Movement and Lifestyle Therapies
There are several exercise and movement therapy options including mobility, stretch and strengthening exercises, qi gong, tai qi, postural corrections. Your practitioner may offer one or several of these options in your healing process or may refer you to someone who specializes in these therapies.
Lifestyle management techniques refer techniques and practices, habits and processes that one might introduce to their life that might be beneficial in the management of an illness or injury or in physical, mental or emotional taxation that has impeded quality of living or to health in general. Lifestyle management techniques include a number of suggested practices that may include dietary habits, mental-emotional habits, meditation and breathing techniques, and more. Your practitioner may offer one or several of these options in your healing process or may refer you to someone who specializes in these therapies.
Lifestyle management techniques refer techniques and practices, habits and processes that one might introduce to their life that might be beneficial in the management of an illness or injury or in physical, mental or emotional taxation that has impeded quality of living or to health in general. Lifestyle management techniques include a number of suggested practices that may include dietary habits, mental-emotional habits, meditation and breathing techniques, and more. Your practitioner may offer one or several of these options in your healing process or may refer you to someone who specializes in these therapies.
Mobility, Strengthening and Stretch Exercises
mobility and movement exercises may be given to patients who have injuries or imbalances involving a reduction in the range of motion to an area or difficulty activating and recruiting an area, meridian pathway or specific muscle. A reduced range of motion can be acute with a recent injury or chronic from past injury or from imbalances built up over time. These exercises may also be used to prevent reduction in any of these factors for any reason. The aim of these exercises is to gently and gradually increase natural range of motion through repetitive non-weighted movements that take the patient through the maximum natural range of motion and the natural movement and activation of an area, meridian pathway and group of muscles.
Strengthening exercises are used where injury or chronic imbalance build up has created a lack of use or lengthening, and thus weakness, of a muscle, pathway or area. Strengthening exercises often go hand in hand with both motility/movement exercises and stretch exercises.
Stretch Exercises focus on lengthening and relaxing chronically contracted and tight muscles, overactive pathways or areas. Such an imbalance usually occur when the body is constantly placed in a position where some muscles are constantly engaged leading to shortening and hypercontraction. Stretch exercises will almost always be given alongside strengthening and mobility/movement exercises
All motility/movement, strength and stretch exercises are encouraged to be used in the prevention of imbalanced. A practitioner may suggest the used of specific combination of exercises in the prevention of imbalance and injury that may be well seen as possible due to lifestyle, work or habit.
Strengthening exercises are used where injury or chronic imbalance build up has created a lack of use or lengthening, and thus weakness, of a muscle, pathway or area. Strengthening exercises often go hand in hand with both motility/movement exercises and stretch exercises.
Stretch Exercises focus on lengthening and relaxing chronically contracted and tight muscles, overactive pathways or areas. Such an imbalance usually occur when the body is constantly placed in a position where some muscles are constantly engaged leading to shortening and hypercontraction. Stretch exercises will almost always be given alongside strengthening and mobility/movement exercises
All motility/movement, strength and stretch exercises are encouraged to be used in the prevention of imbalanced. A practitioner may suggest the used of specific combination of exercises in the prevention of imbalance and injury that may be well seen as possible due to lifestyle, work or habit.
Qi Gong
From the National Qi Gong Association:
The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. Qi is pronounced chee and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe.
The second word, Gong, pronounced gung, means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chi Kung) means cultivating energy, it is a system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality.
Qigong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions.
Qigong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be practiced by all age groups.
Most exercises do not involve the meridian system used in acupuncture nor do they emphasize the importance of adding mind intent and breathing techniques to physical movements. When these dimensions are added, the benefits of exercise increase exponentially.
The gentle, rhythmic movements of Qigong reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality, and enhance the immune system. It has also been found to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions.
