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No Schlep Ways to Boost Weight Loss and Improve Health

Posted on September 28, 2009 by admin

Photo By ~ggvic~

Everyone knows by now that the key to losing weight and maintaining it is to adopt healthy living as a long-term lifestyle choice, rather than embracing fad diets. We also know that the secret to weight loss is breathtakingly simple: burn off more calories than you take in. Here are some top tips for achieving this without huge efforts, lifestyle changes, or adopting a radical new regime.

1. Flavor is the dieter and healthy eater’s friend. You don’t have to eat cabbage soup. Some of the best loved world foods are based on peasant cuisines where basic (and often bland) core ingredients are transformed by attention to flavor. Think pasta with pesto. Green vegetables are low calorie and nutrient-rich: a great sauce is the secret to eating them without feeling deprived.

2. Soup is a relatively little known secret in the world of weight loss and appetite control. Studies have shown that if you eat a standard meal with a glass of water, the water soon departs. But if the same meal is liquidized with the water, the water stays in the stomach. That means that the stomach remains fuller for longer and it will also be longer before you feel hungry again.

3. Seafoods and are very low calorie alternatives that can be very economical. Try cutting out just one meat meal a week Especially when fresh, prawns and calamari (without batter!) are very low in calories and delicious stir-fried with just a little bit of oil.

4. Standing up boosts your metabolism! It might not be as good as running a marathon, but it does make a difference. Something as simple as standing and stretching every time the TV commercials come on will contribute to weight loss and health.

5. Tweak your cooking techniques. For example, you can roast potatoes with hardly any fat or butter and get the same taste sensation. If dry-roasting and dry-frying is a step too far, don’t worry – cutting down on oil and fats will have almost the same effect in the long run.

6. Read labels on foods and get consumer-smart. You may be shocked to find how many food items that you think are low calorie are in fact stuffed with saturated fats and sugars. This is especially true of processed foods and ready meals, so try to find the time to make your own.

7. Get a grip on portion sizes. If you know the calorie and saturated fat content of a teaspoon of butter it will become second nature to think before you slap it liberally on your toast. Being just a little bit more careful won’t make a difference to the taste but really can stop you piling on pounds over time.
These small adjustments in the way we consume and live won’t do the trick alone if you’ve got fifty pounds to shift. If you’re slimming down a few pounds or trying to maintain weight loss, these almost effort-free changes will make a difference, even if they’re not instantly noticeable.

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Antioxidants in Green Tea, Pomegranate Juice, Blueberries, or Acai Berries

Posted on September 24, 2009 by admin

Green Tea Photo By Dano

The Battle for the Antioxidant Crown

Health experts are gung-ho for the benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit us as they occur naturally in our bodies to fight free radicals, which are formed when certain molecules interact with oxygen. These free radicals can damage cells in your body, leading to aging, cancer, and other diseases. Several antioxidant-rich foods can assist your body with fighting these dangerous free radicals, among them green tea, pomegranate juice, blueberries, and acai berries. But is any one of these the most effective?

How do you choose which one to include in your healthy diet?

Antioxidants in Green Tea

The University of Maryland Medical Center touts green tea as one of the oldest sources of antioxidants in human culinary history. Green tea has been used to treat everything from diabetes to cancer to inflammatory bowel disease for thousands of years. The antioxidant ingredient in green tea is EGCG, or epigallocatechin-3- gallate.

Although the US FDA refuses to allow great tea labels to make the claim that green tea promotes good heart health, several studies have proposed that this is the case. Green tea is also believed to promote good breast health as well. A recent study out of the University of Mississippi found that, in mice at least, including EGCG in the diet significantly decreases the development of breast tumors.

Whether to fight free radicals or to promote good heart and breast health, many doctors suggest drinking three cups of green tea each day to reap the benefits of this antioxidant-rich, relatively inexpensive, and readily available beverage.

