Metarobics Mind/Body Blog

Calming the Waves of the Mind

3/2/2016

Zen masters are well known for their calm mental state and mental acuity. Aside from Metarobic benefits for health, Tai Chi can generate similar minds states, as well as a meditative mindset with the proper focus (described below). The Zen state of mind (called Mindfulness in modern psychology) relates to the following Koan (Zen riddle):

“Moons, moons shining on the waters. Ripples stir, where do the moons go?”

Calm water has been a longtime analogy to a calm and clear mind, full of insight and self-understanding. The moon is an analogy to the True Self, the Tao (Way), or big R Reality (such as the “finger pointing to the moon” Koan, mentioned by Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon"). As Bruce Lee and other teachers have noted, people get stuck on the finger, but the finger is not the moon.

The ripples are the incessant thoughts, doubts, worries, fear, anxiety, and mental “static,” which goes on constantly in the mind. When the mind is constantly thinking, the True Self cannot emerge, full of inspiration, certainty, and calm being. Try sitting for a few minutes, thinking of nothing. How many seconds pass before you start thinking something? It might be: “This is easy…oops, I thought,” or “This is stupid…I’m hungry….what’s on TV?...what does this have to do with Tai Chi?” And so on and so on and so on.

This constant mental chatter is like static in the mind, making clear thought and inspiration difficult. It also creates higher levels of ongoing mental “stress,” and can limit your ability to react to life situations. This is why Zen training was so popular with the Samurai. It you think – “I am going to cut high, then low,” or if you are filled with thoughts of fear or death, the mind slows. The goal was to create an empty mind, like a mirror, which would respond instantly, without the time delay of thought (which relates to the Koan on the “Mirror Mind,” discussed earlier).

At the bottom of this blog is a chart from the Metarobic Institute Mind/Body page. This is based on my earlier graduate work, and the work of Hans Eysenck and Tomio Hirai. The red line is the EEG waves of an untrained mind (simplified for illustration). Throughout the day it shoots up and down, like a roller coaster, in response to various stimuli. If stimulus is too much, the mind can actually freeze or shut down (the “deer in the headlights” syndrome). An example is being asked a question by the teacher in a class. Even if you know the answer, having the teacher and everyone looking at you increases cortical arousal (the EEG waves) to over arousal, and the mind freezes. The teacher looks away, figuring you did not study, and the answer “pops” into your head, as cortical arousal returns to more optimal levels. If there is not enough stimulus, (under cortical arousal), the mind gets drowsy and slow to respond. The mind functions most efficiently somewhere between the two, at optimal cortical arousal. In this state, the mind functions at peak efficiency, and does better on tests and other demanding situations. Zen/Mindfulness training (focusing on the breath or other focal point in sitting meditation, or on the leading hand in Tai Chi) helps the mind to stay at optimal arousal (the blue line), focused and more open to inspiration and interaction. Researcher Tomio Hirai found that the EEG waves of Zen monks would actually “flat line” during mediation. Researchers had never seen this before, and had to come up with a new term, “brain trains,” rather than “brain waves.” So if you would like to live your life a little more simplified, and get off the rollercoaster of uncontrolled thoughts and emotions, consider adding a few minutes of sitting or moving meditation (such as Tai Chi).

The red line is the untrained mind, which fluctuates wildly throughout the day, like a roller coaster. The blue line is the mind trained in a mindfulness based practice.

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Take Heart with Tai Chi

2/28/2016

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This is the last week of American Heart Month. March continues the theme in many ways (National Kidney Month), since kidney disease can also be caused by high blood pressure. Returning to the heart, in the side bar is the third case story from people who reported not needing a pacemaker due to Tai Chi. The first person was particularly remarkable (see the Metarobics Facebook Page, case story number 16), since Maggie was being rushed back into the operating room for a pacemaker, and asked the doctors to wait an hour while she did Tai Chi. Surprisingly the doctors did so, and an hour later Maggie’s heart had stabilized. Tai Chi can have many effects on the body, beyond Metarobic effects on enhanced blood oxygen saturation, diffusion, and oxygen based metabolism (See “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics” for an overview).

