Tai Chi anyone?
- Thread starter Roberto
- Start date
playaperro
El Pirata
Tai Chi @ Guau Goau"s 
Roberto
Guest
Health benefitsBefore t'ai chi ch'uan's introduction to Western students, the health benefits of t'ai chi ch'uan were largely explained through the lens of traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on a view of the body and healing mechanisms not always studied or supported by modern science. Today, t'ai chi ch'uan is in the process of being subjected to rigorous scientific studies in the West.[SUP][25][/SUP] Now that the majority of health studies have displayed a tangible benefit in some areas to the practice of t'ai chi ch'uan, health professionals have called for more in-depth studies to determine mitigating factors such as the most beneficial style, suggested duration of practice to show the best results, and whether t'ai chi ch'uan is as effective as other forms of exercise.[SUP][25][/SUP]
[h=3][edit] Chronic conditions[/h]
A Chinese woman performs
Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan
Researchers have found that intensive t'ai chi ch'uan practice shows some favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and has shown to reduce the risk of falls in both healthy elderly patients,[SUP][26][/SUP][SUP][27][/SUP] and those recovering from chronic stroke,[SUP][28][/SUP] heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and fibromyalgia.[SUP][29][/SUP][SUP][30][/SUP] T'ai chi ch'uan's gentle, low impact movements burn more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing.[SUP][31][/SUP]
T'ai chi ch'uan, along with yoga, has reduced levels of LDLs 20–26 milligrams when practiced for 12–14 weeks.[SUP][32][/SUP] A thorough review of most of these studies showed limitations or biases that made it difficult to draw firm conclusions on the benefits of t'ai chi ch'uan.[SUP][25][/SUP] A later study led by the same researchers conducting the review, found that t'ai chi ch'uan (compared to regular stretching) showed the ability to greatly reduce pain and improve overall physical and mental health in people over 60 with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.[SUP][33][/SUP] In addition, a pilot study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, has found preliminary evidence that t'ai chi ch'uan and related qigong may reduce the severity of diabetes.[SUP][34][/SUP] In a randomized trial of 66 patients with fibromyalgia, the t'ai chi intervention group did significantly better in terms of pain, fatigue, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.[SUP][30][/SUP]
A recent study evaluated the effects of two types of behavioral intervention, t'ai chi ch'uan and health education, on healthy adults, who, after 16 weeks of the intervention, were vaccinated with VARIVAX, a live attenuated Oka/Merck Varicella zoster virus vaccine. The t'ai chi ch'uan group showed higher and more significant levels of cell-mediated immunity to varicella zoster virus than the control group that received only health education. It appears that t'ai chi ch'uan augments resting levels of varicella zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity and boosts the efficacy of the varicella vaccine. T'ai chi ch'uan alone does not lessen the effects or probability of a shingles attack, but it does improve the effects of the varicella zoster virus vaccine.[SUP][35][/SUP]
[h=3][edit] Stress and mental health[/h]A systematic review and meta-analysis, funded in part by the U.S. government, of the current (as of 2010) studies on the effects of practicing t'ai chi ch'uan found that,
In June, 2007 the United States National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine published an independent, peer-reviewed, meta-analysis of the state of meditation research, conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center. The report reviewed 813 studies (88 involving t'ai chi ch'uan) of five broad categories of meditation: mantra meditation, mindfulness meditation, yoga, t'ai chi ch'uan, and qigong. The report concluded that "the therapeutic effects of meditation practices cannot be established based on the current literature" due to the fact that "scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by
[h=3][edit] Chronic conditions[/h]
A Chinese woman performs
Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan
Researchers have found that intensive t'ai chi ch'uan practice shows some favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and has shown to reduce the risk of falls in both healthy elderly patients,[SUP][26][/SUP][SUP][27][/SUP] and those recovering from chronic stroke,[SUP][28][/SUP] heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and fibromyalgia.[SUP][29][/SUP][SUP][30][/SUP] T'ai chi ch'uan's gentle, low impact movements burn more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing.[SUP][31][/SUP]
