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BH4BP #70 – Tai Chi: A Healthy Exercise for All Ages

Talli van Sunder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:29 +0000

Photo by Robb1e via Flickr

Today’s show was inspired by a trip that I took to Beijing, China with David about 3 years ago. I was reminded of the trip a few days ago when I was looking through some of my photos and came across some of the many photos we took during that trip.

It was a wonderful 10 day trip and we had a fantastic time visiting places, such as the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Beijing Zoo, etc… Being who I am, the one thing from the trip that really stuck in my mind, besides the amazing historical sites, was our walk through what I believe was the Temple of Heaven Park. As we walked through that impressive park, I noticed that there were a bunch of people in the middle of the park performing slow dance-like flowing movements. When I asked our tour guide what they were doing, he told us that the group of people were practicing Tai Chi. The graceful images of those people gliding through different poses made an impression on me. So, when I came back home I started researching Tai Chi. I was interested to find out what the practice of tai-chi was all about and how it could be beneficial to one’s health.

So, in this episode I will share with you my findings. I will go over what Tai Chi is, the health benefits it provides and how to get started.

Some references I used while researching this show are the medicinenet.com and Mayo Clinic.

The video podcast for this week is:
Cranberries, Not Just a Holiday Treat!

The blog posts for this week are:
Study: Do Copper or Magnets Relieve Arthritis?
Thanksgiving: Does Turkey Make You Sleepy?

If you like the show, please head on over to iTunes and give me a nice review. It’s a great way to give me some good exposure and can help me get more listeners. Thanks for listening, everyone!

BH4BP #65 – The Truth About Stretching

Talli van Sunder — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:07 +0000

Photo by lululemon athletica via Flickr

Many people believe that stretching before and after a workout prevents injuries and minimizes muscle soreness. That’s because the recommendation used to be to stretch before and after exercise. In recent years, these commonly held beliefs have come under scrutiny and the recommendations have changed. So, today my goal is to help you understand what stretching can and can’t do for you, when you should do it and give you some tips on how to start a general stretching program.

Some references I used while researching this show are the The New Wellness Encyclopedia, US News and the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.

The video podcast for this week is:

Butter vs. Margarine

The blog posts for this week are:

If you like the show, please head on over to iTunes and give me a nice review. It’s a great way to give me some good exposure and can help me get more listeners. Thanks for listening, everyone!

Sign Me Up for Yoga!

Talli van Sunder — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:44:43 +0000

Photo by judepics via Flickr

The past month has been the worst of Kate’s life. First, her job cut her hours by 15% and her hourly pay by 20%. Next, her boyfriend of 7 years left her for her best friend. To add insult to injury, she had to move out of her apartment because she couldn’t afford the rent with her lower pay and no roommate. So, now she is living with her parents until she finds something cheaper in a decent area.

Normally, Kate binges on sweets and junk food when she is depressed. Not this time, she decided. Gaining weight always made her feel even worse later. Instead, she started taking a Yoga class on her friend Jennifer’s recommendation. After a few sessions, Kate noticed that it helped her manage her stress and frustration a little better.

Kate is not alone. More and more people are turning to yoga to help them learn relaxation skills and manage their daily stress. While yoga might sound like just another fitness fad, it actually originated in India over 2,000 years ago. During that time, Yoga has proven to be an effective means of improving the mind and body, which are both key components of optimal health.

What is yoga?
Today, yoga is basically viewed as a system of exercises that encompasses poses, breathing techniques and relaxation. As you move from one pose to another, your focus shifts away from your busy, stressful day, to controlling your breathing and focusing on specific parts of your body. By the time you are finished with your routine, you feel more relaxed than when you started.

Over the millenia, yoga has evolved into many different versions and intensities. Some are focused on meditation, relaxation, and deep breathing, while others are focused on improving strength, balance, flexibility and stamina. So, depending on your goals, there are a lot of styles to pick from. Plus, there are versions appropriate to people of every level of physical fitness. You don’t have to be in peak shape to start and there will still be forms that will be effective when you are.

What are the health benefits?
Yoga is a wonderful exercise for the mind and body. It has been found to relieve stress and anxiety and increase flexibility, balance, strength and endurance. And some studies suggest that yoga may be beneficial in helping to manage chronic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, hypertension and mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. However, more studies are needed to make a definitive conclusion.

How do I get started?
If you want to learn more about yoga, there are 2 main ways to do so:

Take a class: Yoga is a popular activity, and you should easily be able to find classes at your local gym, community center, adult school, community college or yoga studio. A qualified yoga instructor will lead you through the poses appropriate for your level and make sure that you are doing them correctly. If you are not sure what class you want to take, ask to observe a class or two to see if they are the right fit for you.
Learn from a DVD or book: If your schedule does not allow you to attend a class, try learning from a DVD or book. It won’t be as good as a live instructor helping you with your poses, but it will give you an idea of what yoga is all about. If you do yoga alone, you’ll want to practice in front of a mirror to check your poses.

As always, before starting yoga or any other exercise program, be sure to talk to you doctor beforehand, especially if you have a medical condition.

The bottom line:
Yoga is a wonderful activity that should not only improve your mood, but could also give you a great, low impact workout. So, don’t let your stress overtake you. Join a yoga class, instead. A healthy mind and body are key to optimal health after all!