Metarobics Mind/Body Blog

Why Metarobics - Part Two: Dedicated to Alan Rickman and David Bowie

1/18/2016

The recent passing of noted actor Alan Rickman and singer David Bowie brings a great loss to this world. Yet any death from cancer is a tragedy. It was the experiences of my students with cancer which first got me looking at the effects of Tai Chi and related exercises, on oxygen use in the body. After collecting over 20 case stories from people who feel that Tai Chi had a dramatic effect on their cancer, I am focused on conducting a well-designed scientific study. It is important to address not just method of practice, but also dosage (frequency and duration). These are key factors in using Metarobic exercises as an effective adjunct to cancer care. Previous studies on cancer have found benefits for pain management and quality of life, but no direct effect on cancer. However, these studies had participants learning Tai Chi only two to three days a week, for an hour or so. They also used traditional formats of Tai Chi, which has a long learning curve. From my own experiences, and those case stories which state the frequency and duration (dosage) of their practice, it may take daily practice, with several sessions throughout the day, before direct benefits are noted for cancer and various chronic conditions.

This is consistent with Metarobic theory. If you suffer only a mild condition, or are looking for prevention, daily or regular weekly practice may be sufficient to maintain health. However, if you are facing death, disability or paralysis, maintaining a regular Metarobic practice two or three times a day (or even more, if warranted) may provide a viable option. This is why I am so motivated to develop a collaboration with an interested research center or university. If benefits for these exercises can be maximized by addressing Metarobic theory and addressing dosage, then this will be an important step for promoting and better understanding these exercises for health. Working with cancer patients can provide this first step. Metarobic theory supports that these exercises can have an effect on treating most forms of cancer, as well as for pain management and enhanced quality of life during treatment. It would be wonderful and tempting to say that these exercises were a “cure all,” but as noted in research in my book, hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues) is a factor in only 70% of various types of cancer. But 70% is still better than 0%.

The sad thing is how difficult it is to coordinate all the different branches and people who would be involved, to conduct a study into the effects of well-designed Metarobic program on cancer. According to an article on NME Music Reviews News, David Bowie was not expecting to die. He was stated as being optimistic that something, some treatment, would come along. A Metarobic adjunct to his treatment may or may not have made a difference, but without conducting a study in this area, we will never know. And as noted above, there is a growing body of evidence that Metarobic exercise may make that difference for many. So I would like to encourage anyone reading my blog to feel free to discuss adding a Metarobic component to treatment, whether doctor or patient. In time, a large scale hospital based study will be conducted, but in the meantime, current research suggests no adverse side effects of exercises such as Tai Chi, and many potential benefits. Discuss this with your doctor, and perhaps a more than a few lives will be saved a little earlier rather than a little later.

My goal is to find a hospital, university or cancer center, to test the user friendly formats I have developed, which maximize Metarobic response. So far the response has been “We are too busy with other projects.” I still have queries out, but like Pasteur and the boy with rabies (mentioned in “Why Metarobics – Part One”), I am beginning to consider working with anyone who would like to test the efficacy of these exercises, in conjunction with their cancer or other treatment (with their doctor’s approval and supervision). I would like to test Metarobic effects on cancer treatment and care, since this is what got me looking in this direction. However, I am open to collaborations in any area.

My long term goal is to return to my interests in Mindfulness Based Behavior Change. As supported by student feedback, and initial reviews to my forthcoming book in this area, Mindfulness Based Practices may become an area as important as a physiological understanding behind the benefits of these exercises for chronic conditions. Towards this end, it is my hope that the Metarobic Institute will generate interests and collaborations at a major university, which will allow me to return to a focus on Mindfulness Based Practices. For information on collaborations, or to make a financial contribution towards the promotion and research of Metarobic exercise, please see my contact information on the home page of the Metarobic Institute.

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Why Metarobics - Part One

1/14/2016

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The concept and importance of Metarobic exercise is in many respects from out of left field – what does it mean to identify a new field and category of exercise, and why should it matter? Is this really a new field of exercise? (see Metarobics.org to answer this question, or my book) The past few months I have come across stories of other important innovations, which were also overlooked or even suppressed in the beginning. Innovations so groundbreaking, that it is impossible to imagine the fight they underwent to become accepted. The first was the story of Louis Pasteur. He discovered that micro-organisms cause fermentation and disease. From these observations he originated the process of pasteurization. He also developed vaccines against anthrax and rabies. But not easily. He was opposed, suppressed, and even threatened with the guillotine at one point. Since he was a chemist rather than a medical doctor, the medical establishment refused to listen to his observations and theories, that germs were the underlying cause of disease, and that the simple process of washing hands could save millions of lives. It was a major fight to get even one doctor to wash his hands before operating. When he created the first vaccine, and wanted to administer it to rabies patients, he was rejected as foolish and ignorant. He finally gave the vaccine to a young boy with rabies, knowing that the boy would die anyway without it. Authorities threatened him with a murder charge and the guillotine if the boy died. The boy lived, and Pasteur was finally given a rabies ward to try out his vaccine. There were something like 20 patients, all expected to die. They received the vaccine and lived. Finally Pasteur got recognition for his work.