Antioxidants in Pomegranate Juice

Polyphenols are the active antioxidant component of pomegranate juice, as well as the next two foods—blueberries and acai berries. Pomegranates have even more polyphenols than red wine. These polyphenols are said to help reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and slow hardening of the arteries. Few studies have been conducted on pomegranates themselves but because they are rich in polyphenols, they are included in the list of foods rich in antioxidants.

Though you can eat the seeds of pomegranates, the easiest and quickest way to gain the benefits of this tart but tasty fruit is by drinking pomegranate juice. The recommended amount of pomegranate juice (100% juice) is one-half to one cup daily.

Antioxidants in Blueberries

According to the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, half a cup of blueberries contains as much antioxidant punch as five servings of fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are also reported to protect against urinary tract infections, as well as increase mental processes, such as motor memory and a zest for life.

Antioxidants in Acai Berries

Acai berries are the latest greatest health and weight loss booster. They are found in the rainforests of South America, high in the tops of acai palm trees. This berry has been used for thousands of years to promote good health and enhanced energy among the native population. The dark purple grape-shaped fruit has high levels of protein, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids—all beneficial to good heart health.

Although similar to other berries in its negligible effect on insulin levels in the body, the acai berry is unique in its high fat content. This means the fruit is highly perishable and is extremely difficult to transport to the United States, except in emulsified or powdered form.

Some research has shown that acai berries are higher in antioxidants than even blueberries. However, no appreciable difference in their ability to fight free radicals or help you lose weight has been found to date. The acai berry belongs to the same group of healthy fruits as red to black fruits and vegetables (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, beets, tomatoes, eggplant, to name a few), and as with any fruit or vegetable, is a great benefit to healthy eating.

So, which one wins the antioxidant crown?

All in all, each of these sources of antioxidants is pretty much the same with just a few subtle differences. So when shopping for your antioxidant of choice you may want to focus on taste preference, price, and availability. Better yet, include all of these foods in your diet, rotating them throughout your weekly menus. A good rule of thumb is to include at least one antioxidant-rich food with each meal, for example, blueberries in your breakfast cereal, a cup of green tea with your lunch, and acai berry or pomegranate juice with dinner.

If you prefer supplements, there are many brands on the market. Read labels carefully for nutritional information before making your choice.

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New Studies Suggest Even More Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

Posted on September 22, 2009 by admin

Photo By Alaskan Dude

A lot of reward can come from choosing a bag of carrot sticks over a salty bag of potato chips. The fact is that it feels pretty darn good when you have the will power to opt for fruits and vegetables over a processed snack, and now there may be even more good news.

Healthier than Ever?

While we are pretty aware of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, there are some added bonuses that sweeten the deal even more. Most veggies and fruits contain a very impressive amount of phytochemicals which can actually lower our risk for a number of diseases. On top of that, a new study is suggesting that scientists may still be underestimating their healthy power.

Scientists have noted that there may indeed be even more antioxidants present in fresh fruits and vegetables than we all thought over the years.

Benefits of Polyphenols in Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits on the whole contain a large amount of polyphenols which are natural compounds. These compounds have a strong antioxidant presence that is being proven to combat cell damage within our bodies as they have the ability to fight against natural oxidation of cells. That oxidation of cells can stimulate aging and increase one’s risk for a number of deadly diseases.

New Method to Measure Antioxidant Levels

Very recent studies in a number of highly regarded journals are now suggesting that there may be up to 5 times more antioxidants in fruits and vegetables than we thought.

In the past researches measured polyphenols by studying how much could be removed from each fruit, but this failed to acknowledge the amount that could not be extracted from the fruit. Recently they have realized that a certain sulphuric acid mixture can actually test the levels of polyphenol which are still stuck within fruits and vegetables.

This new test is starting to prove that fruits and vegetables have been undervalued all of these years. How? The old method of testing antioxidant levels forced researchers into overlooking a very large amount of polyphenols in these food choices.

Even if this all sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be.

So What Does it Mean for You?

Simple. There are now more benefits than ever relating to indulging in fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you can. Ignoring them as a part of your daily diet simply means that you are missing out on some of the most beneficial foods for your health that exist. They are natural, healthy and promote wellness. You cannot really ask for much more than that from your food, can you?

