That's Fit

Do you resemble a walking zombie in the mornings? Or maybe you're familiar with the 3 p.m. crash and burn? Well, get ready to charge your batteries with Qigong.

T'ai chi is generally classified as a form of traditional Chinese soft-style martial arts. Some consider it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the slow movements purportedly helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity.

And while training in t'ai chi won't have you kicking but like Jacki Chan, it will help you fight off infection by boosting immune function. A recent study from the University of California found that performing t'ai chi three times a week for four months can halve a person's risk of infection from many common viruses.

To find a t'ai chi school or private instructor near you, check out this U.S. directory from the WorldTaiChiDay.org website.

For centuries, Chinese men and women have practiced the art of T'ai Chi, a combination of self-defense and flowing, low-impact rhythmic movements that enhance both the body and mind.

Many westerners have also adopted this art as part of their approach to healthy living, embracing the improvements it offers to balance, flexibility, and respiratory and immune function. Unlike many other forms of physical fitness, T'ai Chi can be performed by people of all ages with little risk of injury.

On Saturday, April 26th, cities throughout the U.S. will stage events to celebrate the 10th annual World T'ai Chi Day. Visiting an event in your city would be a great way to learn more about this ancient practice that supports total health and wellness. To find out where activities and events are being held in your city, visit WorldTaiChiDay.org.

Balance training hasn't got much attention in the past, but fitness experts are starting to recognize that balance training is as essential as cardio and strength training for everyone. Improving your balance by keeping your core muscles and joints in shape will help you prevent falls and keep you functionally fit -- which means you'll be less likely to pull a back muscle while loading up those groceries.

So just how do you go about improving your balance? Glee Magazine says to find your inner child and walk foot-over-foot on curbs or jump rope. You can also take up activities like Tai Chi, pilates, or yoga. Exercise on an uneven surface, such as a stability ball. Or try standing on one foot with a light hand weight in the opposite hand and use the weight to write the alphabet in the air. Keep in mind that if you're prone to injury or falls, you'll want to adapt exercises so that you don't hurt yourself. Who else has some great exercise ideas for improving balance?

Imagine leaving for work in the morning knowing all of your household chores would be done by the time you got home...by your robot. It's probably too much to wish for, but some scientists think it's possible to create robots that help humans in a variety of different ways. The problem, however, is that robots don't move smoothly like humans do. Roomba, a popular floor cleaning robot, works because it has no appendages and because it has only one job -- vacuuming the floor. If robots could be trained to move in a more efficient way, then they could be built to be more useful to humans.

One roboticist is turning to Tai Chi to help his robots. By observing a Tai Chi master do various movements that minimize effort, the roboticist has been able to develop computer models to help his virtual robot (the robot still "lives" in the computer) to make more simpler movements with less computations.

Tai Chi may or may not be good for robots, but it is good for you. Learn more about it here.

When I was in high school, I developed a painful rash that looked a lot like poison ivy -- but seemingly came from nowhere and hurt like crazy. After visiting the doctor I learned that I had shingles.

Though it normally affects people over 50, the disease is relatively common. Fortunately, researchers may have found a way to prevent the uncomfortable skin condition: the ancient martial art of Tai Chi.

In the study, volunteers aged 59-86 either took Tai Chi for 12 weeks, or were enrolled in health education classes without any mention of martial arts -- Tai Chi or otherwise. After six months, those who'd taken Tai Chi had almost doubled their immunity levels against shingles.

Inspired to try it? Here's a website that'll take you through the basics, or head down to your local martial arts studio to take a class with others -- chances are, even if they don't teach it, they'll know someone who does.

As Bethany noted earlier, the form of martial arts workout known as Tai Chi may have benefits for those suffering from diabetes. How about Tai Chi being important to your immune system?

Health experts from UCLA and the University of California, San Diego say that participants in a study who practiced Tai Chi had double the immune system response from a vaccine shot (used just for the test) than those who did not practice Tai Chi during the study period of 16 weeks.

It seems that some form of daily (or regular) physical exercise always has some kind of benefit for the human body, yes? This is another great example of that concept.

Do you have type 2 diabetes? If so, you may want to look up your nearest community center or gym for a local Tai Chi Chuan class. When practicing the ancient martial art, participants move their body through a series of postures and movements in slow, graceful motion. Tai Chi -- which is self-paced and non-competitive -- is often recommended for stress reduction, flexibility, and for strengthening the entire body.

Tai Chi was recently found to improve immune function in healthy adults, and researchers thought it may do the same for diabetics. During the study, 32 participants with diabetes took a 12-week Tai Chi class and showed a significant improvement in their blood work. Because diabetics experience chronic inflammation, researchers believe their response to the Tai Chi exercises may have been due to improved immune function which reduced that inflammation, or to improvement in glucose metabolism.

I've tried Tai Chi myself, just for fun, and I really enjoyed it. Though I recommend learning from an actual teacher in person, there are plenty of videos out there to help you get started if you can't find a local class.

This week I'll talk about my exercise regimen, which has somehow become based on the letter T. Guess that's fitting, as I graduated from the University of Tennessee, home of that gaudy, big orange T (even trademarked). I've included a pic of one aspect of my workout routine-- my computer. Two of my T's include Tai Chi (as seen in the pic), and Tae Bo. I digitized an old Goldhil Qigong Tai Chi video, which is really a nice warm up. The kids were certainly entertained, at least. Although, when we really get into it, the Tae Bo video is great. It's the cardio version, and does a good job of strengthening my core (logically). The kids really like that one, as Billy Blanks does a great job of encouraging you throughout.

When there isn't time for those, or I just wanna get my heart going (with a little "me" time), I use the third T: treadmill. I am proud to say that, last year, we bought a very decent Pro-Form treadmill, and got the extended warranty to cover the thing. I'm even more pleased to note it hasn't gathered dust! Because my wife has been using it. And now that I'm on it, it's getting even more use.