by Justin Short, licensed acupuncturist and tai chi instructor
In preparation for writing this, I did an internet search for ‘benefits of tai chi’. What I found was a lot of good information and scientific studies about how Tai Chi can help with a myriad of problems associated with aging, from balance, bone density and other musculoskeletal issues, to Alzheimer’s and other mental acuity issues. There was also information about how Tai Chi could help with issues not specifically related to aging, such as stress and anxiety. All this is true; Tai Chi can help with all those things and more. In fact, it is so effective that it is often called “the healing art.” However, by focusing primarily on what Tai Chi can fix, we are only getting half the picture. Tai Chi can also help prevent many of these same issues, and much more, from ever occurring.
One of the big topics in medicine today is prevention, or the idea of stopping illness before it even starts. Despite the prevalence of this topic, there are very few medical treatments that can do this. This is because most healing modalities need something to be wrong in order to fix it. There has to be a diagnosis or there can be no treatment. It should be no surprise then that with this model, we have such a hard time finding preventative treatments. This is where Tai Chi comes in. It is truly preventative medicine.
Regular practice of Tai Chi can do all the things that studies say it can. It strengthens muscles while increasing range of motion and flexibility. It focuses and calms the mind while increasing energy and endurance. It helps with brain health and organ function, and it can do all this in a relatively short period of time (most studies had participants training 1-3 times per week for 6 months to a year; however, the longer you train the better the results).
True preventative medicine is a healthy lifestyle. Every physician, no matter the modality or background, will tell you that proper diet and regular exercise are the keys to a happy and healthy life. Of all the different possible exercises available, there are very few with a history as long, and a theory as deep and comprehensive while at the same time having so much positive and convincing modern research, as Tai Chi.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Development of Identity in Women
by Sarah Haug, Psy.D
The subject of ‘identity’ was brought to my attention as a topic of interest for the Women’s Group I am facilitating at the Wellness Connection. As I as searched through articles and information about women’s identity development it became apparent that the search for identity and personal development is an ongoing theme in women’s lives. In fact, data from one literature review on the psychosocial development of women concludes that “..diverse and non-linear patterns of stability and transition are the norm for women; intimacy and identity are key issues throughout women’s lives.” (Caffarella & Olson, 1993). So if you are a woman hoping to rest in peace once you have ‘found your identity,’ think again. Perhaps it is in our nature to be constantly in quest of ourselves and maybe, just maybe, this is a good thing.
Think about it: as women we are required, wired and certainly socialized to be attentive to the needs of others—particularly our family and children. To do this we must be flexible, good at multi-tasking, ever on the alert for changes in our environment and ready to respond. So, it seems logical that our searching nature is also turned inwards towards our Self as part of our journey through life.
Looking at ourselves is also a critical part of forming and maintaining relationships, and vice versa; i.e., we women derive a lot of information about ourselves through our relationships, thus our relationships are critical to our development. Of course relationships are important to the development of all humans, but our biological ‘destiny’ as women seems to require emphasis on intimacy skills since close relationships strengthen our network of support key to our success and survival.
Now that I have made the rather unsettling point that it is our nature as women to always be searching for identity, we can exhale into this fact and just ride the wave, right? Well, maybe, but if you need more concrete data about our development as women, I also offer some other interesting factoids gleaned from my exploration of women’s identity and development below:
Empirical accounts of middle age converge on four important features of midlife for women (Clausen, 1986; Erickson, 1980; Neugarten, 1968) that affect well being:
Women in their 20’s feel less concern about aging, (Well, “duh” as is often said after reading psychology research literature.) but also report less identity certainty, generativity and confident power compared with women in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Generativity tends to level out after the 50’s but confident power tends to increase through the 60’s.
Concern about aging is more prominent in women aged 40+ than women in their 20’s and 30’s (another “duh”), and this factor is negatively related to well-being. On the other hand, women in their 20’s and 30s’ report higher levels of personal distress than do women in their 40’s-60’s.
So, the good news is that as we age, we women can expect more security in our identity (or maybe just more comfort riding the wave of our never-ending search for self!), greater generativity and more confidence. The bad news is that as we get into our 40’s and upward we become aware of aging and suffer more anxiety about aging and health, leading to decreased well being. What is the saying that comes to mind here? Oh yes, “Youth is wasted on the young.” But to find the silver lining: Could it be that we learn more about ourselves through experiencing loss and frailty? A question to be explored in another blog...
Think about it: as women we are required, wired and certainly socialized to be attentive to the needs of others—particularly our family and children. To do this we must be flexible, good at multi-tasking, ever on the alert for changes in our environment and ready to respond. So, it seems logical that our searching nature is also turned inwards towards our Self as part of our journey through life.
Looking at ourselves is also a critical part of forming and maintaining relationships, and vice versa; i.e., we women derive a lot of information about ourselves through our relationships, thus our relationships are critical to our development. Of course relationships are important to the development of all humans, but our biological ‘destiny’ as women seems to require emphasis on intimacy skills since close relationships strengthen our network of support key to our success and survival.
Now that I have made the rather unsettling point that it is our nature as women to always be searching for identity, we can exhale into this fact and just ride the wave, right? Well, maybe, but if you need more concrete data about our development as women, I also offer some other interesting factoids gleaned from my exploration of women’s identity and development below:
Empirical accounts of middle age converge on four important features of midlife for women (Clausen, 1986; Erickson, 1980; Neugarten, 1968) that affect well being:
- Identity
- Generativity
- Confident power
- Concern about aging
Women in their 20’s feel less concern about aging, (Well, “duh” as is often said after reading psychology research literature.) but also report less identity certainty, generativity and confident power compared with women in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Generativity tends to level out after the 50’s but confident power tends to increase through the 60’s.