I have come across others who faced similar battles. Nikola Tesla, who is finally getting larger scale recognition for his work with electricity, had to come to America, after France and Germany refused to look at his research into alternating current (AC). Even in America it was a fight. Thomas Edison, who favored DC, refused to sell Tesla’s backers (Westinghouse) light bulbs for a major demonstration. They had to develop their own bulbs. The demonstration and effectiveness of AC was such a success, that it is now found in every home and business across America. Then I read the story of David Bruce, who discovered the link between tsetse flies and sleeping sickness, and saved millions of lives in Africa. His work was spread over 10 years due to lack of interest in his work. And it is no easier today. Alzheimer researcher Lawrence Rajendran noted that with the many barriers facing scientific innovators, the current climate in research may have made many important discoveries of the past impossible today. He noted that Alexander Fleming’s simple observation, that penicillin mold killed bacteria, could never be published in modern journals. Fleming’s observations on penicillin led to the development of lifesaving antibiotics.

Metarobic theory may not be as groundbreaking as vaccinations, pasteurization or antibiotics, but it does have a close parallel to aerobic theory, developed by Kenneth Cooper over 45 years ago. Cooper’s observations created a billion dollar industry, and saved millions of lives, by bringing awareness of the importance and parameters of aerobic fitness. From my research, and the case stories I have collected, Metarobic theory could do the same thing today – creating a new industry, more career opportunities for Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoda teachers, and save millions of lives. Yet as an innovation, I am facing many of the same barriers as Pasteur, Tesla, Bruce and others. Indeed, based on feedback from agents and the publishing industry, until I become “famous,” or my work is backed by a celebrity, it will be difficult to get my work picked up by a major publisher or journal. This may come in time, but in the meantime, people are suffering and lives are being lost needlessly. So I would like to do more than wait. I would like to ask for your help, in re-posting my blogs, Facebook posts, and if you know any celebrities, asking for their help (anyone know Oprah?). I am told that if Ken Cooper, as an unknown military doctor, tried to publish his ground breaking book “Aerobics” today, that no publisher or agent would look at it (yet this book has sold over 30 million copies). Imagine what the state of health of the nation would be, if people still thought that good health consisted only of strong muscles and strength training. People ran, biked and swam before Cooper’s book “Aerobics,” but in small numbers compared the surge of interest following the publication of his book (see the chart below for effects of the publication of his book on cardiovascular disease).

Many people practice Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoga today, but only a small portion of our total society. I believe (and preliminary reviews support this), that publication and promotion of “Metarobics” will have the same effect on these exercises as “Aerobics” did on running, swimming and biking, not to mention the entire aerobic industry. As Bill Douglas, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qigong" (4 editions), founder of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (celebrated in 80 nations), and recipient of too many awards to mention, noted in his review that “This book can help open a portal that will in time see (an) increase to 20, 30, or even 60% of Americans using these highly effective tools of Tai Chi and Qigong…”

Take a look at the pages on the Metarobic Institute page (http://metarobics.org/) and the Metarobic Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/metarobics/). If what you read makes sense, and you would like to help promote awareness and research into Metarobic exercise, share these sites as much as you can. If you or someone you know might be interested in being a spokesperson, or in promoting Metarobics, please let me know at: [email protected].

In the meantime, thank-you for your interest. My next post will continue the story, and why I am currently focusing on Metarobic research for cancer.

- Dr. Gryffin

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The Importance of Dosage – My own story

1/10/2016

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I started my own practice of Tai Chi almost 30 years ago, while I was studying Traditional Kung Fu. I started it as a martial art (the full name “Tai Chi Chuan” translates as “Grand Ultimate Fist” due to its efficacy in combat – it was essentially the Brazilian Jujitsu of the time, for you MMA aficionados).

