What the Philosophy of Tai Chi Can Do For You
May 10, 2008
Taoist Philosophy
To understand the purpose of the form it is important to understand its basis and roots.
The origins of Tai Chi go back over 5,000 years and are based in Taoist philosophy developed and refined by the great Taoist thinkers such as, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
The core concept of Taoism and Taoist philosophy is that everything in the universe is subject to change and when dealing with this change we should act not to fight it but work with it and avoid conflict.
The core Of Taoism is that action should always be effortless and come from spontaneous creativity, but this should not require mental or physical effort.
According to Taoist philosophy change is constant but, by understanding change and acting in accordance with the laws that govern it, we can work effortlessly to achieve our aims.
Taoism is about working within the laws of change, not struggling to oppose them, this is seen as futile and a waste of energy.
In Tai Chi this manifests itself in that a posture will always be difficult and a struggle, unless there is union of mind and body, to make the move an effortless interaction.
Why You Should Learn Tai Chi
May 8, 2008
Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi combines movement, meditation and breathing, to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body, to increase both physical and mental well-being.
Tai Chi is one of the most broadly applicable systems of self-care in the world and is suitable for both young and old alike.
In China, it is estimated that 300 million people alone practice Tai Chi.
Tai Chi however is not just practised in China, in the 20th century it spread throughout the world and as we enter the 21st century, it is more popular than ever.
Tai Chi - The Form
There are several styles of movement and approaches to Tai Chi, some of them historic and some developed in recent years.
Each has its own individual charteristics and carries the name of the clan or family who developed it i.e. Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun etc.
All the principles of Tai Chi are put into practice in a non stop sequence of moves called the form.
Each Tai Chi style has its own distinctive way of presenting the form in terms of: The postures included, the order in which they appear, the way they are performed and finally, how long the form actually takes to complete.
How Exercise and Beta-Glucan Help the Immune System
May 4, 2008
It is thought that moderate exercise, such as speed walking, jogging, and aerobics may enhance your body’s natural resistance to infection. This is due to that fact that this kind of physical activity activates the release of immunostimulatory factors, such as growth hormones, cytokines, and prolactin, which in turn activates various populations of immune cells.
Exercise sessions of moderate duration (under 60 minutes) have been associated with enhanced activity within the immune system. This applies to many different immune parameters, including oxidative metabolism, mactophage chemotaxis, and phagocytic activities, as well as increased natural killer cell activity. The nature of these cells’ phagocytic, cytotoxic, and intracellular killing capacities constitutes and important part of the body’s first line immune defense.
Another immune boosting method that more and more people have used over the past few years to boost their immune functions is to take a Beta Glucan oat fiber supplement. These supplements contain ß-Glucans (polysaccharides derived from the cell walls of yeast, algae, fungi, and oats), which have shown been to enhance both specific and non-specific immune functions, yet have received little attention so far in the field of immunology. Beta Glucan directly stimulates macrophage, neutrophil, and natural killer cells via ß-Glucan specific receptor sites. When this reaction occurs, a cascade of immune defenses are set off, which protect the organism from a wide range of viral, bacterial, and fungal challenges. The exact mechanisms that occur depend at least partially on the route of administration. For example, much of the protection achieved from oral administration results primarily from certain effects of ingestion.
Is It Safe To Start An Exercise Program?
May 2, 2008
I think the real question is "How safe is it for you not to exercise?" Did you know that obesity has just replaced smoking as the number one cause of health related problems? That’s incredible! Sorry to say, but that means we are a bunch of fat, inactive people! Back in the day when people milked cows and planted their own food for exercise, you would never hear of something like this. Think about that the next time you can’t exercise because of a hard day at the office! O.k. before I tear off too far into a rant lets look at some of the real concerns you should tend to before you start an exercise program.
? Before you exercise, go see your doctor-Get a check up. Make sure you get a blood pressure test and a blood test. Have your heart condition checked and make sure all the other stuff is done and o.k. Some people mistakenly hold back serious effort in the gym for too long because they are afraid something may be wrong with them. If you get a check up and receive a clean bill of health, that’s one more excuse gone!
How to Keep Your Body Fit
April 29, 2008
Fitness is just as imperative as health. As a matter of fact, fitness is linked directly with your health. If you are not taking care of your body, you will get sick. Here are some great suggestions that will help you to keep your body fit:
1. Bicycling
It is a sad thing that many people do not take advantage of this excellent option for exercise. Bike riding exercise your body and build a stronger cardiovascular system. Also, it allows you to get out and enjoy nature and fresh air.
2. Jogging or Walking
Both jogging and walking are wonderful ways to get fit. They tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and improve lung capability.
3. Swimming
Swimming is an exceptional way to get into and stay in shape. Swimming will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and get a good overall workout.
