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ZING! Living Newsletter
May 2011
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Greetings!
Saturday, April 30th was World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. Now you might be thinking, "What the heck does that mean? I can't even pronounce qigong." Chi kung or chi gong is correct. This event celebrated two Chinese natural healing arts that are gaining greater notoriety and acceptance among western lay people and health care providers for their preventative and healing potential. Most of us have heard of tai chi by now, so in this month's newsletter, I'll explain a little bit about it's lesser known companion, qigong. I'll also be talking a bit about the joy and healing that come from a healthy relationship with a pet and the importance of staying well hydrated. Want to learn more about healthy living? Please visit Zing! Living's website where you'll find oodles of information on healthy living and cultivating the mental, emotional, and spiritual environment to support yourself in achieving your goals. While you're there, I invite you to sign up for my free online e-course, "Five Attitudes to Supercharge Your Wellness Journey," and enjoy some other free goodies too.
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Qigong (pronounced chi kung or chi gong) is a Chinese healing art dating back thousands of years. It is based on the belief that we are all circulators of a vital life force called qi. We are born with this vital life force, which comes to us from the universe via our parents, but we also ingest qi from food, air, and our environment. Qigong is used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. One definition of qigong is "energy work."
Traditional Chinese medical practitioners believe that disease arises when your qi is unbalanced, blocked, or stagnant. With medical qigong, blockage to the healthy flow of qi is thought to be removed through a series of static yoga like poses combined with choreographed movements similar to tai chi. Healing sounds, visualization of colors, and meditation may also be used. New, refreshing qi builds up within the organs and then circulates throughout the body, cleansing out old, stagnant qi.
The Chinese people have used various types of qigong to improve their health, wellbeing, and longevity for thousands of years. It does not require the ingestion of medications with potential side effects or the purchase of expensive equipment. It can range from slow moving, low impact meditation to intense, powerful martial arts training - meaning it can be done by anyone.
So what's western medical doctor doing promoting a treatment like qigong? At a time when obesity and it's associated conditions of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and cancer are skyrocketing along with the costs of treating these diseases, here is an inexpensive, noninvasive healing art that can be performed by anyone right in his own home.
I'm not claiming that qigong will cure breast cancer or magically make you lose 30 lbs. What I am suggesting is that it can be a potent adjunct to traditional western forms of medical treatment, having the potential to help you trim down, lower your blood pressure, improve your balance, strength, and endurance, relieve stress, and achieve mental calm and clarity. You sure can't buy that in a pill.
Tired of those old Richard Simmons videos? Why not give qigong a try?
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Stay Hydrated for Optimal Performance
 Talk about adequate water intake is often overshadowed by the discussion about healthy eating and nutritional supplementation. We all know that we need calories, vitamins, and minerals to maintain good health and high energy levels. But with summer coming up, we need to be more mindful of how much water we're drinking to make sure we have enough on board for optimal physical performance. This is especially true for seniors.
Many of us are chronically dehydrated, because thirst is a poor indicator of our water status. If you are thirsty, you are already behind. Symptoms and signs of dehydration include dizziness, dry mouth, headache, difficulty concentrating, and dark colored urine.
There's a myth floating around that everyone should drink 8 eight ounce glasses of water daily, but just as our calorie needs vary by individual, so do our fluid requirements. A rough way to estimate the fluid needs of an average adult (in ounces) is to use this formula:
(Weight in lbs - 44) x .5 + 51
Example for a 130 lb female: (130 - 44) .5 + 15 = 94 ounces
Remember, your water needs may be altered by your size, age, activity level, medical conditions, medications, climate, and environment, and should be adjusted accordingly.
If you work out vigorously, weigh yourself naked both before and directly after your work out. If your weight drops, you need to be replenishing that many more ounces of water during your work out. Just 1-2% reduction in weight during a work out can affect your performance by up to 20%. Avoid caffeinated beverages during and after exercise as they have a diuretic, or urine producing effect, which will further dehydrate you.
But be careful. If you gain weight while working out, you are overhydrating, which could lead to dangerous disruptions in your electrolyte balance. If you intend to work out for longer than an hour, consider using a sports drink to replenish your electrolytes.
You should strive to neither gain nor lose more than a few ounces of fluid during a work out. A general way to gauge your hydration status is to take a look at your urine. It should be a light, lemonade color.
If you have medical conditions such as kidney disease or heart failure or you are taking diuretics which cause you to produce more urine, consult with your doctor for guidelines on your individual hydration needs.
Happy Hydrating!
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Powerful Perks From Your Pet
 I must disclose at the outset that I am lover of big dogs. My chocolate lab is smelly, messy, slobbery, crazy, and I absolutely adore him. The joy, laughter, and fur that dog has shed all over my life amazes me. When he comes bursting gleefully through the door to greet me, even after I've only just gone out to the mailbox, I feel like the most loved person in the world.
Studies show that I am not alone in my experience of a calmer mood, lowered stress levels, and healthier living habits as the result of my relationship with my canine buddy:
- A study of 3000 women in China found that the dog owners reported better sleep, better exercise habits, and less sick time taken from work.
- Another study of 340 people in Australia reported that dog owners were more socially active with their neighbors.
- Studies of cardiovascular benefits from petting a dog have been mixed, but I suspect that anything that lowers your stress level has the potential to improve your blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
If you are not an animal lover, pet ownership is not likely to make you happier or make you feel less frazzled; in fact, the opposite is probably true. However, if you enjoy the company of a pet, furry or otherwise (I have a pet snake too), consider visiting your local animal shelter and adopting a new family member or just get reacquainted with the animals already living in your home.
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Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you've found the information relevant and interesting, please tweet it, share it, or pass it along to someone else.
Need help navigating your way to healthier living habits? Call me at 623-242-8809 or email me at Melanie@ZingLiving.com. I look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Melanie Lane, MD, CPCC
Dr Lane, ZING! Living Coach
www.ZingLiving.com |
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Quote of the Month
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"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not."
-Mark Twain
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Free Online Course ZingLiving.com
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Finding and maintaining an attitude to support your wellness goals can be challenging. Here I offer five new ones for you to try on to get things jumpstarted.
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Photo of the Month
I can't really explain why I find this photo so inspiring.
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