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Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong by definition refers to Tai Chi energy work. In this post I will try to shed some light on what is meant by the Chi Kung / Qi Gong energy work aspect of the practice?

Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is often taught as a set of moves separate from the Tai Chi sets. I have found that the vast majority of the time these other moves do not come with much of an explanation of why and how they are any different from the Tai Chi in the Tai Chi sets and that the moves by themselves do not impart any kind of ability different than what is already available in the Tai Chi sets.

So, what is Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? First of all the Tai Chi moves are just Tai Chi choreography or moves until you begin to actually to practice the energetic aspects of the art. The real practice of Tai Chi is Chi Kung / Qi Gong. As soon as you start practicing the energetic aspects the Tai Chi so to speak then you are really practicing Tai Chi (probably with the moves) and not just the moves. At that same moment you are now practicing and or applying the Chi Kung / Qi Gong.

An obvious question at this point might be so what makes Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? That is a very big question because the answer could and does fill books. I will try to shed some light on it here.

First of all in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong are the physical structural alignments which are a necessity for the proper flow of energy through and around the body including through the acupuncture meridians of the body. This is part of the reason that so much emphasis gets put on the moves at the beginning of a students training and why it stays an important issue in training as one progresses. Incorrect and bad posture impedes and blocks energy flow so it is important to get it right. While you are learning and working on this you are not really performing Tai Chi yet but are simply learning something you need to understand to perform real Tai Chi.

One of the first things you learn in Tai Chi and that is a necessity in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is known as Sung which translates as relaxation both inside and out. Any tension in the body will impede or stop the flow of energy through the body. This can be structural tension (bad or improper positioning), physical tension (like holding tension in your shoulders or neck simply because you do not allow them to relax) or mental or emotional tension that is manifested in the body such as jaws clenched and a tight face when someone is having a bad day.

So, for proper Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong you first need Sung relaxation and proper posture. Once you have these you can really perform Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong.

The next step in solo Tai Chi practice is all Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong. You begin to work different aspects of energy within your Tai Chi both for fighting and for self defense purposes. There are approximately 36 different primary expressions of energy in Tai Chi. You use your mind to direct the internal movement and chi into an expression. That expression is known as Jing. Jing is an expression of Chi or energy hence it is energy work. A few jing expressions are well known and some are quite obscure.

to be continued…

for more on Tai Chi and Combat Tai Chi visit Richard Clear’s Tai Chi Blog. www.ClearsTaiChi.comArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tai-chi-chi-kung-qi-gong-1389256.html

In fitness, some people are confused about the topic of upper abs exercises and lower abs exercises, so here is some information to set the record straight.  The main muscle, that people talk about when they discuss the upper abs and lower abs, is the rectus abdominus.  Rectus means straight, and abdominus refers to the abdomen.  So simply put, the rectus abdominus runs straight down the abdomen.  The rectus abdominus is also the muscle that gives a lean person that six pack look.

The rectus abdominus is 1 muscle, but it has tendinous intersections that separate muscle fibers forming distinct sections.  Many people argue that because the rectus abdominus is one muscle you cannot isolate certain parts of the muscle, but I think the conversations around this topic get confusing because of semantics.  You cannot isolate only one section of the rectus abdominus while the other sections are not working, but you can emphasize one area over another.  So the problem comes with people using the terms isolate and emphasize interchangeably.

Our nervous system is so intricate.  Each nerve has thousands of nerve cells and each muscle has thousands of muscle fibers.  This allows us to move with accuracy, precision, agility, and grace.  The rectus abdominus is supplied by multiple nerves that work in a coordinated fashion to create a variety of movements.  The multiple nerve supply helps us move in different ways, and the upper abs and lower abs are emphasized when we do different movement.

