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Chinese shadow boxing disperses ghosts of disease and depression
June 30, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
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CHINESE shadow boxing helped Yu Shanyang, 62, rebuild her life after stomach cancer.
The Zhejiang Province native was working on a support crew for a power grid in Lishui when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. She had to undergo surgery that removed 80 percent of her stomach.
"I lost the confidence in life," said Yu. "I had to go through eight courses of chemotherapy, which were nothing but torture, and my quality of life was miserable. I couldn't even eat regularly."
Yu lost 15 kilograms, couldn't sleep and was haunted by suicidal thoughts. A psychologist told her that she was suffering from deep depression.
Perhaps the turning point in her recovery came the day a neighborhood friend invited her to do taiji, or Chinese shadow boxing, with her.
"My friend said I shouldn't stay cooped up at home all the time," Yu said. "Since I had nothing better to do, I agreed to give it a try. She was a very experienced practitioner."
Yu turned out to be a natural at taiji. After only a year of practice, she won fourth prize in a competition for senior players in Zhejiang. Her mental and physical health began to improve. She was on the track back to a normal life.
"I remember that once I was holding my granddaughter in one arm and groceries in the other, and I was about to slip on the stairs," she said. "I automatically reverted to a taiji pose and was able to stabilize myself and avoid a disaster."
In 2006, Yu retired to Minhang with her family. Her prowess and interest in taiji came with her. A new chapter of her life opened. She began teaching.
"In the beginning, I had only about five students," she said. "And now there are more than 50. We do shadow boxing, taiji sword and taiji broadsword. I have many students who learn fast."
Her students are not only Chinese. Her classes include expats from the United States, Sweden, Russia and Germany.
"The language barrier was a bit of a headache," she recalled. "I could use only gestures to guide them to do certain poses, and sometimes when I asked them to move their legs, they moved their arms. It was both funny and a bit frustrating."
Yu then learned some basic English from her foreign taiji students.
"I tried to memorize the words for body parts, such as legs, waist, arms and foot," she said. "Now I am able to carry on simple conversations in English."
Yu and her students travel around to take part in competitions. Recently they went to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, and to Taiwan, where they won gold medals and honor certificates.
Beyond the teacher-student role, Yu has formed deep friendships from her classes.
"It feels good to have a big group of friends," she said. "And now I have gotten rid of the shadow of the disease. I live a very normal life, and I have never been so happy."
While other members of her family have learned the art, her husband has not.
"He is a typical alpha male," she said. "He thinks it's shameful for men to learn something from women. I just let him be."Yu Shanyang, 62, from China
Impressions of Minhang:
Sports are well-developed in the district, which is very good.
Funniest experience in Minhang:
When first teaching taiji to expats, the language barrier created many funny misunderstandings.
Favorite place in Minhang:
Minhang Sports Park, which is a great place for physical exercise.
Favorite cuisine:
Noodle soup.
Advice for newcomers:
Newcomers need to feel the Minhang culture with their hearts.
Suggestions for developing Minhang:
The traffic situation needs to be improved. The streets are too crowded.
Motto for life:
My loss can also be my gain.
The Zhejiang Province native was working on a support crew for a power grid in Lishui when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. She had to undergo surgery that removed 80 percent of her stomach.
"I lost the confidence in life," said Yu. "I had to go through eight courses of chemotherapy, which were nothing but torture, and my quality of life was miserable. I couldn't even eat regularly."
Yu lost 15 kilograms, couldn't sleep and was haunted by suicidal thoughts. A psychologist told her that she was suffering from deep depression.
Perhaps the turning point in her recovery came the day a neighborhood friend invited her to do taiji, or Chinese shadow boxing, with her.
"My friend said I shouldn't stay cooped up at home all the time," Yu said. "Since I had nothing better to do, I agreed to give it a try. She was a very experienced practitioner."
Yu turned out to be a natural at taiji. After only a year of practice, she won fourth prize in a competition for senior players in Zhejiang. Her mental and physical health began to improve. She was on the track back to a normal life.
"I remember that once I was holding my granddaughter in one arm and groceries in the other, and I was about to slip on the stairs," she said. "I automatically reverted to a taiji pose and was able to stabilize myself and avoid a disaster."
In 2006, Yu retired to Minhang with her family. Her prowess and interest in taiji came with her. A new chapter of her life opened. She began teaching.
"In the beginning, I had only about five students," she said. "And now there are more than 50. We do shadow boxing, taiji sword and taiji broadsword. I have many students who learn fast."
Her students are not only Chinese. Her classes include expats from the United States, Sweden, Russia and Germany.
"The language barrier was a bit of a headache," she recalled. "I could use only gestures to guide them to do certain poses, and sometimes when I asked them to move their legs, they moved their arms. It was both funny and a bit frustrating."
Yu then learned some basic English from her foreign taiji students.
"I tried to memorize the words for body parts, such as legs, waist, arms and foot," she said. "Now I am able to carry on simple conversations in English."
Yu and her students travel around to take part in competitions. Recently they went to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, and to Taiwan, where they won gold medals and honor certificates.
Beyond the teacher-student role, Yu has formed deep friendships from her classes.
"It feels good to have a big group of friends," she said. "And now I have gotten rid of the shadow of the disease. I live a very normal life, and I have never been so happy."
While other members of her family have learned the art, her husband has not.
"He is a typical alpha male," she said. "He thinks it's shameful for men to learn something from women. I just let him be."Yu Shanyang, 62, from China
Impressions of Minhang:
Sports are well-developed in the district, which is very good.
Funniest experience in Minhang:
When first teaching taiji to expats, the language barrier created many funny misunderstandings.
Favorite place in Minhang:
Minhang Sports Park, which is a great place for physical exercise.
Favorite cuisine:
Noodle soup.
Advice for newcomers:
Newcomers need to feel the Minhang culture with their hearts.
Suggestions for developing Minhang:
The traffic situation needs to be improved. The streets are too crowded.
Motto for life:
My loss can also be my gain.
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