I did however experience benefits for health – chronic knee pain and back problems cleared up. I also found that as long as I practiced Tai Chi daily, I seemed to be immune to colds and the flu (see “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics” for benefits of Tai Chi for immunity, knee and back health). Later, while teaching at Fullerton College, three students who reported significant benefits for their cancer (one who was on death’s edge – again, see the book for details) got me looking into what goes on in the body during exercises such as Tai Chi. My research and observations led to the theory of Metarobics, and further research uncovered benefits for a wide variety of chronic conditions.

However, it was not until I developed peripheral neuropathy four years ago, that I really developed a firsthand appreciation for Tai Chi for health. It started slowly. Initially I just experience a burning sensation in the soles of my feet when I took a shower. But within two years, I began to experience numbness in my toes, which spread to the balls of my feet, the tips of my fingers, and later the bottom half of my hands and the entire sole of my feet. I began seeing a doctor, who stuck me with needles and conducted nerve conduction and blood tests. The tests proved inconclusive.

And the neuropathy continued to spread. Eventually it progressed to the point that I had no feeling in my arms or legs, up to my shoulders and hips. I was becoming very alarmed, and also very disappointed – here I was researching and writing about the benefits of Tai Chi for chronic conditions, yet despite daily practice, I was losing all feeling in my limbs, and was potentially facing becoming a quadriplegic. How had Tai Chi failed me?

I knew that Metarobic theory explained physiological mechanisms of benefits for a very wide range of chronic conditions (hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency, underlies or complicates almost every chronic condition). But it seemed likely that there are some conditions Metarobic exercise might not help. Was my condition one of them? It did not seem fair. Then I remembered, when I was collecting case stories for cancer, that many related they did not experience a turnaround in their condition until they started doing repeated bouts of Tai Chi each and every day. One young woman (Helen Liang – see “Tai Chi Therapy” for more information), was doing Tai Chi and related exercises for eight hours or more each day.

So I started doing Tai Chi every morning, afternoon and night. And within two weeks, most of the feeling had returned to my arms and legs. My condition continued to improve. Six months later I was able to cut my practice down to twice daily. Something is still affecting me, and doctors have yet to figure out whether it is gluten contamination (I have the dermatitis herpetiformis form of celiac disease, which research in Europe indicates that around 70% of celiacs with this form of the disease develop peripheral neuropathy).

Current laws only require foods to be free of gluten to 20 ppm. The literature suggests that some celiacs may be sensitive to 5 ppm, or even less. According to my doctor, even being a celiac, he feels that other factors are more likely, and stated that there are 70 causes of peripheral neuropathy. He is slowly working his way down the list with tests. Whatever the cause, until it is discovered what is causing it, and determined if it is something which can be fixed, Tai Chi is holding it at bay.

A few months later, I was feeling so good, with pretty much no numbness, that I even let myself miss a couple of days of practice, during the week following Christmas (a very busy week with visiting family). Three other days that week I did only one 30 minute practice. And to my alarm, the numbness rapidly returned, in my fingers, toes and soles of my feet. I immediately went back to two times a day of Tai Chi, and it is beginning to clear up.

But it struck home very clear – until I know what is causing it, I CANNOT, MUST NOT miss twice daily practice. Which even as much as I enjoy Tai Chi, can still be awkward and a choice. But for me it is an easy choice – I like being active, and having full feeling in my arms and legs. And although it can still be a challenge to fit Tai Chi in morning and night, around activities of family and life, I have practiced Tai Chi long enough to know it is a delightful mindful practice, leaving me feeling refreshed and energized. Even boredom, or the sensation of time, is not a factor – when focused on the movements, there is no sensation of time.

I enjoy mentioning at the end of a class, to those new to Tai Chi, that 30 minutes have passed (the user friendly approach I teach permits instant practice of Tai Chi). They are always astonished, refusing to believe, checking their watches. The largest hurdle is entropy, and taking the energy and discipline to get up and practice, or fighting family or friends who may see it as a waste of time. But if you know and experience the importance of these exercises to your health, it is an easy decision to make. Even easier when facing death or immobility.

Time and research will tell just how many people and conditions these exercises will benefit, and just how important dosage (frequency and length of practice) is for various conditions. Seeing the benefits of Metarobic exercise on my students with cancer, and having collected over 20 case stories, I am looking to collaborate with a cancer center, to see what effects these exercises will have, in one group, when dosage is taken into account. But this will be the topic of another blog.

Below is a case story post from the Metarobics Facebook Page (Click for Link) from the general health series, related to another person with peripheral neuropathy. - Dr. Gryffin

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Why Metarobics - Part Two: Dedicated to Alan Rickman and David Bowie

Why Metarobics - Part One

The Importance of Dosage – My own story

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