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Easy Acupressure Tips for Relieving a Hangover

Posted on September 21, 2009 by admin

Photo By Kevin Briody

"I am never drinking again". How many times have you uttered those words while heading into work after a night out on the town? It is a wise thought, but an idea that is often impossible to stick to. There is nothing worse than having your boss chew you out for a mistake while your head is pounding and your stomach is gurgling.

When you've partied a little too heartily, only time will completely clear your head and settle your stomach. That isn't something you necessarily want to hear, but there is some good news. There are actually a few simple detox techniques can speed the process along and have you walking with a little extra kick in your step in no time. It will be a lot better than dragging through a 9 hour work day with a pounding headache, trust me.

Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #1

To help relieve nausea and headaches, press your thumbs into the muscles and acupressure points along your skull and neck. Start by placing your thumbs at the base of your skull, one on each side of the upper spine. Press in for two breaths, release, and move outwards. Repeat until you're 3 cm or so away from your ears. Return to the upper spine and press on each side again, inching your thumbs down your neck until you reach the top of the shoulders.

Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #2

Lend your detoxification filters a hand by gently pummeling your kidneys, helping to break up toxic crystal deposits. Leaning over slightly, reach behind yourself and gently pound behind your ribs, about 12 times on each side, using comfortable pressure.

Hangover Relief Through Acupressure Tip #3

The acupressure point known as Spleen 16 is a classic target for relief from hangover symptoms. Using the fingertips of one hand, find the bottom of your rib cage and move your hand directly in line with your nipple. Feel for a slight indentation in the bone, and then press gently upwards into the ribs. Hold the point for a count of ten seconds. Repeat on the other side.

An Extra Tip for Hangover Relief

Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body, adding a little lemon juice also helps the detoxification effect. Resuscitate yourself with a cool compress on which you've sprinkled three drops of lavender, peppermint or rosemary essential oil. If you're nauseous, use rose or sandalwood oil instead. Take a vitamin B supplement before your binge as this will help you feel better the next morning.

Now these tips aren't necesarily going to have you jumping around and screaming with joy, but they are going to ease the pain of a nasty hangover. This doesn't mean that non stop tequila shots on a wednesday night are a good idea, but at least you won't consider jumping out the window of your office before noon.

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The Importance of Vitamin D: Avoiding Vitamin D Deficiency with a Proper Diet and Supplements

Posted on September 16, 2009 by admin

Get Vitamin D from the Sun BY Chantrybee

Vitamins. We need them, our bodies crave them, and they are a vital part of life. They allow us to grow, maintain our health and function the way we were meant to. Yet even still many vitamins receive an ever growing lack of attention and can prove to be quite difficult to instill in our daily diet.

One such vitamin in particular is vitamin D. It is just as essential to your health as any other vitamin yet it seems many of us seem to forget about it. With all our attention on the importance to protecting ourselves from the sun and lathering up on sunscreen, too many of us have forgotten that 20 minutes of sunlight on our bodies a day can provide us with up to 90% of the vitamin D we need. While there are a number of foods that contain it, it usually comes in doses that are far too small to reap the real benefits.

Which Foods Contain Vitamin D?

The good news is that there are a few foods that you can incorporate into your diet that will help you consume a good dose of vitamin D. Sockeye salmon is in fact one of the best options, but not quite succulent enough that you would want to eat it every day. Other options include cod liver oil, herring, shrimp, butter, fortified milk and eggs. One of the added bonuses is that cooking and storage of these foods has no effect on the vitamin D levels.

Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency

A deficiency in terms of vitamin D for adults can lead to weakness of bones and muscles throughout the body. This is better known in medical terms as osteomalacia and can become quite serious over time. A deficiency of vitamin D can also lead to a weakened immune system and gum disease, which can lead to loss of teeth. Chronic gum disease affects a number of people over the age of 50, and that is why many doctors suggest that people up their vitamin D intake constantly as they age.

