health connection
Reducing stress
through ancient
forms of exercise
The benefits of regular exercise are too numerous to count on one hand.
From improving physical health to boosting confidence and from toning your
muscles to revving up metabolism, you can’t really go wrong with giving your
body a daily dose of physical activity. When it comes to reducing stress, ex-
ercise is one of the most surefire ways to keep your anxiety levels down and
keep your heart rate up.
According to the Mayo Clinic, any kind of exercise can reduce stress be-
cause it increases the production of endorphins, your body’s feel-good hor-
mones. And while running, biking and walking often take center-stage when
it comes to popular forms of exercise, Eastern forms of physical activity like
tai-chi and yoga are formidable ways to move your body, stretch your limbs
and calm your mind.
Here’s a look at these two ancient forms of exercise and the benefits of
each
Yoga
Originating in India 5,000 years ago, the word yoga actually means to yoke
or unite, which is in essence the goal of yoga: to connect the mind with the
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physical body and spirit. With everybody from adults to kids to celebrities toting
around yoga mats these days,
it is one of the fastest forms of
from your fingertips.
exercise. In fact, according to
Yoga Journal magazine, Amer-
icans spent $5.7 billion on yoga
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Yoga offers tremendous
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Americans can’t seem to get
enough of this Indian tradition
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is the mental effects that come from yoga’s postures and breath-work. The
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Hatha yoga, the most common form of yoga that is taught in this country,
has numerous styles to choose from: easy to those that are more intense. But
irrespective of how physically challenging a class may be, the peaceful and
calming effects of yoga are universal.
Tai Chi
Developed in China 2,000 years ago, tai chi is a graceful breathing and
movement system which is often referred to as a “meditation in motion.” Tai
chi, like yoga, imparts its stress-reducing benefits by combining the breath
with movement and positions. As you focus on each movement and using
your breath to move in and out of postures, your mind steadies and focuses,
allowing tension and anxiety to soften.
According to the Mayo Clinic, tai chi has also been shown to improve bal-
ance, coordination, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain and improve
cardiovascular functioning.
The benefits of tai chi are more effective when this ancient art form is prac-
ticed regularly rather than sporadically. Even though there are over 100 tai
chi movements to perform, simply practicing a few of them every day for 10
minutes at a time is sufficient to feel the stress-reducing and physical conse-
quences.
If you are considering trying out yoga or tai chi, talk to your doctor first, then
4 H E 0 O W E R O F 9 O U R # O MY M eU= DNTIET
®
seek out qualified instructors who can support your own personal practice
and provide clear guidance to you as you learn and progress. – By Heather
Ashare, MPH
2 The Michigan FrontPage • July 0, 2009
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