Tai Chi also helps to strengthen the knees, relaxes muscle tension (which is particularly nice for tight shoulders and backs), and straightens and manipulates the spine. In some respects, somewhat like a chiropractic adjustment. Enhancing spinal health may account for some of the neurological benefits of Tai Chi, including erratic heartbeat, related to the autonomic nervous system. Various studies have provided evidence that neurophysiological changes occur following spinal manipulation. The autonomic nervous system also regulates blood pressure, which further supports benefits of Tai Chi for heart health. So benefits for blood pressure and heart health, may be related not just to the relaxation factor, but also possibly due to benefits for spinal health and manipulation, as well as by moving the body through its range of movement. And since Metarobic science is a new field, further research may also discover a direct relationship between the health of the nervous system and enhanced oxygen based metabolism (as indicated by my own and others reports of benefits of Tai Chi for peripheral neuropathy).

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The Zen roots of Tai Chi as a Mind/Body Practice

2/24/2016

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Tai Chi is considered a form of mind/body exercise, with many benefits for mental health and development, as well as Metarobic benefits for the health of the body. See the Mind/Body Research Page of the Metarobic Institute for a brief overview of related research. I recently put together the below for a Meetup group, related to Tai Chi as a form of Kung Fu, rooted in Zen elements which developed hand in hand with the martial arts in Japan. The article discusses a Zen Koan (Riddle) used to stimulate insight on what constitutes a powerful life.

Warrior Koan 100: FREEING THE GHOST

Aside from what I have learned from my teachers and own training, there are many great resources on the traditional elements of the martial arts, including Tai Chi, as Zen training. Following is the last Koan in Trevor Leggett’s “Samurai Zen: The Warrior Koans,” and how it applies to life and Tai Chi as a mind/body practice. In the early development of Zen, the Samurai made such swift progress, that an early Zen teacher noted that monks might as well give up meditation and study the Way of the Sword. There is something about the Martial Way (Budo, Wu Tao), which particularly focuses the mind. This applies to Tai Chi as much as the Way of the Sword, or any other traditional martial art. Following is Warrior Koan 100: FREEING THE GHOST.

FREEING THE GHOST (paraphrased)
Yorisha’s meditation was on the Kegon sutra (in the year of 1374):

“If one would know all the Buddhas of the three worlds,
Let him see the nature of the dharma, that all is the creation of the mind alone.”

Making no progress, he sat unaware, as the meditation hall caught fire. He perished in the flames. His ghost returned, chanting repeatedly; “All the Buddhas of the three worlds,” until the head of practice (tanto) Karashigawa gave a great shout “Reverence to Buddha Yorisha!” Yorisha promptly vanished.

A series of questions follow this Koan, asking the nature of the Buddhas of three worlds; the dharma-world; what is proof of ‘mind alone;’ and what is meant by dharma-world nature being the creation of the mind alone. The final question asks the meditator to set the ghost of Yorisha free “quickly, and show the proof.” There is also a section relating back to another Koan. But to keep it short, I will focus on the Kegan sutra directly, which will give useful background for answering the Zen master’s questions.

Buddha literally translates as “enlightened one,” and can apply to all who have achieved realization regarding the nature of Reality and Being (and actually Act on it, transcending it so to speak). The first of the three worlds is the “world” of base desires (Kamaloka) – lust, gorging, greed, fame, arrogance, hate, envy, self-pity, etc. Somewhat similar to the concept of the seven deadly sins in Christianity. The second “world” is the world of form (Rupaloka), the physical practices (such as sitting meditation, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, etc.) which can lead to freedom from base desires and negative social influences. To become “the uncarved block” mentioned in Taoism. Which in turn can lead to enlightenment, which relates to the third world (Arupaloka). This third world is without form, the “Tao which cannot be told.” It is often seen as a spiritual existence beyond life, but from the Zen perspective, can also be seen as living true to your essential nature, before “you” were formed by peer pressure, social norms, and parental and teacher influence (as stated in a Zen Koan, to discover “your original face, before “you” were born” – or pushing it back one generation, “your original face before your parents were born).

The early Zen Masters had a clear concept of the influence of behavioral psychology on life, over a thousand years before Skinner. Zen also includes many elements of humanistic and psycho-analytic psychology – The Hierarchy of Needs has many parallels in Zen, and the Id, Super Ego and Ego are similar in many ways to the three “worlds.” Much of socialization is beneficial, and helps shape a person in good ways. But many forms of peer pressure and socialization can also be negative and destructive, twisting us in ways which can lead to depression, stress and even suicide. Zen/Mindfulness Based Practices are designed to increase awareness and freedom from the negative social influences and trauma in our lives (which can be of great benefit to those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as other forms of personal trauma).

The goal of Tai Chi as a Zen practice, is to develop awareness and insights necessary to free you from destructive desires and emotions which sabotage life, using the mental strength and discipline which comes from training (including form training), and using form (the second “world”), to become an unlimited being free from destructive desires and emotions, with clear understanding of self and others, and how to live a powerful life.