Those who maintain a consistent practice of Qigong find that it helps one regain a youthful vitality, maintain health even into old age and helps speed recovery from illness. Western scientific research confirms that Qigong reduces hypertension and the incidence of falling in the aged population. One of the more important long-term effects is that Qigong reestablishes the body/mind/soul connection.
People do Qigong to maintain health, heal their bodies, calm their minds, and reconnect with their spirit.
Qigong's great appeal is that everyone can benefit, regardless of ability, age, belief system or life circumstances.
Anyone can enrich their lives by adding Qigong to their daily routine. Children learning to channel their energy and develop increased concentration; office workers learning Qigong to reduce stress; seniors participating in gentle movements to enhance balance and their quality of life; caregivers embracing a practice to develop their ability to help others; prisons instituting Qigong programs to restore balance in inmates lives; midwives using Qigong techniques to ease child birth.
Keep in mind the following criteria for choosing a qualified instructor: what is their background and experience; are they of good character; do they treat everyone fairly and with respect; do they live what they teach; do they refrain from making wild, unsubstantiated claims; do they encourage and bring out a student's highest potential? While keeping these points in mind, remember to trust your intuition in finding an instructor who is right for you.
The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. Qi is pronounced chee and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe.
The second word, Gong, pronounced gung, means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chi Kung) means cultivating energy, it is a system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality.
Qigong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions.
Qigong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be practiced by all age groups.
Most exercises do not involve the meridian system used in acupuncture nor do they emphasize the importance of adding mind intent and breathing techniques to physical movements. When these dimensions are added, the benefits of exercise increase exponentially.
The gentle, rhythmic movements of Qigong reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality, and enhance the immune system. It has also been found to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions.
Those who maintain a consistent practice of Qigong find that it helps one regain a youthful vitality, maintain health even into old age and helps speed recovery from illness. Western scientific research confirms that Qigong reduces hypertension and the incidence of falling in the aged population. One of the more important long-term effects is that Qigong reestablishes the body/mind/soul connection.
People do Qigong to maintain health, heal their bodies, calm their minds, and reconnect with their spirit.
Qigong's great appeal is that everyone can benefit, regardless of ability, age, belief system or life circumstances.
Anyone can enrich their lives by adding Qigong to their daily routine. Children learning to channel their energy and develop increased concentration; office workers learning Qigong to reduce stress; seniors participating in gentle movements to enhance balance and their quality of life; caregivers embracing a practice to develop their ability to help others; prisons instituting Qigong programs to restore balance in inmates lives; midwives using Qigong techniques to ease child birth.
Keep in mind the following criteria for choosing a qualified instructor: what is their background and experience; are they of good character; do they treat everyone fairly and with respect; do they live what they teach; do they refrain from making wild, unsubstantiated claims; do they encourage and bring out a student's highest potential? While keeping these points in mind, remember to trust your intuition in finding an instructor who is right for you.
Tai Qi Chu'an
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Tai chi, also called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant, fluid motion.
Tai chi has many different styles. Each style may have its own subtle emphasis on various tai chi principles and methods. There are also variations within each style. Some may focus on health maintenance, while others focus on the martial arts aspect of tai chi. Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels.
Tai chi has many different styles. Each style may have its own subtle emphasis on various tai chi principles and methods. There are also variations within each style. Some may focus on health maintenance, while others focus on the martial arts aspect of tai chi. Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels.
Postural & Mobility Assessments
Constant and repetitive deviations in posture and movement can become a chief cause of injury. Postural & movement assessments can help to identify these deviations and patterns of inactivity, overactivity and misalignment, With these assessments, the practitioner and patient can create an action plan to correct posture, engagement and movement. and to prevent further deviations.
Meditation and Deep Breathing Techniques
Meditation and deep breathing are two techniques that can work wonders in relaxing the body, improving circulation, focus and concentration, reducing stress, anxiety, interrupting negative thought patterns, and stilling the mind for sleep.
Tea Drinking
Not only what you drink, but how you drink.