The reason that vitamin D deficiency affects so many people is in large part due to the lack of information and general knowledge there is about it. It is a very difficult vitamin to control the intake of, seeing as the sun shines brighter on different days and even when it is out we are all warned to hide out in the shade. So what can you do if the sun refuses to shine or if you are more comfortable indoors?

Control your Intake of Vitamin D

Your best bet is to alter your diet so that you ingest more foods that contain vitamin D. On top of this, especially if you are over the age of 50, you should probably look into supplements. Calcium supplements are an excellent example as they contain a large dose of vitamin D in order to allow your body to absorb more of the calcium itself.

More than a Well Balanced Diet

While we are always told that a well balanced diet will ensure our body stays healthy and that we get all the nutrition we need, this isn’t always the case with vitamin D. It is a much harder nutritional source to obtain through food and diet alone.

Have a good look at your current diet and think about how long you spend out on the sun on a regular basis, and you will get a good idea of how much vitamin D you are getting. Even though this vitamin doesn’t get its fair share of the spotlight, it is an essential part of life and your health. If you fear that you are not getting enough, then consider altering your diet and looking into vitamin D supplements, or calcium supplements that contain a healthy dose of vitamin D.

One last note. It is incredibly important to protect yourself from the sun and stock up on sunscreen when heading outside. However, we need to all do our best to remember that the sun is beneficial to our health and isn’t always the evil enemy that we make it out to be.

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Do Oral Sunscreens Prevent Sun Damage?

Posted on September 14, 2009 by admin

By: Richard S. Donovan

Do you worry that your sunscreen isn’t doing enough to protect you against sun damage? Well there’s now a whole new breed of sunscreen on the market designed to give you additional sun protection. It’s sun protection in an easy to swallow pill. These oral sunscreens are made up of an herbal extract with strong antioxidant properties.

It’s thought that the antioxidant potential of the sunscreen offsets the free radical damage caused by exposure to the sun. It’s this free radical damage that’s thought to contribute to everything from skin cancers to skin aging. Indeed, studies have shown that people were able to stay in the sun for longer periods of time without burning when they took one of these herbal extracts before exposure.

While the results of trials with these oral sunscreens are encouraging, they aren’t a suitable replacement for your topical sunscreen. A topically applied sunscreen is still necessary to shield against significant sun damage. The primary function of an oral sunscreen is to counteract any damage that might occur despite the application of a topical sunscreen. In a sense, it provides back up protection when your regular sunscreen fails. So don’t throw away your bottle of conventional sunscreen even if you’re tempted to try one of these new oral sunscreens.

Although oral sunscreens may serve a useful purpose if used in combination with a topically applied sunscreen, there are some important points to keep in mind to maximize their benefit and safety. They should not be used if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the near future. Cost may be a factor for some people. These pills average a little over $1.00 each in price, not a small cost to pay if you’re going to be out in the sun a lot.

What about the potential of oral sunscreens to prevent skin cancer? In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, nine volunteers were exposed to U.V. light without taking the extract and again after taking the extract. A biopsy performed on each volunteer showed less skin damage that might be associated with skin cancer in those taking the herbal extract.

How are these oral sunscreens marketed? Two popular brand names are Heliocare and SunPill which can be found online. It’s difficult to assess the popularity of these oral sunscreens as of yet but the high price and somewhat limited availability may make these pills somewhat less popular. If you decide to try them, be sure to continue to apply your topical sunscreen every time you go out in the sun and use oral sunscreens only as a back up for your proven sun protection. However, in this day and age you really can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun. So using both oral and topical sunscreen may prove to be an excellent choice.

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How to Lead a Happy Life

Posted on September 11, 2009 by admin

Appreciation, Love, Acceptance and Happiness

According to Psychology Today, there are four essential elements that are needed to produce a happy life. The four important traits needed for happiness are self-esteem, optimism, personal control, and extroversion. These four traits can help psychologists predict an individual's happiness level.