4. Tennis
Tennis is a great way to exercise. Just running after the ball alone will help get you into shape. This is a great way to strengthen your cardiovascular system and lose weight.
5. Dancing
Exercise Is a Key to Good Health for All of Us
April 26, 2008
There’s plenty of evidence that an essential component of a healthy life is physical activity. It has been shown that exercise has a positive effect on both your body and mind.
A very important thing to remember:
Tai Chi, NOT Chai Tea!
April 24, 2008
Those of you that have either completed a one-on-one program, purchased an on-line program or have read anything else that I have written in the past have most likely determined by now and realize it is quite evident… I am a huge supporter and advocate of integrated and phase-based training as optimized methods of health and fitness technologies/systemologies. And it wasn’t until I started researching Tai Chi as an alternative form of exercise (I have been exercising for three-and-a-half decades consistently) did I understand how such a slow-velocity activity can help decrease blood pressure, reduce stress, help develop a greater degree of coordination and diminish the number of falls experienced by the elderly. The affects of resistance and aerobic type activities and their impact on health is unequivocal. Resistance training improves strength and the development of lean muscle mass, as well as an increase in bone-density and cardiovascular training improves the efficiently of the heart, lungs and circulatory function while decreasing mortality rates. However, over the past few decades, Eastern practices such as Tai Chi and Yoga have complimented mainstream fitness training programs by demonstrating comparable health benefits to traditional fitness training. A closer look at Tai Chi is warranted and yes this is coming from a fitness coach who intrinsically knows and has meticulously practiced and has been the recipient of the absolute benefits of weight bearing exercise for over 30 years.
Arthritis Exercise for All Levels
April 22, 2008
Exercise can be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers, often relieving stiffness in joints, strengthening muscles thereby reducing stress on joints, keeping bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy, and increasing flexibility. A recommended 30-minute minimum of daily activity is the norm. Before starting any exercise program, it is vital that one speak to their doctor to ensure there are no unseen risks, however you will find that most doctors recommend exercise for their arthritis patients either on their own initiative or when asked.
The types of exercises suggested vary; however, with all types of exercise the warm-up is the starting point. Warming up is best started with applying warm compresses to the joints, followed by mild stretching. Range of motion exercises, such as dance, are a very good start, as are low-impact aerobics. These can relieve stiffness and increase flexibility. Never discount the effectiveness of walking as an exercise. Walking is a great exercise to improve the arthritic condition, and carrying weights as light as one pound and using your arms as you walk can involve the whole body. The "trick" is to make walking interesting enough as an exercise to stay motivated. Try walking in different settings, alternating walking with dance on different days, and of course including a partner can be much more interesting than going at it alone.
Wise Up and Invest in Your Workout Success - Six Top Fitness Faux Pas
April 18, 2008
Already dedicated exercisers make small but costly mistakes regularly in their workouts, and one tiny change can have a huge impact on their results. Time is valuable, and for each precious moment invested you want to ensure the best possible return. If your body is not yet as lean or toned as you would like, it is likely that you are committing some key training mistakes. These errors can sabotage the efforts of even veteran exercisers. By learning about the most common fitness faux pas and their fixes, you will mistake-proof your exercise and see tremendous payoffs. Six of the biggest fitness faux pas are?
Faux Pas #1 Skipping Over Your Warm-up The Facts? Warming up prepares the body to work efficiently: longer, stronger and more safely. Skipping your warm-up may cause you to fatigue early, keeping you from realizing your full potential. Perhaps more importantly, warming up drastically decreases your chance of injury. The time spent in a warm up is much less than the time required to heal a muscle strain or joint injury.
Smart Fix? Invest 5-10 minutes in performing a toned-down version of your fitness activity or perhaps instead something like walking or cycling at an easy pace. Some gentle range-of-motion exercises are always encouraged. Save the deep stretching for after your workout.
Defeating Back Pain Forever
April 16, 2008
Back pain, one of the most common physical, and debilitating ailments today, affects 70% - 80% of us at one time or another in our lives. However, as a result of the obesity epidemic, that number continues to climb. So if you are suffering or have suffered from back pain, you are not alone!
Back pain suffers, resulting from wear and tear and the aging process, generally are over 40 years of age; but it is not uncommon for individuals in the 30’s to experience back challenges. The complex spine changes during aging at varying rates from individual to individual as determined by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and prior injuries.
Just remember, the odds are in your favor that you will experience some sort of back pain in the future. So what do you do when that happens, and how do you prevent it from happening again? There lies two, seventy two million dollar questions.
First off, don’t panic! Over 95% of back pain does not require surgery, and will subside on its own anywhere from a couple of days to months. With the back, it is rather tricky to predict how quickly it will heal. Be patient, and keep positive!
