Hello and ...WHITE rabbits... soon to change into their Spring coats! Although sitting here, watching the snow this morning... I am not too sure!
Here I am... and I hope, here you are !
Take a seat, and rest a while... lots to think and chat about today, and all a tad different !
We had a chat going on, a while back, about Yoga... and got some really interesting observations and different perspectives.
In the replies there and coincidentally, in posts and replies on our sister forums.. C25K and Bridge and Active have mentioned not just Yoga, but also. T'ai Chi and Qi Gong. I have been really surprised by the number of our forum friends who participate in these two forms of exercise. Maybe because Mr OF and I have recently started classes that I am noticing more.
Of course, me, being me, had to find out a whole lot more about this form of exercise; and I was very surprised to discover the huge benefits that T'ai Chi brings, as a support to all manner of our chosen sports.
So... what did I find out...well: to try to sum things up...
The benefits of T'ai Chi , if, it is taught correctly and performed correctly, can help to build the muscles in the legs, improve balance, finds imbalances in the body and help correct them. It deepens breathing, thus increasing oxygen levels in the body, and strengthens the immune system keeping you healthier and more alert.
Well, that all sounds good to me, so far...but how is this going to impact, our running, cycling, walking or anything else?
Okay. Apparently, The benefits include helping us to:
* Stay calm, stay focused.
T'ai chi can help you to improve your mental focus and performance
* Improve our mental health.
Helping to relieve, stress, anxiety and depression. T'ai chi, can help regulate your nervous system and improve your posture. Increasing the feel good pheromones!
* Allow our body to move freely, more flexibly, and without tension.
By practising T'ai Chi, we are able to learn to relax the muscles, open the joints and connect with the ground. This helps to develop power without tension and increases flexibility.
* Improve our balance, co-ordination and reflexes.
T'ai Chi also works on the nervous system, improving your sense of balance.
* Reduce Injuries.
When you reduce the tension around your muscles and joints and you move more fluidly, you reduce the risk of injury to the body. If we are on the injury couch, a focus can be directed on healing the areas of your body that need rehabilitation.
So.. there we are... all that has got to be useful! Hasn't it?
Whatever our chosen sport may be, I feel we are all likely to know about the benefits of cross training. It seems that this type of exercise, can support our training routines.
But, and this really does appeal to me, and my running, this does not have to be high intensity. T'ai chi and Qi Gong are great low impact ways to cross train. They appear in essence, to help bring greater balance into both body and mind.
From my perspective, after five weeks of classes, the benefits are beginning to appear, physically and mentally. You feel as if it is an hour of relaxation...but afterwards, the feeling of having done a sound exercise is there. Mr OF, who is doing this for his core strength and balance, is already showing signs of improvement, particularly with his balance. As a new addition to my morning routines, 15 minutes T'ai Chi practice is really setting me up for the day to come.
Your turn now...
Have you doing or are you doing any form of exercise like this, to support your chosen sport. Do you find it helpful and in what sort of way... ? Would you consider having a go if you could find the right time slot, do you feel that it would help ?
Looking forward to seeing some of you and hear your thoughts!
Oldfloss...
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