One of the best ways to lead a happy life is to relax. Stress can wreak both psychological and physical havoc on the body. Stress produces a chemical in the body called Interleukin-6. In large doses, interleukin-6 can lead to diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and even some cancers. Stress management can benefit a person’s overall health and make them feel more relaxed which leads to a happier life.

According to the book Authentic Happiness, by Martin Seligman, a person can raise their level of happiness on a daily basis. To do this, an individual should make sure that their day is filled with humor, authenticity, and generosity. By leading a generous, fun, and authentic life, people connect better with others and themselves.

Developing a non-materialistic attitude is also vital to leading a happy life. An article in USA Today featured psychologist, Ed Diener who explained that materialistic people have a difficult time leading a happy life. Materialism often breeds an attitude of more work, less relaxation and less personal enjoyment. People who care less about spending and getting things are more likely to be happy.

Oxford University Psychologist, Michael Argyle discovered that people who don’t manage their time effectively are generally less happy. Unhappy people don’t properly manage their time and usually postpone things and procrastinate. A person who manages their time is able to feel more in control and empowered which is a step towards leading a happy life.

One thing is for certain, depression is becoming epidemic and the overall happiness people experience continues to decline. The National Opinion Research Center surveyed thousands of Americas in 1957 and 35% of them claimed to be very happy. When the center surveyed Americans again in 1991, 31% claimed to be happy.

Social psychologists Jennifer Crocker and Brenda Major found that the following things have little or no impact on a person's happiness level - gender, age, race, or income. Although people have debated for decades whether or not money could buy more happiness, individuals are slowly learning that rich people almost equally suffer from depression, addiction, and other mental health problems that make them as miserable as the less fortunate.

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The Power of Concentrative Meditation and How to Start Meditating

Posted on September 10, 2009 by admin

Fight Stress and Empower the Mind with Meditation

The nature of employment today, the economy, and life in general is such that every person tends to get stressed out over a period of time. It is necessary to relieve your body from all the negative energy that is holding you from being your normal self and one of the best ways to relieve the hyper-stress is to opt for concentrative meditation.

What is Concentrative Meditation?

Concentrative meditation is something that requires your mind to concentrate on a particular thought or even an object. That particular thing can be anything ranging from a physically existing object to some unique music. No matter what the focus of your concentration is going to be, you provide your entire concentration on just that object.
Some experienced practitioners of mediation opt for reciting a word over and over again to get them focused.

The constant repetition of the word gives them something to concentrate on. In addition, some people prefer to concentrate on their own breathing, through slowly inhaling and exhaling, rather than concentrating on a particular thought or object. The fact is that you can begin by concentrating on anything that you feel most comfortable with. The actual concentration and focus are the keys here, not the actual image, object or sound you choose to focus on.

Techniques for Relaxation

There are several techniques that ensure complete relaxation and also hypnosis. It is found that all these techniques have something in common to concentrative meditation. Irrespective of how tensed or stressed out you are, the peace that follows after a meditation session is simply amazing and something that often cannot be found through anything else.

In order to carry out this concentrative meditation, it is not always necessary to lie flat on the floor and shut your eyes, or even get into a praying position. In fact, some people find it easier to just concentrate their mind on simple things such as a candle flame and the way the flame keeps dancing on and on. You can also concentrate on how much heat is liberated from the flame. As you can see this is just an example of how simple it can be to begin concentrative meditation and calm the mind.

You could take anything for that matter. If a particular music appeals to you, listen to it intently. Imagine that you are in some fairytale land all alone. Imagine that you are listening to the music while you are treading a beautiful pathway that is leading to an elegantly decorated home. Again, this is all left to your imagination and pertains to personal preference and whatever keeps you calm.

The Power of Concentrative Mediation

We have seen some people do some unbelievable things through the power of concentration, such as lying on a bed of nails, bending a spoon by just looking at it, walking through fire, and several other things that are unreal to our naked eyes.

How can they manage to do those acts so skilfully while we just remain mere onlookers? It is the unlimited concentration that they have developed over years of practice? The power of concentration can control your mind, the way you see the world and empower you to do things you never thought imaginable.

