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See our BLOG for many interesting articles FREE Audio Download--the Tai Chi Master's Life Strategy Tai Chi Audio CD's and Downloads Total Tai Chi Creator Paul Gallagher TAI CHI WAY to Healthy Eating E-book Drawing Silk Masters' Secrets to Taiji Practice Fascinating Articles on Tai Chi Practice Links to Excellent Instruction Total Tai Chi Recommended Books
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Only after you know your Original Constitutional Type and your Current Condition, you can you create your optimal nutritional program. The starting point is knowing which foods are heating or cooling; building or cleansing. Obviously, a healthy Fire Type in midsummer could utilize much more cooling food than could a Water Type in mid winter. An Earth Type of person can healthfully eat hearty meals of almost any type, but the Air or Ether type, with their far more delicate digestive abilities, would require foods with a lot of potency, but relatively less mass. In general, seek to balance your Current Condition with the season, your age, your Type, etc. In Summer, eat more cooling foods; in Winter, eat more warming ("Grandma" usually taught us many of these principles, which have now been forgotten by most people). Cold, damp types need more well-cooked, spicy foods; hot, fiery types need more mild and cooling foods. You should prepare for the coming season a bit in advance. A very effective way to do this is to begin to gradually change your nutritional pattern about six weeks before a new season begins. This can be done by following the "Twenty Four Seasonal qi Nodes" which will be described in our "what's new" section.
Step Three: Find your ideal type of ExerciseIn the "Total T'ai Chi System"™ the third step is formulating a program of movement which suits your individual body Type, age, energy level, and temperament.In very general terms, Earth Type people would benefit from more aerobic, vigorous types of exercises, long walks, more active martial arts or sports. Water Type people would benefit from exercises similar to those for the Earth Type, but not quite so vigorous. It is good for Water Types to sweat and release the excess moisture they tend to accumulate. Fire Types, who often exercise TOO vigorously, can be helped by exercise styles which "tonify the Yin," such as Taiji, Yoga, Dance. etc. Air Types should NOT exercise too vigorously, because their nervous systems are often over-stimulated already. They need gentle exercises such as Taiji, Yoga, or gardening. They should never push their endurance level. Ether Types need very little physical exercise, but should walk, do gentle gardening or housework, and would benefit tremendously from a centered style of meditation, such as Zen sitting. For those who want to practice Qigong, there are a few important factors: Before engaging in any form of internal Qigong, the energy channels ("Meridians") of the body should be opened up. Basic exercises to open the primary energy channels of the body would include the Standing Eight Brocades, and various other entry-level forms of Qigong. A bit further along the way, a student would learn the Five Animal Frolics, a more subtle method of internal integration and body strengthening which embodies many of the qualities of the better known Taiji. The Frolics, like many of the high level Chinese therapeutic movement systems, stress relaxed movement on the outside, but firm concentration from the inside. (Yin and Yang). Finally, there are the many nei kung or Internal Energy Training systems, of which Taijiquan is one. Taiji practice will yield much greater beneficial results if the student has first opened the channels and done some preparatory type of nei kung, such as the Five Animal Frolics. Important Disclaimer: all of the information in the previous paragraphs represent the author's personal conclusions, based on his study and research. They are offered for your consideration in creating a sense of overall wellbeing. None of the information given above is offered or intended to be any kind of medical or professional advice. Before beginning any kind of nutritional or exercise program, please consult your Physician, or fully licensed health care professional.
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