Priyanka Chopra’s performance in the iconic Bollywood film Don had wowed audiences decades ago. In a discussion at the Red Sea Film Festival, the actor opened up about her Tai Chi training before shooting for the film, and how it transformed her mentally as an actor.
“First time, I properly touched action was in the first Don. I remember properly learning Tai Chi for it,” Chopra shared taking classes for it. “By the time I came to Don, I had realised that the most important thing to focus on is my craft, not your relationships with your director, co-actors, not how you behave on set, but what you do between action and cut,” she added.
How practicing Tai Chi helps
Indianexpress.com asked experts and found out how tai chi helps people improve their focus.
Rakesh Menon, Founder-Director & Chief Instructor at Universal Tai Chi Qigong School said that practicing tai chi, activates two sides of the brain, the right and the left, in a very balanced form. “Supposedly there’s more energy in the right side of the brain, which is considered the physical part. It keeps balancing the left side, so that both can come into equilibrium to each other and perform the conscious and the subconscious way together in a different manner,” he said.
“Secondly, whenever any movement of Tai Chi or Chi Kung is practiced, it opens up the cells of your body so the oxygenated breath goes into the subconscious level, and this oxygenated breath supplies into the brain cells,” said Menon. This opens up the brain waves, movement, the ability to think, the ability to calm yourself, physically, mentally.
Most Tai Chi movements are slow and precise, making the practice an effective way to relax the mind. (Source: Freepik)
The basic principle of Tai Chi is to slow down and slow oneself down. “Right from breathing and how it regulates your entire thought process, it gives you a sense of calmness and clarity of thought in terms of how to approach things. Over a period of time, you become more confident and treat it as part of your ongoing life journey. By default, if you have things like anxiety, stress and other elements which are causing lot of strain on your mind, Tai Chi is a way where you’re able to deal with such situations in a more holistic approach,” he explained.
Dr Arvind Otta, Senior Psychologist & Mental Health Activist listed out a couple reasons why Tai Chi helps one focus better:
Mental Clarity and Focus: Most Tai Chi movements are slow and precise, making the practice an effective way to relax the mind. The focused attention increases awareness and develops attentiveness.
Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Because Tai Chi is mostly performed slowly and accurately, the movements stimulate the parasympathetic system, hence leading to relaxation. This also assists in lowering cortisol – the stress hormone and brings calm.
Emotional Balance and Mood Enhancement: Research has revealed that Tai Chi can improve emotional health. It has been linked to dealing with anxiety, depression and negative emotions. Breath control and movements with the body help regulate the flow of endorphins, the body’s natural mood-boosting hormone.
Improved Sleep: Oxidative stress is majorly linked to psychological or physical stress. Practising Tai Chi can ensure better sleep. Quality sleep improves learning, and the ability to control emotions.
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