Entries from February 2008 ↓

Do you know about the benefits of exercise and the risks of inactivity, yet still find it difficult to incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle? If so, you are not alone. Most people have good intentions, but don’t seem to find the time, or inclination to exercise. This article is written for you. When you are finished reading it, I hope that you will have found a few tips that you can use, and a way to help you to actually do them.

Your Automobile
Which do you find more appealing: a) a two-minute drive with long stoplights, heavy traffic and a search for a parking space or b) a ten minute walk where you get to be outdoors and get a chance to slow down and take notice of things? I’m hoping that you preferred the second, otherwise you need more help than I can give you. Continue reading →

What are your views on aging? Is fatigue and joint discomfort the inevitable result of growing older? If so, do you believe that the elderly should take it easy when they are tired and suffering from mild aches?

The fact is that many age-associated declines occur not because of the aging process itself, but as a result of our lifestyle habits, including exercise. In our sedentary society, many muscle and joint problems are the result of weakness and inflexibility. By increasing your strength and flexibility, you can prevent injury and slow the age-associated loss of muscle function. This means that some of those old cliches turn out to be true…”use it or lose it” and “you’re as old as you feel”. Continue reading →

A proper warm-up consists of exercises to increase blood circulation in the golfing muscles with optional stretches. (Pre-game stretching alone won’t increase body temperature.) Since cold muscles and tendons are more prone to injury than properly warmed-up ones, stretching should follow 5 minutes of light exercise.

Exercises that increase blood circulation in the golfing muscles: Continue reading →

Are you looking for something different in your workouts–exercise that will engage your body and mind in a new way? Mind-body exercise (physical activity performed with an internal focus) is an increasingly popular choice. It can improve not only flexibility, strength, posture and balance but also coordination, stress management and focus.

Which Road to Take?
How do you decide which type of mind-body exercise will best match your interests and goals? Mara Carrico, author of Yoga Journal’s Yoga Basics: The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Yoga for a Lifetime of Health and Fitness, suggests you consider three key questions: Continue reading →

by Shirley Archer, JD, MA

Studies have shown that a discipline of consistent meditation improves immune system response. Now, new research suggests that tai chi and qigong practice may offer similar immunity-enhancing characteristics: older adults who did tai chi and qigong regularly for 5 months had a superior positive reaction to a flu vaccine compared with individuals who received the same vaccine but did not practice these traditional Chinese martial and healing arts.

In a preliminary study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, scientists under the leadership of adjunct professor and tai chi master Yang Yang followed 41 subjects, divided into two groups: one group took part in three 1-hour tai chi and qigong classes per week, while the other served as a control group. Both groups received the flu vaccine. The researchers determined the impact of tai chi practice on the vaccine’s effectiveness by measuring the level of antibodies in the blood of subjects 3, 6 and 20 weeks after they received the injection. Continue reading →