In a nutshell, concentrative meditation can do wonders for all of us. If you are a student and are suffering with poor memory, then you could try a form meditation that helps in strengthening your memory. If you are a professional who is prone to stress and tension on a regular basis, this could be the only way out to achieve balance in your life. Too much stress can change the person you are, change your relationships with people, and change the way you look at life.

Meditation is no longer seen as a “hippie” ritual, a religious act for Buddhist monks, or an uncommon practice. It can truly unleash the power of your mind, bring calm into your life, negate anxiety and stress and lead you to a better life, mentally, physically and spiritually.

The best part is that it doesn’t take years of practice or a major shift in your lifestyle to utilize. Start slow, open your mind and get ready for the change that concentrative meditation can make in your life.

Posted in Yoga & Meditation | 5 Comments

Gold’s Cardio Workout and Workouts for Cardio: How “Wii” Can Use Technology to Workout

Posted on September 5, 2009 by admin

Get in Shape with Gold's Cardio Workout

It's a wonderful time we live in isn't it? Technology is ever enhancing our lives and making things quicker and easier. It's even got to the point where critics were warning that all this "enhancing" technology was making us lazier and more out of shape. The developers of the Nintendo Wii have taken advantage of the world's need to get up and go with sensor technology that engages the player like never before.

Not everyone likes going to the gym or has time to go for that matter. How about working up a sweat with workouts for cardio in the center of your living room? With cardio workouts for Wii, like Wii Fit and Gold's Cardio Workout, people are presented with a wonderful opportunity to workout focusing on cardio with the fit board. The fit board senses your movement and calculates the pressure you exert on the pad, to ensure that you are doing the exercises correctly.

Get Fit at Home with Gold’s Cardio Workout

Let's face it, some of us don't really enjoy the idea of going to the gym and having others judge us based on our abilities. Even if you are out of shape you have to start somewhere, and the only person you have to impress on the Wii is your personal avatar trainer. There's just something about the encouragement that these little guys can give that makes you want to press out one more squat or finish that stretching session when nobody is watching.

Both Gold's Cardio Workout and Wii Fit offer great motivation in the form of keeping track of all of your personal stats. Knowing that you worked out longer or harder than you did last week is encouraging and let’s you track your personal improvements. As for a cardio workout, the Wii incorporates everything you need to build up quite the sweat. Endurance challenges push you to the limit to help you shed pounds, improve balance, and gain a healthier state of being.

Finally a Fun Workout for Cardio

Now, for the best part about these workouts. It actually makes cardio workouts fun! Cheer on your little avatar as they go through the paces with you working towards goals and winning prizes. Build up the experience to unlock options and new games that enrich the experience and keep things interesting. You don't realize that you’re actually working out, that is until your sweating up a storm racing towards a virtual finish line. There's nothing like leaving a bunch of virtual losers in your dust and knowing that you are getting a great cardio workout at the same time.

The Wii doesn't stop there however, the game library for the Wii is extensive and ever growing. If you need to hide the purchase from your spouse just say it's for the kids and join in the family fun. You really can set your weight loss goals in motion with the Wii and Gold’s Cardio Workout. Workout solo or invite some friends over to test each other's strength and endurance so you can get in shape and have fun at the same time. Isn’t that just the exercise you have been looking for all along?

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Understanding Tai Chi and the Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Yang and Tai Chi Wu

Posted on September 3, 2009 by admin

"Students of the martial arts in the West feel that they must use their art to fight, or at least to compete, to show people how good they are. In tai chi, this is unacceptable, because that is against the principle of tai chi. "
(Gabriel Chin)

Peace of Mind with Tai Chi

When it comes to exercise of the body, and the mind, so many of us have bought into the “no pain no gain” way of thinking. If exercise doesn’t wear us down or make us feel sore in the morning then it cannot be doing any good, right? We are often told that if our diet plan doesn’t leave us craving for more, then we need to eat even less. Is this really how we need to go about things or is there a more, natural and effective way?

