In this Issue

Feature Article - Death by Clothes
- Life Quote - Getting what you want...
- Question Period - Balance
- Comments
- Weight Loss Idea - Surviving Restaurants
- Teacher Certification FAQ

Feature Article - Death by Clothes

Are You Squeezing the Life out of YOU?

A recent study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, suggested that a tight tie constricted the jugular vein in the neck, which raised pressure in the veins and, in turn, increased pressure within the eyeball, possibly leading to glaucoma.

While some reviewers panned this study as silly, I was excited by the content - not just for eyes but for all of our body parts. We are a society getting ever larger all the while trying to pour ourselves into ridiculously tight outfits.

Tight clothes reduce blood flow and circulation, reduce energy or chi flow and reduce the ability of the body to function as it should. And most importantly, tight clothes reduce our ability to breathe deeply.

Case in point. As a university student, I was plagued with "spastic colon". I tried various medications with no success (except the sedative effect of these drugs made it possible to sleep through even more classes...).

Adding fiber to my diet helped, but the permanent "cure" came when I bought larger pants and loosened my belt!

Forget what the fashion industry wants you to wear today. Purchase clothes that feel loose and comfortable, and buy belts that are stretchy, so they can move with your activity and with your breathing.

Deep breathing feeds your 60,000,000,000,000 cells, reduces the risk of chest illness and reduces stress.

Poor, shallow breathing will destroy your health. If you routinely wear clothes that bind, you will need to re-learn how to breathe deeply into the abdomen.

Deep, healing breathing techniques need to be practiced daily to become automatic. Both the 4 Minute Fitness video and Tai Chi for Busy People (Easy Tai Chi) teach effective and re-vitalizing breathing techniques as well as easy ways to practice everyday.

Loosen the tie, choose loose comfortable clothes and feel vibrancy, energy and life return to your bodies.

www.easytaichi.com
www.4minutefitness.com

Life Quote

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Question Period

Q. I am having difficulty with balance in the Easy Tai Chi kicks. Help...

A. Tragically, as many of us find out, balance is lost slowing over the decades. Practicing the slow, gentle kicks in Easy Tai Chi everyday will ultimately improve your balance, so be patient.

Here are some ideas to help. Initially, lift the kicking leg lower. Keep your supporting leg soft and flexed to have it absorb movement, allowing for continual minute corrections.

As well, flexing the supporting leg creates a lower center of gravity. And on that note, remember that a relaxed back and abdomen as well as TOTALLY relaxed shoulders also create a lower center, thereby improving balance.

Visually, balance can be improved by looking at a fixed point in the distance.

And smile to increase relaxation. Less tension improves balance.

So, have fun with the exercise and be patient and persistent. Good balance comes to those who practice.

http//www.easytaichi.com/video.htm

Comments

Hi Keith,

"Love the tapes you have sent. I appreciate the "condensed" aspect of your course and appreciate it's departures from the traditional tai chi approach. I find your changes to be logical without "dumbing down" the wonderful tradition." G. Hallberg., TX,

Click the links for many, many more comments

Easy Tai Chi     www.EasyTaiChi.com/testimonials.htm

4 Minute Fitness     www.4minutefitness.com/testimonals.htm

Weight Loss Fact

In modern societies, we are eating out more and more. Great fun, but restaurant food provides almost one quarter more fat, lots of additional calories, much less fiber, iron and calcium.

And worse, we are tempted by huge, gargantuan desserts that we would NEVER eat at home.

Desserts that immediately take permanent residence in our thighs.

Don't get me wrong, I travel all over the world to teach and I love eating in new and exciting places.

Here are some restaurant "survival" ideas I use.

Educate yourself - learn about healthful eating and know exactly what you want. Choose light, heart healthy meals. Order the seniors meals (they are smaller).

And my favorite tactic? Krisanna and I have soup or a salad to begin, then we spilt the huge main course. When we leave, we are full, but not stuffed.

And chances are we will live longer and happier.

www.best-weight.com

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