By seeing the nature of the dharma (teachings/life principles), through meditation and flashes of insight (Kensho - which can occur during moving forms of meditation, as much as during sitting meditation), one comes to realize that the way we live our lives (even our jobs and relationships, as well as our fears, insecurities, anger and other issues), are in many ways the creation of our own mind – how we respond to the stimulus of life and those around us. Realizing this, one can come to mastery over the three worlds of destructive desires, right form (The uncarved block), and True Existence (The Tao which cannot be told). Many spiritual practices consider the way we live our life now as having an impact on our life after death, and relates to the purpose of life and the nature of existence.

It may be odd to think that martial training (whether Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Swordsmanship or other art) was considered so important in the early development of Zen, but when you think about what a fight it can be to overcome past trauma, insecurities and doubt, and the potential negative and destructive influences of others, in many ways it makes sense that the early Samurai united the Way of Zen with the Way of the Sword. Action is the only way to “show the proof.”

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SAVING LIVES WITH METAROBICS

2/21/2016

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American Heart Month is almost over. Next month is National Kidney Month, during which I will also start adding posts related to the benefits of Metarobic exercises (such as Tai Chi), as a mindfulness based practice for the health of mind and well-being. Tai Chi, with its roots as a martial art, is also a mind/body practice with many benefits for mental health. Returning to benefits for heart health, today’s case story on the Metarobic Facebook Page was from another person who also felt that Tai Chi had helped them regulate their heartbeat, so that they no longer needed a pacemaker (the first person actually avoided a pacemaker, when she asked to do an hour of Tai Chi before doctors rushed her back into the operating room, when her heart would not re-establish a regular rhythm. To the doctor’s surprise, when they came back, her heart was beating normally). Tai Chi, as a meditative practice, is well known for regulating mood and stress, and it is no surprise that it may also regulate many of the body’s rhythms and physiological functions. Although the focus of Metarobic theory is currently on unique measurable effects on enhanced blood oxygen saturation, diffusion and enhanced oxygen based metabolism, many medical Tai Chi practitioners also feel that Tai Chi can have a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system, which functions to regulate the body's unconscious actions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and metabolism. As such, Metarobic exercises such as Tai Chi may have a direct effect, and is an exercise worth discussing with your doctor.

On a side note, regarding the difficulties and importance of promoting a Metarobic view of exercise, relates to a movie I saw last night, on Louis Pasteur. I had mentioned in an earlier blog that he was an inspiration to me, since he faced an incredible battle with the medical field, to convince them that germs were real, and that it was important to wash hands and sterilize medical equipment. Even though he had saved the wine and beer industry by discovering the process of pasteurization (which was even named after him), he was pronounced a quack, and barred from writing about or discussing his work for over 10 years. An anthrax epidemic, and the fact that the sheep in his town were the only ones not dying, finally got the medical establishment to re-examine his theories on germs and vaccinations.

This is why I am reaching out and asking for help, by asking you to promote and repost these blogs and Facebook posts. According to those I have spoken to in the publishing field, until I or my work becomes a hot topic, there is no interest from a larger publisher in my book or work. You can help make that happen. I will be presenting my work at more national conferences, and will be offering a four hour workshop at the American Psychosocial Oncology Conference in March. I am also meeting with a cancer center this week, to see how my work might be incorporated at their center. But this can be a long process. In the meantime, thousands of lives are being lost. Louis Pasteur estimated that several million people died during the 10 years he was banned from talking about his work. The evidence based theory of Metarobics is not on the same scale as germ theory and vaccinations, but based on Tai Chi research, Metarobic exercises can save lives on an unknown scale, and enhance quality of life for those chronically ill. Help that happen by sharing my work, book and resources on the Metarobic Institute site, with anyone who might benefit, or be of interest or influence (keeping in mind that any medical changes should also be discussed with a doctor). For a full overview of my work, click this LINK for “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics,” available on Amazon.com

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Metarobics and High Blood Pressure

2/14/2016

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This month is American Heart Month. Although no substitute for a regular aerobic routine, Metarobic exercises such as Tai Chi have many benefits for cardiovascular health, particularly for high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects almost one third of all adults in America. According to the CDC, over 360,000 people die each year due to high blood pressure as a primary or contributing cause – almost 1,000 deaths each day. High blood pressure also costs the nation $46 billion each year. Yet it is almost entirely preventable. Tai Chi has been shown to be one of the most effective ways of doing so, in over two dozen studies (See Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics for an overview).The key element in relation to Metarobic theory is related to restricted blood flow. Metarobic exercises such as Tai Chi relax muscle tension in the body, and has a direct effect on blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force or pressure of blood inside the arteries. If you did not have any blood pressure, the pumping of the heart would have little effect on moving blood throughout the body. It is like the anemic trickle of water that comes from a shower which has low water pressure. Higher water pressure means more water moving through the pipes. Too much water pressure and the pipes could burst. The same is true for blood vessels, as well as for the heart.

