It’s easy to get frustrated when injured and see it as a set back to your training but injury gives us a great opportunity to focus on the Yin side of our training. Here’s 5 Shaolin Temple Tips on how Shaolin Monks deal with injury.
- Investigate how the injury came about and what the injury is telling you. Don't mask the pain, this won't heal the pain, listen to it.
- Find out what you can do instead of focusing on what you can't. Depending on your injury, adapt your kung fu training. For example if it’s a leg injury, work on your upper body techniques.
- If it’s not possible to train in kung fu then run through the Shaolin forms with your mind and see how much you remember. Once you’re injury free, you’ll be amazed how these mental run throughs improve your form.
- Practice Qigong 5 - 6 days a week. Shaolin Qigong is a great way to rebalance the body and aid healing. The 8 Treasures Qigong has been proven to help with all types of back ache. ( If you can’t stand then do the sitting Qigong from Shaolin Qigong 2).
- Use the bamboo brush every day to self-massage and focus on the area where your injury is. This will help the circulation and blood to flow, leading to quicker healing.
As a martial artist you will be in tune with your body so don’t underestimate listening to it and finding the best way to heal. I’ve never used a physiotherapist but if you find this helpful, do this along with your Qigong and Qigong Massage. A Shaolin Monk never stops training, they just sensibly adapt their training with a strong focus on healing from within.