Tai Chi, “Meditation in Motion”: Life Extension and Vitality

WELLNESS & LONGEVITY MOVEMENT

There are many programs offerred from videos, DVDs, books, E-books, weekend workshops, etc. on Tai chi but there is no comparison to learning from a real master over time. Much is lost when attempting to learn from these methods. This education usually benefits the experienced practitioner who knows the nuances and can fill in the connective steps. Though, if this instruction is added to the training from a Tai chi master then results may be improved. Additionally, serious injury can be avoided when learning the correct way to enjoying a great and ancient discipline. I humbly encourage all to find out why and how to practice this art in order to truely receive life-sustaining benefits.

“From experience, I have learned that it is better to learn a few moves well rather than many superficially. The essence of tai chi can be found in just one move.”

TAI CHI CHUAN  

Pure Natural Energy & Healing From Within

Over time Tai Chi takes root and imbues youthfulness where once the hardness of aging withered all chances for longevity. The ancient art of tai chi softens the sinews as concentration on the “chi” rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit.

Dating back to the 14th century, Yang Style Tai Chi seeks health in moderation. Health and balance is achieved by forming body movements that are not extreme but gentle and cleansing. Yang style tai chi developed from Chen style tai chi which began in the 13th century. Wu, Hao and Sun style tai chi followed adding their valuable contributions to the internal martial arts in 1800s. These are the five main families where tai chi was cultivated.

“Life exists because qi is amassed, when qi is dispersed, one dies.” — Zhuang Zi, ancient Chinese philosopher

TAI CHI HEALTH BENEFITS 

Tai Chi is an exercise program that uses a sequence of precise body movements, meditation, and synchronized breathing to improve health and well-being. Tai chi movements are designed to express the yin and yang components that are fundamental to Chinese medicine in a balanced and harmonious form. Like most moderate physical activities, tai chi can improve:

• stamina
• muscle tone
• agility
• flexibility
• strength
• pain alleviation

Breathing practices provide a meditative role in stress reduction.

Clinical studies show that tai chi is effective for:

• slowing bone loss in early postmenopausal women
• improved physical functioning in older women with osteoarthritis
• increases the range of motion in the lower limbs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• improves aerobic capacity in sedentary adults
• reduced hypertension and lipid profile in hypertensive individuals
• improved sleep in elderly individuals
• significant improvement in symptom management and quality of life for patients suffering from chronic heart failure, fibromyalgia and breast cancer

 The adept practitioner learns to receive the energy or “chi” from below, above and beside him or her. This reception is free, elevating and life sustaining. While the enterpretation of this phenomena is varied, nevertheless, the experience is greatly welcomed.    Sifu Mark Hammer    

Your Daily Choices Can Increase Or Decrease Your Health and Longevity

Just the other day I saw an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine reversed memory loss in aged mice induced to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article began with the tease that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.”  It continued by reporting on a sequence of studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that proved that caffeine considerably decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice that had developed symptoms of the disease.

But, before you opt to add an extra cup of coffee to your morning routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips warn you that also on the website, under “Related Stories,” were a couple of articles about studies that professed to prove the non-beneficial effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”

Almost any viewpoint, from my experience, especially when it comes to health and longevity, can be corroborated, or at least given credence, by other related studies. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine naturally aren’t, by any means, the only ones. Nonetheless, it did get me to pondering about the probability that there will never be just “one thing” that will incontrovertibly assist we, humans, in living longer, healthier lives. Humans are dynamic, biological creatures. We aren’t raised in unnatural confinement We are free to make choices in life. And, let’s face it, though Alzheimer’s disease may be on the rise, obviously no one has been “artificially induced to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t entirely the “one thing” that is going to reverse or prevent it.

The human body is an elegant, involved system that is designed to function homeostasis (balance). It is likely, then, that good health is cultivated by a healthy, balanced way of living, rather than our being blindly convinced by the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one particular thing under the illusion that it will reverse all of the other excessive and harmful things we do to our bodies.

I believe, as a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, that every single day we have an opportunity to make decisions that will assist us to live longer, healthier lives, healthy choices for our body and mind. When it comes to what is good for us, we know what genuinely “feels” right and what doesn’t. So, I just wanted to pass along some thoughts for you to keep in mind the next time you consider having that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. Neither one of those things is the “one thing” that will do “everything” for your age-related health issues.