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Tai Chi Martial Art: This Chinese workout is better than most exercises, says study | – Times of India

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Tai Chi Martial Art: This Chinese workout is better than most exercises, says study | – Times of India
Are you tired of the same old workout routine and see no significant change in your body and health? Well, you should stop looking for something fresh, exciting, and effective. Here’s some news that might catch your interest! A recent study suggests that there’s a Chinese workout that could potentially outrank your typical moderate aerobic exercises.
Yes, you read that right! Tai Chi, the graceful martial art known for its slow, deliberate movements, has emerged as a surprising contender in the world of fitness and cardiovascular health. Here are some details to uncover why this ancient practice might just be the key to better heart health.

What does the study says?

Image: Canva

In a clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open, researchers observed the effects of Tai Chi versus moderate aerobic exercise on blood pressure levels. The study involved 342 individuals aged 18 to 65 with prehypertension, a condition characterised by slightly elevated blood pressure. Throughout the trial, which spanned from late July 2019 to mid-January 2022, participants were closely monitored to evaluate the impact of their respective exercise regimens.
The participants were divided into two groups: one group engaged in traditional aerobic exercises such as brisk walking and stair climbing, while the other group immersed themselves in the graceful movements of Tai Chi. After a year of consistent practice, the Tai Chi practitioners demonstrated a remarkable reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to their aerobic counterparts. On average, the Tai Chi group experienced a 7.01-point drop, surpassing the 4.61-point decrease observed in the aerobic exercise group.

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These findings shed light on the potential of Tai Chi as a therapeutic tool for managing prehypertension and promoting cardiovascular health. While both groups experienced improvements in blood pressure, the Tai Chi group exhibited a more significant decrease, hinting at the unique benefits of this ancient practice. The low-impact nature of Tai Chi makes it accessible to individuals of all ages and fitness levels, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional exercise routines.
For overall health in a world overrun with high-intensity workouts and fitness enthusiasts, Tai Chi is a gentle art. Tai Chi has established itself as a strong competitor in the fitness industry thanks to its demonstrated capacity to reduce blood pressure and improve general well-being. So why not accept the elegance and serenity of this age-old practice?

Fitness

New workout makes fitness more accessible for moms

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New workout makes fitness more accessible for moms

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Finding time to work out as a mom with young kids can be a challenge in itself, especially when you’re new to an area and don’t know where to start. However, a new fitness option strolled into Sioux Falls today. iStroll offers moms the chance to work out and meet other moms all while their kids can play or even join alongside them.

iStroll is a national organization that has more than 35 locations in the country but this is the first time one opened in South Dakota. It’s a full body workout that incorporates dumbbells, body weight, and jogging strollers when the weather’s nice.

“I found iStroll in Oklahoma and fell in love,” said Kelsi Supek who started the affiliate in Sioux Falls. “We made friends. It became our entire social network. The kids loved it and then we moved to Arizona during COVID. And all the moms were stuck at home. They were inside with our kids and lonely, honestly. And we were like, why can’t we start an iStroll and be out at the parks with the kids every day? And it took off.”

When Supek moved to Sioux Falls, she was encouraged by her family to start an affiliate and own it herself.

“Gym daycares did not work out for my children,” said Supek. “I would get 10 minutes into a class and then I’d have that person trying to knock outside the yoga studio going, Can I have Kelsey and her kids screaming in daycare? And it just didn’t work for us. So at iStroll they could be with me or I could be breastfeeding the baby as I was teaching in class.”

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Classes are planned to continue each Wednesday and Friday at We Rock the Spectrum and First Presbyterian Church. For a full schedule for January and February, you can look at their Facebook. The first class is also free and memberships are for the whole family.

“Letting the kids see you work out is, it’s similar to homeschooling where like, you know, how are they going to love working out if they don’t see you working out,” said Kelly Jardeleza, a stay-at-home mom of three kids. “Whereas at other gyms they put them in a room and they don’t get to watch you. And how are you going to inspire them if they’re not watching you do it?”

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Fitness

Share your health and fitness questions for Devi Sridhar, Mariella Frostrup, and Joel Snape

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Share your health and fitness questions for Devi Sridhar, Mariella Frostrup, and Joel Snape

There’s no bad time to take a more active interest in your health, but the new year, for lots of us, feels like a fresh start. Maybe you’re planning to sign up for a 10k or finally have a go at bouldering, eat a bit better or learn to swing a kettlebell. Maybe you want to keep up with your grandkids — or just be a little bit more physically prepared for whatever life throws at you.

To help things along, Guardian Live invites you to a special event with public health expert Devi Sridhar, journalist and author Mariella Frostrup, and health and fitness columnist Joel Snape. They’ll be joining the Guardian’s Today in Focus presenter Annie Kelly to discuss simple, actionable ways to stay fit and healthy as you move through the second half of life: whether that means staying strong and mobile or stressing less and sleeping better.

To make the whole event as helpful as possible, we’d love to hear from you about what you find most challenging — or confusing — when it comes to health and exercise. What should you actually be eating, and how are you going to find the time to make it? What sort of exercise is best, and how often should you be doing it? Is Pilates worth the effort — and should we really all be drinking mugfuls of piping hot creatine?

Whether your question is about exercise, eating, or general wellness, post it below and we’ll put a selection to our panel on the night.

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