The upper abs (upper part of the rectus abdominus) are emphasized when the trunk moves forward like in a crunch or sit up.  Ball crunches are also a good upper abdominal exercise, and crunch machines and ab machines will also emphasize the upper abs.  Even though the upper abs are emphasized during crunches, crunches also work the lower abs.  The entire rectus abdominus will work during any abs exercise when your trunk bends forwards or flexes.

1. There is just more emphasis on the lower abs when the legs are moving.

Now, one thing that I must mention is that abs exercises do not magically melt away stomach fat.  Doing upper abs exercises will not magically get rid of the fat on the upper part of your stomach, and doing lower abs exercises will not magically get rid of the fat on the lower part of your stomach.  This is known as the spot reduction myth.  If you want to lose stomach fat, you should use a comprehensive approach to fitness and healthy eating.

In regards to your ab workout, try to exercise your abdominal muscles 2-3 times a week, and include both upper ab and lower abs exercises to work your body from a variety of directions.  By using different forms of exercises, you will have a more balanced body.

Charles A. Inniss, Jr. has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and is a Certified Personal Trainer. He is dedicated to helping people to live healthier happier lives.

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Moms-to-be have such huge responsibilities even before their babies are born. One of these is to secure the baby’s health.

They have to make sure that once they get out into the world, they are truly bouncing boys and girls. That’s why girls are advised to take fish oil for pregnant women.

What’s with the fish oil?

Fish oil contains essential omega3 fatty acids that are beneficial for both the babies and the moms. For one, they can help develop the brain of your baby.

You see, about a third of your baby’s brain is composed of DHA, which is found in fish oil. If he or she lacks it, there’s a huge chance that his or her brain will be underdeveloped.

DHA is also responsible for the enhancement of your baby’s learning process. Studies show that those born from moms who have taken fish oil supplements tend to learn how to read and write a lot faster than those who are not.

By the time that they are sixth to seventh month old, their learning capabilities are already comparable to those of nine-month-old babies.

At four years, you would notice that your child will score higher in examination exams than their friends and classmates.

Their IQ level will be significantly higher, as much as 10 points above average. They will also have longer attention span.

And because your baby’s brain is well developed, you can prevent the occurrence of ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder) and dyslexia (or difficulty in reading and writing).

The fatty acids found in fish oil can also improve the vision of your child. They are less susceptible to acquiring various eye diseases later on in life. They will also have better coordination of their eyes and hands than the other babies.

As a pregnant woman and a future mom, you also need to increase your intake of fish oil.

For one, it can lower down your triglyceride levels, which will then prevent you from developing hypertension or high blood pressure. You will have a very difficult pregnancy if you have this illness.

It will also keep you away from infection and allergic reactions, which can have adverse effects on your baby’s health. Lastly, mothers who have taken fish oil supplements are unlikely to develop post-partum depression because of the therapeutic effects of the omega3 fatty acids.

Health becomes gold when you’re pregnant. Take care of yourself and the baby with fish oil for pregnant women.

To find out why the health benefits of fish oil exceed any other health supplement in the world, click here

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O.K. So what are they?

Uterine Fibroids (leiomyomas) are common noncancerous (benign) tumors that occur within the muscle walls of the uterus (womb). Uterind fibroids can be the size of a pinhead and show no signs or symptoms that they are there, or they can be very painful and grow to a 10 inch diameter.

There are four types of uterine fibroids:

Subserosal Fibroids, develop under the outside uterine covering. Intramural Fibroids, develop within the uterine wall. Submucosal Fibroids, develop under the uterus lining. Pedunculated Fibroids, develop on a “stalk” or stem-like structure attached to the inside or the outside of the uterus.

Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters. They may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. Fibroids in the uterus are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure in women. During pregnancy, fibroids can greatly increase in size.

What are the Symptoms?

Some women with uterine fibroids experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include excessive and prolonged menstrual bleeding, pain, abdominal mass effect, frequent urination or urgency or constipation and many others.

