WHY TAI CHI IS COOLER THAN YOU THINK
Better Balance With the Internal Martial Art
When you think about martial arts, a few images come to mind: Mr. Miyagi, possibly nunchucks, and people breaking objects using impressive disciplined strength. But one of the most powerful martial arts you may not immediately picture is tai chi. This ancient Chinese form of combat in slow motion is an internal martial art that works from the inside out by developing the body’s internal energy, known as qi, or “chi.” In Chinese medicine, balanced qi is essential to good health. Hundreds of studies demonstrate the mental and physical benefits this quiet martial art provides. Because of its focus on posture, tai chi is particularly helpful for balance. In Harvard’s analysis of 20 different studies, tai chi was shown to improve cognitive function and slow the progression of dementia more than other forms of exercise.
usually a sign that your body is worn out and stressed. This could be due to lack of sleep, staring at a screen for too long, or the way you’re sitting. MIGRAINES One of the most common and debilitating forms of head pain can be the hardest to nail down. A migraine can be the result of numerous causes, such as a jaw condition, a woman’s menstrual cycle, brain tumors, specific foods, lighting, and even pressure on your spine. sinus headaches are usually signals that something in your body is recovering. Where these headaches differ is usually in the source. Cluster headaches are common in those who overuse drugs or alcohol, while those overcoming a cold may feel like their head is stuck in a foggy sinus headache. While the movements appear mild, the practice of tai chi requires discipline and strength. That’s part of the reason why it provides a powerful punch of health benefits and also why less than 5 percent of people stick with it. Some teachers say it takes three years to learn the basic movements of tai chi — and more than a lifetime to master. Physical training, combined with the internal meditative aspect of tai chi, are the reasons martial arts legend Jet Li has turned to the exercise in recent years, even campaigning to make it an Olympic event. In an interview, Li explained his push to make tai chi a more widely recognized and accepted exercise: “In our attempts to push ourselves, we’ve lost sight of an important part of the sporting mindset: balance.” CLUSTER OR SINUS HEADACHES While slightly different, cluster and
For anyone setting out on a mission to age gracefully, tai chi can help reduce your risk of falling with its focus on posture. An ounce of preventive tai chi may be worth a pound of cure; the Center for Disease Control reports that people pay an average of $35,000 in health care costs every time they fall. Many community centers and health
and wellness facilities offer opportunities to learn tai chi, from free community classes to entire tai chi facilities. Go see for yourself why this is the martial art everyone should practice.
HEADACHE CAUSES AND HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN RELIEVE THEM What’s Your Headache Telling You?
WHAT CAN I DO? The key to relief is to find the source and subsequent treatment options through trial and error with a professional. A large part of finding a solution to debilitating headaches is to evaluate your lifestyle, external factors, and daily habits to make necessary adjustments, such as reducing screen time and the hours you sit at your desk. However, it’s important that your body is prepared for these lifestyle changes. A physical therapist can improve your posture and habits to relieve the tension in your head and incorporate exercises to strengthen your neck. Professionals will create a treatment plan that intertwines therapeutic and stretching techniques to give you a solid foundation for new habits. Don’t live with chronic headache pain any longer. Learn how the experts at Four Corners Health and Rehabilitation can help you find relief by calling 352-243-4422.
While common, a headache is an abnormal pain signal from your body that something is wrong. Unfortunately, pain- relief medication is a habitual treatment option that will only mask the root of your problem, especially if you have chronic headaches. As the following descriptions detail, headaches can stem from a variety of issues. But physical therapy’s capacity to strengthen your upper body and target the source of your pain is a vital option for relief.
TENSION HEADACHES This pain often emerges on the side of your head and is
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