Archive for the ‘Tai Chi’ Category
Exercise and Brain Fitness is not a new phenomenon
Over the last few months I have seen day after day links to blogs and articles about an amazing discovery; exercising the brain increases cognitive functions. Are we supposed to be surprised at this?
Back in grade school I was taught that the brain not a muscle, but was always told that like one, you should use it or lose it.
As a student of Tai Chi and developer of a movement program for seniors this revelation is not news. For thousands of years, older Chinese adults have been practicing forms, doing daily routines of 30, 40, 100 and higher numbers of movements strung together in patterns and sequences. There are many studies that show the health benefits of Tai Chi practice.
Does this sound like a brain function exercise to you? Working the brain in this type of patterned exercise causes the brain to create neural pathways stimulating brain health. Search the web for Tai Chi and neural pathways and see all the articles referenced.
Search for exercise and brain fitness in general and you will find that keeping the mind active, whether reading, learning languages, using opposite hands for simple everyday chores all work to maintain a healthy mind.
So if Tai Chi is good for the brain, just imagine how well it works for the rest of the body. Keeping yourself flexible, with increased balance and movement capabilities. Having a healthier heart, increased lung capacity and yes a healthier brain, all from a single source of exercise just makes sense.
Is there an activity or hobby you partake in that keeps your mind sharp?
Let’s talk about falls among older adults
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission relased a study completed in 2005 that stated:
Among those 75 and older, about three quarters (77%) of emergency room visits associated with consumer products involved falls. Adults 65 to 74 had a lower proportion of falls (59%). Typical scenarios for falls included: Read the rest of this entry »
Searching for the perfect position
If you are anything like me, sometimes it is hard to start something new. Since I want to do things right the first time I have had times of being frrozen into inaction. When I first began to study Tai Chi, I got frustrated because the method of movement was so foreign I could not follow it immediately. My instructor moved so smoothly and had what I took to be perfect positions.
As a new student, I wanted to be perfect right from the start. Instead I was clumsy, off balance, awkward and embarrassed. Moving my hands, feet and torso in combinations unfamiliar was some sort of new slow motion dance. Having never been a good dancer, I was like a fish out of water. All my other sport related skills had no place in this house. Read the rest of this entry »
A passion of living with movement
I have a friend that talks about passion on his blog. He talks a lot about personal passion in regard to living, working and combining them into a way of life. One that you feel truly at ease with and one that fits your goals.
My passion is about helping people become passionate about the way they move, about living living life the best they can and not being mentally saddled by their ailments. Read the rest of this entry »
Thanks for the memory
Teaching a wide range of older adults brings me face to face with many different ailments and health issues. One that I really had to come to terms with as a teacher was dementia. The first time I had an older participant say to me “are you the teacher?” after having her in class a few times took me by surprise. She had, in all the classes, been one of the more attentive and capable participants.
