or emergency situations).
The effects on the psyche have also been explained scientifically: some studies demonstrate the effect of the practice on the scores of the main tests used in psychodiagnostics (MMPI, SCL-90-R, EPI, with a decrease in scores in the scales of depression, hysteria, paranoia, schizophrenia and a reduction in neurotic aspects) highlighting how the practice of Tai Chi can have a mental stabilization function, as well as a preventive value in the development of various disorders related to anxiety and depression.
Taken from: www.prospettivapsicologia.it
