Break the Cycle of Stress

Article

Have you noticed how your energy levels change throughout the day?

Usually, after a good night’s sleep, our mind and body function efficiently. We feel full of energy. Work during the morning is usually productive. By mid-afternoon, we usually begin to feel a little drowsy. This is the time we have another shot of caffeine to keep us going. Pushing ourselves when we feel tired is not necessarily good practice. In the short term, we can usually cope, but in the long term, it may lead to health problems.

This is the time you need to recharge your batteries. One way to do this is to use Tai Chi type exercises that not only work on your muscles and joints, but more importantly, your mind and the nervous system. Through movement and meditation, Tai Chi brings you health of body and peace of mind.

Most of us are unaware that our brains consume much of the body’s energy. In fact, the brain makes up about 3% of our body mass but consumes 36% of our oxygen intake.

Have you noticed how tired you feel after studying for an important exam or dealing with a complex problem? Your energy levels may take days to recover. By comparison, doing physical work such as gardening may leave your muscles feeling sore, but your energy levels are usually recharged overnight during sleep.

What the above tells us is the importance of knowing how to refresh the mind. Tai Chi can help to calm the mind and strengthen the nervous system. This type of training is a wholistic approach to exercise. It not only trains muscles, but also strengthens joints and connective tissues and improves the nervous system. All of this training ensures efficient functioning of the organs.

One of the major areas of the body to benefit from Tai Chi is the digestive system. Once we have learnt to calm the mind, we will notice how the exercise begins to affect the body. Our breathing slows, becoming smooth and fine, the heart beat steadies, blood pressure regulates itself, the immune function improves and the digestive system begins to function more effectively. Tai Chi is beneficial for people suffering from heart conditions, blood pressure problems or arthritis.

It is important to understand the stress cycle and to learn effective ways of interrupting it, for example, the practice of Tai Chi. Tai Chi uses calming, structured movements to counteract the stress of living in today’s fast society. Such practices are essential in maintaining our health and well-being. We can ill afford to neglect the importance of the interaction of mind, body and nature.

Through Tai Chi, you can break the cycle of stress and feel refreshed. Try our free introductory Tai Chi online lesson, taichiacademy.com.au. Feel relaxed and revitalised!