QI GONG

At my age exercise is important to remaining healthy.   I try to spend 15 minutes every day on my Total-Gym for upper body strength and 5 minutes meditation; but what I have lacked was a stretching and movement routine in order to stay fluid and limber. 

My wife and I have taken a number of Tai Chi courses, but have never followed up on the practice; first, because Tai Chi requires room for movement (few homes have that kind of open space) and secondly, I have an injured ankle that limits my movement.

I recently purchased a Qi Gong course from Great Courses for $35.00 (includes CD and on-line.)   Qi Gong is similar to Tai Chi and has many of the Tai Chi movements, but doesn’t require me to learn a rigid complicated routine and doesn’t require space to move around.   This exercise perfectly meets my wife and my needs.   It is a stretching, breathing and movement exercise that centers the body and the mind, relieves stress and limbers the body through low-impact movement. 

You can find Qi Gong exercises on YouTube – one included with this post; but I wanted the full 12 class series that was available in the CD/on-line course.   The course normally cost $69.00; but if you call Great Courses (1-800-832-2412) and tell them you know of someone that recently bought the course for $35.00 they will probably extend the offer to you – hoping that you will buy other courses in the future. 

I recommend Qi Gong for anyone that leads a sedentary life, has physical limitations, or is aging and wants to remain active.  

A disclaimer: I don’t advertise anything; but I often share information on products that I am passionate about.

 

The mind has a major impact on body health, so it is important to exercise the mind-body connection for ultimate health.

the Ol’Buzzard

STAYING FIT AS YOU AGE

There is so much emphasis on dieting and healthy eating as you start to age, but other than mention the need to exercise there is very little prescription.    Perhaps that is because we have to eat daily but we don’t have to exercise, so it is easy to just veg out in front of the computer or TV.

Some people try the gym; but that requires the effort to daily dress and travel, and a cost that is prohibitive - and very few make the gym a lifetime option for exercise.   Some people buy DVD or TV exercise programs – but most people won’t stick with these.

    

As an octogenarian, I’m in pretty good shape.  I have good upper body strength.  My arms don’t sag, I can tighten my pecks, and though I am somewhat overweight (205 lbs.  – I would like to be about 180) I can even crunch my stomach muscles.

I have posted about this before.    For about the last ten years I have (pretty much) daily worked out for 15 minutes on a Total Gym. 

About ten years ago I bough mine through Target.   I have the Total Gym 1400 that now cost about $250.  There is the Total Gym Optima that is just as good as the one I have that you can get online of $180 – there is no need to spend more than this. 

Optima 

I have mine set up in the room with my computer and first thing in the morning I drink a small glass of orange juice to replace electrolytes and then spend 15 minutes on the TG and 5 min. meditating.    I do my exercises without a break in-between so there is an aerobic component in my program.

  

During the summer I mow the lawn and take care of post-winter maintenance; and during the winter I snowblow my drive, shovel where needed and haul firewood for the wood stove.   Sometimes I try to walk a couple of mines on the road in the summer time – but fine it boring after a while.    But the Total Gym is easy, available, quick and effective.

People that read my blog know I don’t advertise products, but when I find something I like (slow cooker, bread maker…) I post about it. 

Strength is so important as we age.    If you are retired, aging and sedentary you might consider a Total Gym for a daily fitness routine.

the Ol’Buzzard