T'ai chi ch'uan, along with yoga, has reduced levels of LDLs 20–26 milligrams when practiced for 12–14 weeks.[SUP][32][/SUP] A thorough review of most of these studies showed limitations or biases that made it difficult to draw firm conclusions on the benefits of t'ai chi ch'uan.[SUP][25][/SUP] A later study led by the same researchers conducting the review, found that t'ai chi ch'uan (compared to regular stretching) showed the ability to greatly reduce pain and improve overall physical and mental health in people over 60 with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.[SUP][33][/SUP] In addition, a pilot study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, has found preliminary evidence that t'ai chi ch'uan and related qigong may reduce the severity of diabetes.[SUP][34][/SUP] In a randomized trial of 66 patients with fibromyalgia, the t'ai chi intervention group did significantly better in terms of pain, fatigue, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.[SUP][30][/SUP]
A recent study evaluated the effects of two types of behavioral intervention, t'ai chi ch'uan and health education, on healthy adults, who, after 16 weeks of the intervention, were vaccinated with VARIVAX, a live attenuated Oka/Merck Varicella zoster virus vaccine. The t'ai chi ch'uan group showed higher and more significant levels of cell-mediated immunity to varicella zoster virus than the control group that received only health education. It appears that t'ai chi ch'uan augments resting levels of varicella zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity and boosts the efficacy of the varicella vaccine. T'ai chi ch'uan alone does not lessen the effects or probability of a shingles attack, but it does improve the effects of the varicella zoster virus vaccine.[SUP][35][/SUP]
[h=3][edit] Stress and mental health[/h]A systematic review and meta-analysis, funded in part by the U.S. government, of the current (as of 2010) studies on the effects of practicing t'ai chi ch'uan found that,
"Twenty-one of 33 randomized and nonrandomized trials reported that 1 hour to 1 year of regular t'ai chi significantly increased psychological well-being including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, and enhanced mood in community-dwelling healthy participants and in patients with chronic conditions. Seven observational studies with relatively large sample sizes reinforced the beneficial association between t'ai chi practice and psychological health."[SUP][36][/SUP]
There have also been indications that t'ai chi ch'uan might have some effect on noradrenaline and cortisol production with an effect on mood and heart rate. However, the effect may be no different than those derived from other types of physical exercise.[SUP][37][/SUP] In one study, t'ai chi ch'uan has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 13 adolescents. The improvement in symptoms seem to persist after the t'ai chi ch'uan sessions were terminated.[SUP][38][/SUP]
In June, 2007 the United States National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine published an independent, peer-reviewed, meta-analysis of the state of meditation research, conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center. The report reviewed 813 studies (88 involving t'ai chi ch'uan) of five broad categories of meditation: mantra meditation, mindfulness meditation, yoga, t'ai chi ch'uan, and qigong. The report concluded that "the therapeutic effects of meditation practices cannot be established based on the current literature" due to the fact that "scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by
GV Jack
Snorin God
This is my version and it works great.
For those of us over 60 – this is a great exercise>> regimen – for you young’uns out there (under 60), just keep it in
>> mind until you reach that magic 60 number!
>>
>>
>>
>> MARINE CORPS EXERCISE REGIMEN FOR PEOPLE OVER 60:
>>
>> Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty
>> of room on each side.
>>
>> With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out
>> from your sides. Hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach
>> a full minute, and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can
>> hold this position for just a bit longer.
>>
>>
>>
>> After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.
>>
>> Then try 50-lb potato bags, and then eventually, try to
>>
>> get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and
>> hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at
>> this level.)
>>
>> *
>>
>> *
>>
>> After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
>
For those of us over 60 – this is a great exercise>> regimen – for you young’uns out there (under 60), just keep it in
>> mind until you reach that magic 60 number!
>>
>>
>>
>> MARINE CORPS EXERCISE REGIMEN FOR PEOPLE OVER 60:
>>
>> Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty
>> of room on each side.
>>
>> With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out
>> from your sides. Hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach
>> a full minute, and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can
>> hold this position for just a bit longer.
>>
>>
>>
>> After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.
>>
>> Then try 50-lb potato bags, and then eventually, try to
>>
>> get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and
>> hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at
>> this level.)
>>
>> *
>>
>> *
>>
>> After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
>
BootNHat
Guest
OK. 7am on the Malecon did sound good to me! It would be nice if someone could make this possible. I intended to sign up this in Mesa AZ some months ago but landed in PP. Older population in China do not die from affluent diseases (heart disease, diabetes, and cancer)(ref: The China Study)