Tai Chi and Bagua

Health, wellness, and fitness trends come and go but today the latest trend is something new: it’s been practiced for thousands of years. That trend is Tai Chi and it’s one of the most popular routines being practiced in health clubs all over the country.

What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi started in China more than a thousand years ago as a method of self-defense. However, today Tai Chi is an ideal part of exercises, especially for older people and individuals who need a less physically stressful routine. That’s because the routines emphasize slow, elegant motions that are created by a continuous, flowing movement of the body.

Although the body is moving slowly, it does provide specific health benefits. Besides promoting the flow of energy (known as “chi”) through your body, it also helps exercise many of the major muscle groups in the body. As the body moves, exercise is simply restricted to certain parts of the body. Instead, every area of the body receives the benefits of the movement because of the unique approach to exercise.

Benefits of Tai Chi

Besides the total body workout that Tai Chi provides, it also can help you in many other ways. For example, the slow and graceful movements require your mind to mentally focus so you are also exercising your mind as well as your body. Additionally, the movements help reduce stress and tension in the body and mind so you’ll feel more relaxed after a session.

Tai Chi is also known to improve flexibility, stamina, and balance. Regular practice of Tai Chi has also been shown to reduce heart disease and to improve overall cardiovascular health. These exercises can also be done more quickly as part of self-defense training and to provide a more intense workout without sacrificing the other benefits.

However, for older individuals or those in poor health, Tai Chi exercises can be done with a significantly reduced risk of injury and strain. That’s important for people who need an easier, less physically stressful exercise routine.

Doing Tai Chi

While you can learn Tai Chi from private instructors or through courses held at health clubs and other locations, you can also simply do the exercises in the privacy of your own home. To get the most benefits, you’ll want to do Tai Chi at least twice a day for around 20 minutes each time. That’s less than an hour of daily exercise but you’ll feel better, more relaxed, and healthier even after only a few sessions.

No matter what your age or current level of fitness, Tai Chi provides an easy way to incorporate safe exercises into your life. Getting started is as simple as finding a way to learn the basics. You could ask your physician or contact some of the fitness venues in your area to see if any Tai Chi courses are being offered. Some colleges are even offering the courses, and these are often available to the general public. You can also learn a great deal about Tai Chi through Internet resources.

Dr. Charlotte El-Amin, R.N., N.D. is a Naturopathic Physician and a Registered Nurse who enjoys writing on various subjects. http://www.womenshealthyexercise.com/

July 27, 2008 | Filed Under Womens Health

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Colon Cleanse Can Help Weight Loss

Colon Cleansing Diets Can Help Weight Loss

Since our colons and our bodies are affected by our diets, people with poor diets and poor nutrition can build up impacted feces which adds on pounds. This will also result in harmful and unwanted bacteria in the colon. The good news is that you can reverse the effects of a poor diet on your colon and your weight by simply improving your diet.

Colon cleansing diets are designed to promote the growth of helpful bacteria in the colon, eliminate the bad bacteria, and decrease pounds and inches. Many people find that it’s easy to cleanse the colon using diet alone!

Detoxify First

When beginning a colon cleansing diet, it is very important to start eliminating the harmful foods. You should begin to taper yourself off of fatty foods, especially foods that are fried in hydrogenated oils. Eliminate products with hormones in them, such as beef, poultry, eggs and dairy, and choose organic varieties instead

Weed out alcohol and soda if you drink it, and replace those with hydrating water and low sugar fruit juices. Avoid all things with sugar in it. Sugar destroys the bacteria in the colon.

If you are able, discontinue using aspartame or artificial sweeteners. Avoid MSG, Monosodium glutamate, at all costs and do your best to stay away from processed foods. MSG is a flavor enhancer that is found in most proceeded foods. All of these foods can be harmful on the colon and over time they will eventually cause impacted feces.

Replace With Wholesome Foods

For everything that you are taking out of your diet, it is important to replace them with fresh wholesome foods. The cornerstone of colon cleansing diets is eliminating the bad foods and nourishing our body with foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.

Choose organic vegetables that are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides that are used during farming, and incorporate whole and sprouted grains. Many people swear by incorporating probiotic drinks and yogurts into their diets. These flavorful treats are delicious and filled with the good bacteria naturally found in your colon. These good bacteria will aid in digestion and promote your colon to begin cleansing itself regularly.

Following a natural colon cleansing diet will help to cleanse the colon without the aid of invasive medical procedures or harmful medications. Many people choose to combine a colon cleansing diet with the use of natural colon cleansing herbs for a powerful detoxification effect.

When starting any new diet, start slowly and take it one step at a time. Replace foods gradually and before you know it, you will be eating wholesome and healthy foods that will help promote a strong and healthy colon!

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