There is and that is what Tai Chi, Tai Chi Wu and Tai Chi Yang try to teach us. Whether you choose to make Tai Chi a part of your every day life or just learn from the values and lessons within it, you will benefit.

How Can Something So Easy Be So Beneficial?

I already know the preconceptions that come with Tai Chi. People just assume that anything that looks so easy, and feels so easy, cannot possibly bring about a physical change. Of course it looks relaxing and feels refreshing but there cannot possibly be any health benefits, can there? I am tired of people using the phrase no pain, no gain. Some of the best things that have happened in my life have come about without any pain at all.

While some of the benefits of tai chi may be less than earth shattering they are there and as we all know, every little bit helps.

Healthy Benefits of Tai Chi

Many practitioners of Tai Chi have noted benefits including a resurgence of muscle control and even rapid recovery from illnesses, diseases and surgical operations. While the benefits are not always that spectacular or rewarding, the art of Tai Chi really does prove that some of the best things in life can be slow, calculated and peaceful. Some people have found it easier to walk, easier to do everyday things, and that they have more stamina and energy on an everyday basis thanks to Tai Chi. Others just have a more optimistic outlook and general appreciation of life through the philosophies of Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Yang or any other Tai Chi form that they let into their lives.

But how? But why? How can something so graceful and slow actually have a positive effect on our health and our bodies? Some people attribute it all the way back to traditional Chinese medicine while others believe it has a lot more to do actually body mechanics. The truth is that whatever opinion you choose to believe, you can enjoy the health benefits of Tai Chi as long as you have an open mind.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Philosophy

From this perspective of Tai Chi, it is believed that health benefits come about from your own personal energy and overall well being. Each Tai Chi form is built around the idea that the body consists of a sort of electric, energy system. This energy, or Qi, is carried throughout the body the same way that blood flows through the veins and any interruption of the flow of the Qi can lead to mental and physical illness. Thus, the movements that are the basis of all forms of Tai Chi are intended to stimulate the Qi to flow freely through the body and to the major organs. When the Qi can run freely through the body, people are well. While this idea is not generally accepted by Western philosophy, it is often very hard to argue with the results.

The Western Philosophy of Tai Chi

The idea that is more generally accepted in the Western World is that Tai Chi benefits the body and mind through mechanical effects. The repetition and focus on correct spinal alignment, body posture and the release and tension of pressure can relieve stress on joints, pain in the back, and even improve the digestive system.

The main movement that is consistent in all forms of Tai Chi is the shift of weight from joint to joint with a focus on proper balance. This allows for a natural flow of nutrients to the joints which makes it easier to move and stretch later on. While the exercises and positions of Tai Chi may look easy, you are actually incorporating a number of free flowing movements at once which increases your flexibility and overall range of motion.

It doesn’t feel like work and it doesn’t wear you down, yet you still get a number of invigorating and life changing benefits. That isn’t even to mention the psychological benefits that can come from slowing down, taking the time for yourself and screening out all distractions. You get a healthier, more flexible, and more in tune body, along with complete peace of mind. It doesn’t get much better than that.

How to Get Started and Learn Tai Chi

If you want to get started with Tai Chi you have a number of options available to you. You can learn from Tai Chi masters and look for local classes in your area or invest in Tai Chi DVD’s or books. If you want a first hand lesson then you might want to take a look at Taoist.org which can help you find local classes that are lead by experienced trainers. The best part about those classes is that the setting is very relaxed and easy going which cuts away any apprehensions you might have about entering a classroom setting.

While there are videos that can teach you Tai Chi form and the movements, books around often the best way to go about really getting in touch with the spirit of mind that Tai Chi teaches you to embrace. One of the best options on the market is “The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan” which is practical and comes complete with illustrations and step by step instructions. It isn’t overwhelming if you are just getting into the basics of movement, power and flexibility and is just in-depth enough to make a true impact on your life………mind, body and spirit.

"Tai chi does not mean oriental wisdom or something exotic. It is the wisdom of your own senses, your own mind and body together as one process. " (Chungliang Al Huang)