Another New Year of Resolutions: Less Stress w/ Tai Chi
Another New Year. And another promise to self about new year resolutions. Will yours include making changes to your health and well being? Many of us are so conditioned to dealing with high levels of stress on a daily basis, we seem to just deal with it and not consider so much how it affects our health.
There are, however, obvious signs of stress and its effect upon our health: lack of (sound) sleep, poor concentration, low energy, irritability, poor eating habits (hence, weight gain), a sense of joylessness and/or depression. In my humble opinion, reducing stress should be a priority resolution for all of us.
Exercise and dieting are popular resolutions and important they are! Exercise will certainly help reduce stress if performed on a regular basis. The key is to implement an exercise program that you enjoy; and it doesn’t have to cost and arm and a leg. Walking…is free! Or try something new and different, like Tai Chi.
In fact, Tai Chi is quite a remarkable form of exercise, an art form really. Not only do the movements help strengthen the body, with weight loss an added bonus, but there are statistics that prove Tai Chi improves health with:
- joint flexibility
- immune system
- heart function
- digestive function
- concentration
Recently I attended a Women’s Club meeting where a local group of Tai Chi enthusiasts performed a twenty minute series of movements. Typically at these meetings the audience chatter is constant throughout a presentation or talk (we gals love to chat); three minutes into the performance…not a single word was uttered throughout the entire demonstration. It was remarkable in that we, as spectators, were lulled to an astounding sense of calm. I was so moved by this, that when I returned home later that day I got online to learn more and found a comprehensive Tai Chi beginners book. It’s in an eBook format so instantly down loadable…and affordable.
To share, here are my new year resolutions: reduce stress and improve my overall health via Tai Chi.
What’s yours? Sure hope it includes reducing at least some of the stress in your life!
To Better Health. Pura Vida!
