AphroChic Magazine: Issue No. 12

The Office of Minority Health, a branch
of the Department of Health and Human
Services, offered a brief survey of the damage
in 2021, acknowledging higher death rates for
African Americans from, “COVID-19, heart
disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and
pneumonia, diabetes and HIV/AIDS,” when
compared to white Americans. Meanwhile,
that same year the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) was waking up to the fact that, “centuries
of racism in this country has had a profound and
negative impact on communities of color.”
Hidden within these statements are the
connections between social realities and health
outcomes. Though heart disease continues to
be a leading killer of all Americans, the fact that
Black Americans are 30% - 50% more likely to die
from a cardiac event than white Americans is attributable,
in part, to the fact that more than 16.8
million Black Americans live in so-called, “cardiology
deserts,” — counties with limited or no
access to cardiology specialists — part of a wider
epidemic of “health deserts,” which often lack
so much as a local pharmacy. Similarly, asthma,
which is also disproportionately high among
Black Americans is linked to issues of environmental
justice, food justice and more. And a
whole library of issues directly stem from or
are adversely impacted by the levels of chronic
stress under which communities of color are
habitually forced to operate.
While in the long run there is significant
work to be done in holding American medical,
governmental and economic institutions to
account for the shocking disparities in physical
and mental health outcomes for Black people in
America, there are also things that we can do to
improve the situation for ourselves in the short
term. Though it may seem cliché, the oft-cited
binary of health-and-exercise is a powerful
force for increasing, preserving or recovering
health. At the same time, new perspectives
on the importance of mental health, rest and
self-care for Black people are urging radical
commitment to our own wellbeing through
therapy, meditation, yoga and other practices
that have long been a part of our community
(Rosa Parks was a yogi).
One practice which seems to be climbing
the charts as a must-have for better health is
Tai Chi. Studies have shown that for all of the
illnesses affecting Americans nationwide —
heart disease and high blood pressure, diabetes
and asthma, stroke, and stress — consistent
Tai Chi practice can have a range of beneficial
effects, improving motor function, reducing inflammation
and more. For Black people, who
suffer higher rates of incidence and mortality
than other groups for these conditions, Tai Chi
can be an essential part of a wellness routine.
But like any practice, the first step to benefitting
from Tai Chi is knowing what it is, what it does,
and where to find it.
What is Tai Chi?
In 1644 AD, the Ming Dynasty ended in
China, replaced by the Qing. In the process,
Ming general Chen Wangting quickly went from
being a celebrated officer to a wanted fugitive.
While little is known of the general’s life — there
are many exciting legends and few verified
facts — it is known that he eventually retired to
his family’s land, Chenjiagou, literally, “Chen
Family Village,” located in Wen County, which
was also home to the famed Shaolin Temple.
There he combined his years of military experience
with his studies in Taoist (or Daoist) theory
to create what is now known as T’ai Chi Ch’uan
(or Taijiquan), the “Supreme Ultimate Fist.”
Originally a battlefield martial art and
protected secret of the Chen family, in the
last three and a half centuries it has become
more associated with elderly people and
parks than warriors and combat. Nevertheless,
the site where Wangting first introduced
his art still stands and is a popular pilgrimage
and study destination for students of the Chen
family’s version of the art. And while there are
theories suggesting longer histories or different
founders for the system, the fact remains that of
the 5 major styles of Tai Chi — Chen, Yang, Hao,
Wu and Sun — all trace their origins to the art of
Chen Wangting.
The physical practice of Tai Chi is
generally characterized by slow movements
organized into forms of different lengths and
points of emphasis. A focus on breathing and
weight distribution along with coordinated
folding and unfolding of the joints further typify
the practice, while other aspects, such as high
or low stances, the prevalence of fast and hard
movements within the softness or the study of
classical Chinese weapons, can vary from style
to style or school to school.
In its youth, Tai Chi was the secret of one
family. As it spread it became a tool of imperial
guards and noted scholars before spreading to
the wider population. As the focus on combat
faded, practitioners found the practice of the art
to be as effective in improving their own health
as the application of it had once been for diminishing
the health of others. Today, medical researchers
are finding evidence that practicing
Tai Chi can be a powerful aid in dealing with
or preventing a number of illnesses, including
those which most impact Black communities in
America.
Tai Chi Is Good For Your Heart
According to a 2022 article by the American
Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease
(CVD) takes the lives of 650,000 Americans every
year. Within that number, Black Americans
are more than twice as likely to die from CVD,
which, caused by blood clots or the hardening
of the arteries, can take the form of coronary
heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, aortic
disease or stroke. High rates of hypertension
among African Americans are a key CVD risk
factor. The AHA cites Tai Chi as a “promising
exercise option for patients with coronary heart
disease,” showing that even 6 months of consistent
practice at a low level of intensity can
improve a patient’s weight, physical activity and
quality of life.
issue twelve 93