Feeling Healthier in 2015

[patricia-jaeger]

Because I log frequently into A Place For Mom, seeking ideas that might help my older, more frail sister, I found an article and video there that might help harp players of any age concerning Tai Chi and hope to paste it below.

For many seniors seeking a way to get low-impact exercise that improves health and requires no special equipment, Tai Chi is an excellent solution.
Tai Chi For Seniors Benefits Both Body And Mind
Because Tai Chi can be done indoors or out, and as a group activity or by yourself, it suits both people who like to work out alone at home and those who prefer to get their exercise in a social setting.
Ancient Tradition Meets Effective Exercise
Developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, Tai Chi is a gentle form of exercise that’s been described as “meditation in motion.” In other words, the motions are slow and controlled. Perhaps you have seen people practicing Tai Chi at the gym or in the park – if not, watch this video.
While people in Western culture have quietly been practicing it for some time, it’s only quite recently that Tai Chi has started to be studied by Western science. What researchers have found is that Tai Chi provides a great workout for your body in a number of ways.
The Benefits of Tai Chi
Studies have shown that regularly practicing Tai Chi benefits seniors in a number of ways:
Improves symptoms of arthritis
Improves symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Effectively reduces stress
Provides overall pain relief
Improves feeling of overall well-being
Improves flexibility
Lowers blood pressure
Now there are multiple studies suggesting that Tai Chi may help increase arterial flexibility – which sounds complicated but is really as simple as the ability of your arteries to expand and contract as blood pulses through them. So it follows that a high level of arterial flexibility is a good indicator of overall cardiovascular health, while poor arterial flexibility is an excellent indicator of circulation problems and risk of heart disease.(I see now that the video did not paste in. Sorry! To see it, showing the master Mr. Zou doing this excellent Tai Chi, with a calming music background, go to A Place For Mom and find it there, to be able to view it on your own computer.)

[Author]

Posts