The power of opposites

American Fitness, March-April, 2003 by Meg Jordan

Taoism, one of the East's great philosophies, seems to be influencing the wellness and holistic fitness fields here at home. I'm referring to Taoist philosophical teachings about the harmonious power of opposing forces--one gives rise to the other, restoring balance and perfect order in life. Learning to transform our view of opposites into an enlightened reality of non-dualism is a chief outcome of lifelong meditation.

Aikido, one of my favorite martial arts, elegantly uses the power of opposites. Instead of applying direct oppositional force to an opponent, some aikido moves take a side-by-side posture, redirecting the oppositional force, blending with it and dissipating the conflict with a vanishing "poof!" instead of a direct "ka-pow!"

As for fitness, the power of opposites is appearing in new thinking on energy reserves and weight management. In order to lose weight by enhancing calorie burn, you've got to concentrate on increasing activity, right? Well, a Taoist approach would consider the opposite of energy output and explore how to accomplish the goal through embracing the "other."

What's the opposite of energy output? Sleep is probably the ultimate non-activity to shore up energy reserves. Kenneth Goodrick, Ph.D., of Baylor College of Medicine, says sleep should be the first component in weight loss programs. According to Goodrick, the latest research indicates lack of sleep significantly upsets glucose metabolism as well as increases risk of obesity and diabetes.

Researchers for the American Diabetes Association are also studying sleep as a key to weight loss. Apparently, many hormonal rhythms are reset during uninterrupted dark hours ideal for sleeping and creating healthy circadian rhythms. According to Sean Hagberg, Ph.D., a medical anthropologist who has been compiling many of the findings on physiological changes affected by light-versus-dark exposure, "Many systems in your body are triggered or controlled by the length of exposure to light versus dark. A treatment for obesity and diabetes might be possible by normalizing the circadian pattern of light and dark."

In addition to disturbing hormonal and metabolic control, sleep deprivation robs people of the energy needed to exercise and starts a vicious low-energy cycle which sabotages their weight loss programs. When energy reserves are low, people often turn to high-fat and high-sugar foods or caffeinated beverages for an energy pick-me-up. Some may drink 10 to 15 caffeinated beverages a day, which has an adverse effect on sleep quality.

Therefore, teach your clients to enhance their energy for working out by getting about eight hours of sleep each night. Start with a comfortable mattress, regular bedtime routine, pleasant sleep environment and avoiding heavy meals, drinking alcohol or taking stimulants before you shut down.

Now, if this great wisdom of the power of opposites intrigues you, pursue its potential for accomplishing your personal goals. A word of caution: Taoism is one of the most confounding philosophies to study, Lao Tzu, the sixth century B.C. writer of Taoist philosophy, said to "accomplish everything" one must "do nothing." Perhaps there's a Western twist here of doing less to succeed at more--that's something we could live happily ever after with!

Love, Meg