When symptoms appear, they can vary greatly, depending on the size and exact location of the fibroid tumors. Women sometimes underestimate the impact of their symptoms because they have become accustomed to the excessive bleeding, pain and the pressure that fibroids can cause. Also, for some reason African-American women develop symptoms faster and with greater severity than other women.

What does one do about them?

Uterine fibroids often do not require treatment, but when they are problematic, they may be treated surgically, non-surgically, with medication or with alternative treatments. The very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain, that fibroids sometimes cause leads many women to seek treatment.

What about treatment?

There are several different types of treatments:

Hormonal: Uterine fibroid tumors require estrogen and progesterone to grow, and without these hormones, fibroid tumors usually shrink in size. Hormonal treatments (such as birth control pills) may help control excessive menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids in some patients.

Non-surgical: Uterine Fibroid Embolization, UFE – Known medically as uterine artery embolization, approaches the treatment of fibroids by blocking the arteries that supply blood to them causing them to shrink or disappear. Uterine fibroid embolization is a more permanent solution than hormone therapy. When hormonal treatment is stopped the fibroid tumors usually grow back. UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) isn’t considered to be surgery, but it is generally done at a hospital or specialized clinic. This uterine fibroids treatment procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on how long it takes to position the catheter and how easily the catheter can be positioned in the arteries to the uterus.

Although uterine artery embolization has been in use for two decades to treat bleeding after childbirth, it wasn’t until early 1997 that the technique was introduced as a potential treatment for uterine fibroids.

Follow-up studies have shown that nearly 90 percent of women who have their fibroids treated by uterine fibroid embolization experience either significant or complete resolution of their fibroid-related symptoms.

Surgical: Surgery for uterine fibroids involves either removing the fibroids (myomectomy) or the entire womb (hysterectomy). Surgery has risks, including bleeding and infection. About a third of the more than 500,000 hysterectomies done in the U.S. each year are done because of fibroids. Most of the women having these operations are said to be unaware of the non-surgical options.

Alternative treatment: Alternative treatments for uterine fibroid tumors also abound. Naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other alternative health care providers have treatments to offer as well. While some of these are not as well supported by scientific studies that prove effectiveness, the treatments are usually safer and provide a less invasive alternative than surgery.

Remember that some medical treatments for uterine fibroid tumors can affect your fertility. For this and other reasons it is very important to seriously investigate and consider alternative treatments for uterine fibroids.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Jorge Chavez is a researcher, writer and student of natural health. For more information about dealing with uterine fibroids treatment and what to do about fibroids in uterus, follow the link in this sentence.

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There are a few troubles that are being faced in omega3 manufacturing. Contamination is the major trouble.

It has been observed that a number of omega3 supplements, like cod liver oil, contain contamination such as dioxins, mercury, and PCBs. Most of the marine animals such as fish are not collected in a professional way.

This is the reason that most of the gathered fish are spoiled due to the addition of oxygen called oxidation. So these problems make it difficult to search the most pure omega3.

The omega3 capsules must be completely free of all impurities. These contamination are the biggest problem in making pure oil out of fish.

The amount of impurities, overall oxidation, and the entire amount of omega3 particles available in every pill of omega3 should be mentioned in the product.

Several numbers of omega3s are quite useful to our health. However, the most effective and popular omega3s are DPA, DHA, EPA, and ALA.

Out of these omega3, DPA, DHA, and EPA are obtained from fish oil, whereas ALA is obtained from various seeds and vegetable oils.

According to the scientific investigation, these three are extremely useful for human heart and problems associated with heart. However, ALA is not as good to human heart as these three omega3s.

In pure fish oil, the amount of omega3 is always maximum. The omega3 brand should give complete composition of each pill.

For best results, each capsule must contain at least 280 milligrams of DHA. This is what the minimum requirement of our vision and mind.

On the basis of medical investigation, DHA is more important to prevent anxiety, and tension in comparison with EPA.

It is also more effective in maintaining proper blood flow in our body, and to maintain cholesterol level in our body.