Concern about aging is more prominent in women aged 40+ than women in their 20’s and 30’s (another “duh”), and this factor is negatively related to well-being. On the other hand, women in their 20’s and 30s’ report higher levels of personal distress than do women in their 40’s-60’s.
So, the good news is that as we age, we women can expect more security in our identity (or maybe just more comfort riding the wave of our never-ending search for self!), greater generativity and more confidence. The bad news is that as we get into our 40’s and upward we become aware of aging and suffer more anxiety about aging and health, leading to decreased well being. What is the saying that comes to mind here? Oh yes, “Youth is wasted on the young.” But to find the silver lining: Could it be that we learn more about ourselves through experiencing loss and frailty? A question to be explored in another blog...
Friday, December 6, 2013
Weight Loss Success Story: Meet John from Stone Ridge
written by Koren Barwis, HHC, CPT
Meet John* from Stone Ridge.
John is a husband and father who in March of this year weighed 288 pounds. At 6’-0”, he was roughly 75- 100 pounds overweight and he felt it. John had always been overweight and was never very athletic. He had poor eating habits and snacked constantly, especially in times of stress. “I’d easily eat an entire bag of chips or cookies. I’d get home from work, eat a huge dinner and then sit on the couch and snack more.”
Everything changed when at his annual physical, John’s doctor said if his blood pressure were any higher, she would have to send him to the emergency room. She recommended prescription drugs to reduce his blood pressure. The experience scared him so much that the next day, John started walking outside and eating healthier food.
“It was important to me to be a role model for my boys. I want them to be healthy and I knew I couldn’t do that without setting an example.”
John started eating clean – lots of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and some complex carbohydrates. “I think I lost probably 75% of my weight simply from eating healthy. If it comes in a package, doesn’t expire within a week or two, is high in fat or 'bad' carbs, I probably won’t eat it. I don’t cheat, I don’t snack, and I won’t eat after 6:30 PM. I drink a lot of water.”
John also went from being sedentary to exercising daily, adding in biking to his repertoire. “I love (actually, crave) exercise now. 7 months ago, I did none of those things and hated working out.”
For the first several months, John’s weight came off very quickly. His clothes fit better and he slept better at night. Then the weight loss slowed and John learned that in order to keep his momentum, he had to push his body harder. He’d bike longer, and tried running, something he never thought he’d enjoy. He has started strength training and even did his first pull-up EVER last week. There is even talk about running a half marathon next year. As of December 1, John weighs 178 pounds — 110 pounds lost in eight months!
John has had to buy all new clothes and does have some extra loose skin, but he believes “these things are a small price to pay for the health benefits of losing the weight.” Throughout his weight loss journey, John has learned a lot and has some bits of advice for those just starting out:
*John’s name has been changed.
(Photo credit: Flickr, gingerchrismc)
 |
| One of John's Weight Loss Tools |
Meet John* from Stone Ridge.
John is a husband and father who in March of this year weighed 288 pounds. At 6’-0”, he was roughly 75- 100 pounds overweight and he felt it. John had always been overweight and was never very athletic. He had poor eating habits and snacked constantly, especially in times of stress. “I’d easily eat an entire bag of chips or cookies. I’d get home from work, eat a huge dinner and then sit on the couch and snack more.”
Everything changed when at his annual physical, John’s doctor said if his blood pressure were any higher, she would have to send him to the emergency room. She recommended prescription drugs to reduce his blood pressure. The experience scared him so much that the next day, John started walking outside and eating healthier food.
“It was important to me to be a role model for my boys. I want them to be healthy and I knew I couldn’t do that without setting an example.”
John started eating clean – lots of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and some complex carbohydrates. “I think I lost probably 75% of my weight simply from eating healthy. If it comes in a package, doesn’t expire within a week or two, is high in fat or 'bad' carbs, I probably won’t eat it. I don’t cheat, I don’t snack, and I won’t eat after 6:30 PM. I drink a lot of water.”
John also went from being sedentary to exercising daily, adding in biking to his repertoire. “I love (actually, crave) exercise now. 7 months ago, I did none of those things and hated working out.”
For the first several months, John’s weight came off very quickly. His clothes fit better and he slept better at night. Then the weight loss slowed and John learned that in order to keep his momentum, he had to push his body harder. He’d bike longer, and tried running, something he never thought he’d enjoy. He has started strength training and even did his first pull-up EVER last week. There is even talk about running a half marathon next year. As of December 1, John weighs 178 pounds — 110 pounds lost in eight months!
John has had to buy all new clothes and does have some extra loose skin, but he believes “these things are a small price to pay for the health benefits of losing the weight.” Throughout his weight loss journey, John has learned a lot and has some bits of advice for those just starting out:
- Figure out what works for you, and make it a passion. If you can seriously commit to 3 months, it just becomes part of your routine and after you see the results, you will probably care more about keeping it up rather than undoing the effort you put into your self-improvement.
- Set a reasonable goal for yourself, hit your goal, and then create a new goal.
- Surround yourself with people who’ll support you and encourage you. Ignore the haters - some people ask “what’s your secret” and get turned off in disgust when you tell them that it’s simply eating right and exercise because they are still looking for some miracle, easy solution.
- Get advice from other healthy people. Everyone has an opinion and the best people to listen to are those who are walking the walk.
- Lastly, don’t view healthy eating as a diet, because that implies that it is temporary. Clean eating is just how you eat - regularly, permanently. It is truly a lifestyle.
*John’s name has been changed.
(Photo credit: Flickr, gingerchrismc)
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