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METRO WORKOUT
The Shaolin cure
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PRINCE FREDERICK walks down the Silk Route and tries out WUSHU to strengthen his ageing limbs
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Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
Getting it right Balancing energy is the key
For a change, an ‘ancient doctor’ leads a Metro workout. In China of yore, martial arts experts were doctors. Their fighting techniques doubled as treatment for illnesses. Ranga Rao, a man steeped in Wushu (a term for Chinese martial arts
, which is also substituted for Kung Fu), wants me to know that I am being cleansed of my illnesses, even those not known to me, as he takes me through his unique package.
This Wushu workout has two segments, with what is called the ‘internal’ including soft forms such as QuiQong (or ChiKung), PaQua and TaiChi and the ‘external’ made up purely of Shaolin Kung Fu steps.
Believing I can’t reap the benefits of this workout without a primer, he tells me Wushu is aimed at balancing the energy in the body. “An illness related to an organ results from depletion of energy in it. By sending energy to the ailing organ, a cure can be effected or, at the least, the negative effects minimised. Through Wushu, we are trying to enhance the body’s immune system,” says Rao.
We start with QuiQong, called the Chinese breathing exercise. Its charm lies in the fact that it can be practised — take your pick — standing, sitting or lying down. “For this reason, it is popular with senior citizens.”
The varying breathing patterns touch different parts of the body. Example: After breathing in with my eyes closed, I breathe out saying the word ‘shoo’ slowly and opening my eyes as wide as possible – to free my abdomen of clogging influences. Other incredible lessons from this workout include six healing sounds, each aimed at an important organ. It all sounds so simple: sound off for healthy heart, kidneys, pancreas, liver and lungs! Through dance-like circular movements taken from PaQua, I work my lower limbs. “The Chinese believe people become old by the lower limbs.”
The next level, Shaolin Kung Fu, has me looking younger, as I attempt super-fast movements. But this part is also based on the same principle of energy-balancing.
At the end of the Wushu workout, I can’t help thinking that this unlikely doctor is likely to change a few of my ideas about health and fitness.
Ranga Rao conducts Wushu sessions at YMCA and other places. For details, call 9840458191.
Bottomline: Wushu acts on the principle that prevention is better than cure. To benefit from the Wushu regimen, one has to first develop a faith in the Chinese way of healing.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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