It may be noted that majority of fish have EPA in abundance than DHA. However, our digestive system can change DHA to EPA quite effortlessly, but it can not change EPA to DHA.

It is convertible only under certain special conditions, and under severe requirement of the body.

Proper care must be taken during the process of putting the fish oil in the shell in order to make capsules; otherwise, the oxidation level may rise amazingly.

So there is possibility of fish spoilage and oxidation when fish are brought out of the sea/river. As a result of these two problems, the omega3 capsules and oil may have funny taste.

Fish that are caught from pure and non polluted rivers are most likely to be free of impurities and not give you that fishy burp when you take them.

Unfortunately, most cod contains dangerous contaminants, which is why you should stay away from cod liver oil.

Fish oil is quite useful for human mind, vision, cholesterol level, bones, and skin.

It not only increases your body’s resistance to fight diseases, but also very beneficial for each cell in the body.

Try the best fish oil and get anti-aging and health benefits that no other dietary supplement can give.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-pure-omega-3-fish-oil-can-do-for-your-health-that-cod-liver-oil-cant-1383128.html

Leukemia is a disease that is considered to be life-threatening. It requires prompt intervention when discovered, in order to maximize the chances of recovering through specific treatment and therapy. Leukemia is basically a type of cancer of the bone marrow and blood, caused by inappropriate cellular activity. The disease can be of different forms, according to the types of blood cells that cause its development. Also, if leukemia is developing rapidly, it is called acute leukemia, while if the disease is developing slowly, it is referred to as chronic leukemia.

The direct leukemia causes are still unknown. In present, medical science isn’t able to establish the specific leukemia causes. However, a strong connection between certain genetic factors and the development of the disease has been revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes the excessive production of incomplete, partially matured blood cells. Also, leukemia has a hereditary character, allowing the transmission of genetic predispositions to disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia, they alone can’t be considered leukemia causes.

Despite the fact that statistics indicate a higher incidence of the disease in people that are exposed to some environmental factors of risk, leukemia doesn’t seem to be caused by neither of them in particular. Among the environmental factors that are thought to be leukemia causes, here are some of the most plausible ones:

- Smoking – smoking is thought to increase the chances of being affected by leukemia. Although statistics show that around 20 percent of acute leukemia cases are related to smoking, leukemia also occurs to people that don’t smoke and therefore it can’t be considered a leukemia cause on itself;

- Prolonged exposure to radiation – Radiation is considered to facilitate the development of leukemia. It is believed that exposure to X-rays can be a leukemia cause;

- Prolonged exposure to benzene – statistics reveal that this is a major factor of risk in some forms of leukemia, such as myelogenous leukemia;

- Chemotherapy and cancer treatment – previous cancer treatments and chemotherapy are known to facilitate the occurrence and development of leukemia and can be considered plausible leukemia causes. Within a few years from the completion of chemotherapy and other treatments for certain forms of cancer, most people can develop leukemia.

Among the genetic factors that are considered to be leukemia causes, the following ones are thought to be the most important:

- chromosome abnormalities – some rare genetic syndromes are known to contribute to leukemia causes;

- Immune system genetic problems – a weak immune system is very likely to facilitate the occurrence of leukemia and therefore can be considered a leukemia cause;

- Down syndrome – children born with this syndrome have a very high risk of developing acute leukemia.

The list of possible leukemia causes can continue further, but these are the most common factors that are considered to be interrelated with leukemia. While some of them can be prevented, others reside within the genes and in present can’t be corrected. In future, however, thanks to medical advance, we will probably be able to prevent leukemia and other forms of cancer.

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Diet and exercise give us all many benefits. One of the best ones is the advantage it gives over the battle of the flu bug

After a study of exercise using mice it was found that regular exercise may help fight the flu and cold infections by increasing the immune systems response to the virus.