The dynamic state of relaxation generated from Tai Chi and similar Metarobic exercises may relax not just the large muscle groups, but also the arteries. Researchers at the University of North Texas noted a relationship between flexibility and arterial health. The stiffer and less flexible the participants were, the higher the readings they had in arterial stiffness. Stiff arterial walls require the heart to work harder, and can contribute to a greater risk for heart attack and stroke. Before I started Tai Chi, I could barely reach past my knees in the sit and reach test. After several years of Tai Chi, my flexibility increased to the point that I could bend over and place the palms of my hands flat on the floor. This was before I began any kind of stretching regimen (As I got older I realized the importance of stretching, particularly after exercising, so I now also stretch after vigorous exercise).

Studies documented in Tai Chi Therapy have demonstrated that even mental tension, in the form of various stressors, can result in constriction of blood vessels, raising blood pressure. Calcium-channel blockers are prescribed for people with high blood pressure, to chemically reduce muscle tension in the arteries, as well as to relax blood vessels, and create a greater capacity for blood flow. But like many medications, calcium channel blockers also carry a risk, sometimes fatal. So far, no study has shown negative side effects from Tai Chi, and a plethora of benefits (keeping in mind that this is for the more common forms of Tai Chi, focused on relaxation and normal abdominal breathing. In some esoteric practices, such as reverse breathing, there may be some drawbacks, including increased blood pressure). The benefits for high blood pressure from more common forms of Tai Chi have been very uniform, and worth discussing with your doctor. See the Metarobics Facebook Page for case story excerpts for American Heart Month.

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Choosing Metarobics

2/10/2016

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This has been a busy week, and a week full of choices. The choice my body wants to make, is to get more work done, and deal with the stress and frustration by eating as much unhealthy food as I can cram into my mouth. However, since I also have celiac neuropathy, my body also lets me know, in no uncertain terms, that if I want to be able to walk and live a full and active life, that I cannot under any circumstance miss a session of Tai Chi. Everyone has had those days – I’m beat…let’s just chill today…I’d rather do… Tai Chi can be a little different – as a form of mindfulness based meditation, it actually does generate very pleasant mental states during practice, with pretty much no sensation of passing time. But even so, it can sometimes be a big step to push away from the computer, couch, or desk, to get started.

Taking a day off is certainly an option, unless perhaps you have a chronic condition. Even then it is still a choice, to choose death or disability, or getting up and doing a needed practice, exercise or routine, to stave off the cold hand of mortality. According to the American Medical Association, 26% of men don’t make any kind of lifestyle change after having a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiac event. A Kaiser report stated that more women change unhealthy behaviors, up to 93%. This may be one reason more women than men participate in Tai Chi programs for health. To attract men to Tai Chi, it might be worth targeting the martial aspects of Tai Chi, or to offer Tai Chi sword forms. What man can resist swinging a sword around : )

For healthy people, time for a variety of exercises may be a luxury. It takes a dedicated and possibly time rich individual to do ALL recommended exercise on a daily bases – aerobic, strength conditioning, stretching – and now add to that Metarobic exercise? As a mind/body practice, with many benefits for physical and psychological health, and with options for using Tai Chi for cardio and strength, Tai Chi can still provide options for a nice total body workout, but one which still demands time for both cardio and Metarobic aspects. There is believe it or not, a Tai Chi fast set. And using a heavy sword and/or wrist weights can develop upper body strength while developing cardiovascular health – but at the sacrifice of Metarobic benefits. So for total cardiovascular and cellular health, a person would still need 30 minutes or so of each on a regular basis (if using wrist weights to address upper body strength. The bent kneed stance during Tai Chi strengthens the knees and legs, even during the slow relaxed and breath focused forms of these exercises).

