Do you know someone who is aging too fast? Not premature
aging caused by disease, but instead caused by aging more
rapidly than we really should or more rapidly than we have
to. Do you know what it looks like when someone is aging
too quickly? Why is it that some people live a healthy and
vibrant life right up until the end and others suffer, and
worse yet accept it as normal?
One of the major reasons this happens to so may people may
surprise you. Let's start with the 7 Symptoms of Premature
Aging.
Shortness of breath (reduced lung capacity) Cold hands and
feet (poor circulation) Bad balance (falling is one of the
leading causes of death for the elderly) Sick too often
(poorly functioning immune system) Waking up tired too
often in the morning (poor sleep quality) Can't bend over
or touch your toes, etc. (lack of flexibility) Feeling weak
and tired (decreased muscle strength & low energy) I
remember a day in biology class when I learned that a frog
will sit in a pot of water while boils. As long as it's
heated gradually enough, he will just sit there until he
dies. I think that slowly debilitating symptoms sneak up on
us in much the same way, because they are so gradual. We
don't seem to realize that all we have to do is get out of
the pot.
How many people do you know who suffer from these symptoms
and don't even seem to realize they're aging prematurely?
Why do so many people have to suffer a severe set-back or a
loss of physical independence before they even realize
they're aging? There are 2 main reasons for this type of
suffering: lack of exercise and improper exercise. Millions
of people are suffering from this right now. Do you know
someone who is suffering a little more every day? Are you?
How Old Should You Be Before You Begin To Age Gracefully?
How would you like to look when you're 40, when you're 50,
60, 70, how about 80 or 90? With very few exceptions we
slow down and become weaker as we age and maybe, just
maybe, there is something we can do about it.
My Chinese Master began studying tai chi at the ripe old
age of four. His grandfather, a senior disciple
(protégé) of the great Yang Chengfu, began
teaching his grandson as soon as he was old enough to pay
attention. As a result, Master Cui Zhongsan is now 60,
moves like someone in his twenties, and looks about 20
years younger than he really is. I'll tell you a little
more about this in a minute. It's an amusing story about
childhood motivation.
Most of us don't enjoy the advantage of having a master as
a grandfather. I started when I was 40. While I was blessed
with a baby face that always made me look younger than I
was, I also suffered knee injuries in my teens that
required surgery. I've always been pretty active while at
same time I've often suffered minor injuries along with
frequent knee pain.
Now, 7 years later, my knee pain is almost non-existent,
I'm much more flexible, I have more stamina, and I feel
great. These are only a few of the reasons why I practice
tai chi regularly. When I first started I didn't practice
much unless I was in class - once, maybe twice a week. I
still felt better, and I wasn't feeling that bad to begin
with.
A couple of years before I became a disciple
(protégé) of Master Cui Zhongsan I injured my
feet running and couldn't practice for about 6 months.
Although a number of my friends are marathon runners, my
body doesn't seem to want me to run that hard. I usually
only run a couple of months out of the year so I can get
ready for the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July here
in Atlanta, Georgia. Because I don't run regularly, and
wasn't paying attention to what my body was telling me, I
ended up with a severe injury.
Through tai chi I've learned how to really pay attention to
my body and to stop before I injure myself. I used to think
I was just sore because I was a weekend warrior. Tai Chi
has taught me how to really pay attention to my body, and
it does this for everyone. Sometimes I still get sore, but
I don't seem to injure myself anymore.
I've found tai chi to be addictive because of the way it
makes me feel. So give it try; you might find you feel the
same way.
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posted by John Crewdson - http://www.beginningtaichi.net
Experience Free Bursts of Tai Chi(TM) click here -
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