If you are a couch potato who never exercises and does not eat healthy you are more susceptible to the flu virus than people who exercise moderately on a regular basis. Exercising long and hard to the point of exhaustion may make you more vulnerable as well. Exercise does have a lot of benefits, and helping to strengthen the immune system is just one of them.

Studies show that exercise helps boost activity in the immune system to limit viral attacks and eliminate harmful viruses from our bodies faster.

When experiments were executed with mice, it was found that mice that regularly ran on a treadmill over 3.5 months had less-severe symptoms when injected with the flu virus than mice who didn’t exercise at all.

Another interesting finding was that a mouse who exercises just before the flu injection but not regularly before hand, also showed protection against symptoms. For a mouse this means loss of weight and appetite.

The difference was these benefits lasted for a short time while long term exercise resulted in long term benefits.

These findings where reported in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and if these findings are the same for humans is not clear. Certainly they are possible and it is also clear that people who ear healthy and exercise regularly suffer less-severe respiratory infections.

Mice that exercised regularly had lower levels of inflammation in their lungs after being infected by the flu virus, compared with mice who did not exercise. Those levels stayed lower for the long term, compared to mice with only one workout whose levels were high after just a few days.

There was also a lower concentration of virus in the lungs of the healthy regular exercising mice in the early stages.

Based on these findings and experiments exercise boosts “early innate antiviral defenses” although how this actually happens still is a bit of a mystery.

Eating the right foods that will help to boost your immune system and give you more energy is just another ingredient to help fight and win the battle against the flu virus.

Diet and exercise,should be something we incorporate into our lives for the many benefits including the battle against the flu virus. If you would like to get started on your way to a healthier more energetic lifestyle just click here now http://www.loseweightgetfitforcouples.com

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When most people think about exercise, they think of strength training and cardiovascular activities, e.g. lifting weights and running on the treadmill.  A good fitness program definitely involves doing both of these sorts of exercise, but it also includes a third often overlooked type of exercise – stretching.  Most people think of stretching as something you do for sore muscles or as a quick supplement for cardio or lifting.  However, these people fail to recognize the importance that stretching has on being fit.  Stretching provides you with a half dozen serious benefits; and anyone who wants to maximize their health should take stretching seriously.

Stretching initially promotes a greater range of movement and circulation through the joints.  This is excellent because it allows you to maximize your regular exercise.  By promoting good range of muscle movement through joints, you will be ensuring that your muscles can move in the ways needed to lift weights or cycle.  Often people injure themselves with their muscles are too tight to perform a motion the way it ought to be done, and stretching can help prevent problems like this.  

Stretching is one of the easiest ways to promote blood flow and circulation to the muscles that need it.  Increased blood flow provides a two-way street that helps muscles perform better with less effort.  On the one hand, the increased blood flow is able to bring oxygen and nutrients to the muscles in order to provide them with the energy they need to function properly.  On the other hand, the blood flow is there to flush out waste products that build up when muscles work out, including lactic acid.  Stretching also provides a low impact way to condition muscles and tendons.  The better conditioned your muscles are, the less prone to injury and soreness they are.  

By stretching before you engage in cardio or weight training, you will be warming up muscles and promoting blood flow and circulation; which is a definite way to enhance your workout.  However, just as important as stretching before running or lifting, is stretching after the exercise.  Post-exercise stretches help develop new flexibility and strength in muscles and tendons, and provide better conditioning to prevent injury.  Post-exercise stretches are also a good way to even out blood circulation and flush out the damaging lactic acid buildup.

One thing that everyone serious about stretching should know is that protein is a needed nutrient to promote healthy stretching.  Protein helps repair torn muscle fiber and can maximize the benefits that come from stretching.  One of the easiest ways to get added protein into your diet is through a whey protein supplement.  Whey protein is easier for the body to digest than soy protein, and provides better utilization and absorption into the body.  The reason you want to take protein in supplement form is for this reason, you want your body to quickly absorb the nutrients and get the nutrients to the parts of the body that need them.

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