But, if you suffer from one of the many chronic conditions which plague society (including cancer, heart, lung and kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, compromised immunity, etc.), particularly those which limit more vigorous forms of exercise, Tai Chi may provide a valuable option. Metarobic and Tai Chi research supports a variety of benefits, which can range from easing symptoms (particularly pain), to completely overcoming the condition. Chronic pain, immobility, and death can be great motivators. The trick is to determine just how much Metarobic exercise you need. For me, it is 30 minutes in the morning and night, with an additional 20-30 minutes mid-day, if I am having a bad week. Others might get by with once a day, or a few time a week. If facing a particularly severe and life threatening situation, many of the case stories I have collected stated that individuals were practicing three or more hours a day, before noticing significant benefits. One person stated she started doing eight hours a day, when doctors stated her cancer was incurable. And she recovered. This is important, since in scientific studies reviewed, which showed minimal effects on conditions such as cancer (except for pain and quality of life), participants were only learning Tai Chi two to three times a week for an hour or so. There is no guarantee, but research and supporting case stories are promising for many conditions, and worth a little experimentation with dosage, in discussion with your doctor.

Next week, in recognition of February as American Heart Month, I will present an overview of the benefits of Metarobic exercises for high blood pressure and heart disease. See the Metarobics Facebook Page for case stories related to heart disease, which I am posting this month.

- Dr. Gryffin

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Pacemaker or Tai Chi?

2/1/2016

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February is American Heart Month, so I will be posting case stories on the Metarobics Facebook Page, related to heart disease. The following case story (which is also in the chapter on heart disease, in “Tai Chi Therapy”) is very unusual, and worth elaborating. I could not state that what happened with Maggie would happen to others who had an irregular heartbeat following surgery, but it shows the potential for Tai Chi to help the body to help itself. It also shows the importance of a well-rounded exercise program, which I will touch on more later.

I met Maggie at one of Dr. Paul Lam’s workshops. Maggie stated that she had been a long time Tai Chi practitioner, but did not do other exercises at the time. She went in for a stress test, and the doctors were surprised to find her arteries were over 90 percent blocked. Maggie was rushed in for a bypass, but following the operation, her heart would not resume a regular heartbeat. She was told that she would need a pacemaker. The doctors were about to send her back into the operating room.

But for some reason, Maggie felt that if she could just do Tai Chi, that her heart would be okay. She asked to be left alone for an hour, did Tai Chi, and when the doctors came back, her heart had stabilized. The doctors were surprised, and told her “whatever you are doing, keep doing it.” Maggie stated: “The moral of the story is that even with Tai Chi, good diet and cardio exercise are still necessary, but Tai Chi did keep me going until I got the bypass, and got my heart back to beating normally. So now I do both (cardio and Tai Chi).”

Aside from the remarkable effect on stabilizing her heartbeat, Maggie’s comment is pertinent to the need for a well-rounded exercise program, as well as a good diet. I have collected other case stories of Tai Chi practitioners rushed in for a bypass, who did not have any symptoms. They also attributed not feeling short of breath or chest pains due to the relaxed state of their body from Tai Chi practice. But sooner or later, clogged arteries will catch up with you. Tai Chi may make that later rather than sooner, but it is no substitute for total cardiovascular health.
The main take away point from these stories, is that Tai Chi can help your body function more efficiently, and maintain a level of health which is beneficial, for those with chronic conditions which make difficult more vigorous forms of exercise. But for those who are able to perform aerobic exercise, it is important to consider cardiovascular health as well. And of course, based on research on Tai Chi, Metarobic effects can also provide benefits for healthy individuals as well. Who would not benefit from a more efficiently functioning body? Earlier I noted that for overall health, it is important to do some form of aerobic exercise regularly. Research on Tai Chi indicates that it may be equally important for total health, to also do some form of Metarobic exercise on a regular basis as well. Time and further research will tell.

With the fast pace of modern society, if you are healthy and in good shape, Metarobic exercises may not fit your current exercise schedule. But as you grow older, Tai Chi and related exercises may be a good supplement to delay the onset of aging from several perspectives. Tai Chi is also excellent for balance. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of accidental death and injury in adults over 65. For an overview of how Tai Chi can develop balance, see Chapter 7: Essential Elements of Metarobics and Tai Chi for Therapy - Teaching, Learning and Researching Tai Chi and Qi Gong for Health.

- Dr. Gryffin

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

1/18/2016

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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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Forward>>

Calming the Waves of the Mind

Take Heart with Tai Chi

The Zen roots of Tai Chi as a Mind/Body Practice

SAVING LIVES WITH METAROBICS

Metarobics and High Blood Pressure

Choosing Metarobics

Pacemaker or Tai Chi?

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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