| Having been a martial artist for most of my life, I | | | | right-left is repeated eight times. |
| discovered that after about 45 my body just | | | | One of the most interesting Qigong patterns is |
| wasn't up to the punishment any more. When | | | | called Fragrant Qigong. This form of the exercise |
| you're 19, martial arts is a lot of fun and involves | | | | is supposed to have incredible curative powers. In |
| very little pain, but with each passing year the fun | | | | China, testimonials have attributed Fragrant |
| declines while the pain increases, so I went looking | | | | Qigong from curing everything from headaches to |
| for an alternate regimen to keep me fit as I | | | | terminal cancer. It consists of 12 very simple |
| passed through middle age. | | | | movements, performed with zero exertion. Each |
| The first regimen I discovered was Tai Chi. | | | | movement is repeated 20 - 30 times (you do not |
| Though my hard-core martial arts buddies | | | | keep count in your head. It distracts you.) I have |
| harangued me for taking a "dance class," I | | | | no idea if it cures any disease, but I can assure |
| pressed on in spite of the ribbing. This ancient | | | | you, you will feel great after doing it, refreshed |
| Chinese exercise regimen is practiced by many | | | | and de-stressed. It is called Fragrant Qigong |
| millions of Chinese. It is rooted in the movements | | | | because sometimes the practitioner smells a |
| of animals who seem to keep fit even if they're | | | | sweet aroma as he is performing the exercise. |
| caged. Tai Chi is the manipulation of life energy | | | | While the Chinese exercises do help your body to |
| (Chi) which flows smoothly through a normal fit | | | | maintain its flexibility and sensitivity, the real |
| body, but stalls where injury or illness blocks the | | | | exercise that will keep you in-shape, flexible and |
| flow. It's as much a spiritual practice as it is a | | | | agile is Yoga. Yoga is a practice from India. I'm |
| physical one and it requires minimal exertion. Just | | | | sure you've seen the yogi masters twisted up like |
| because it doesn't require grunting and sweating | | | | a pretzel and thought - no way! I thought the |
| doesn't mean it doesn't work though. A older | | | | same thing. My wife has been a yoga practitioner |
| woman was in my first class who could barely | | | | for many years and has suggested that I go. |
| hobble in and had been stiff and sore all over her | | | | Naturally I refused, thinking that is chick stuff. |
| body for years. Six weeks later, she was lithe, | | | | Wow, was I wrong. After the first class, I |
| light on her feet and totally out of pain. That sure | | | | smacked myself on the forehead wondering why |
| convinced me. | | | | I'd waited so long to try out this fascinating |
| Tai Chi practitioners are renown for their | | | | practice, for two reasons. The first was that I'd |
| longevity. Near my home on a Southern California | | | | spent my entire life working out with sweaty, |
| beach, every morning at sunrise, a 95-year-old | | | | smelly guys in baggy martial arts attire, and |
| Chinese man walks three blocks to the beach and | | | | suddenly I found myself in a room full of shapely, |
| goes through his morning Tai Chi regimen. He's | | | | sweet smelling women all in spandex. |
| friendly, active, flexible, and still sharp as a tack. | | | | The second reason is that yoga is not kids stuff. |
| There is little doubt that this practice has helped | | | | You work - hard. Yoga is not like pumping iron, |
| maintain his fitness and health. | | | | but this exercise for mature men does require |
| The study of Tai Chi, led me to discover an even | | | | exertion. You're encouraged to breathe through |
| older, and more diverse study called Qigong | | | | the difficulties, while holding poses. You walk out |
| (pronounced chee-goong.) Qigong is also a Chi | | | | of the yoga class loose as a goose and having |
| manipulation exercise and is the practice that led | | | | felt like you've really been exercising. If you're big |
| to the more formalized Tai Chi. Its roots can be | | | | and out of shape, you will sweat - plenty. The |
| traced back to the origins of Chinese writing, over | | | | best part though is that you can take these |
| 4000 years ago. Qigong is repetitive, that is | | | | exercise regimens for senior men with you. The |
| movements are repeated a number of times, | | | | exercises you learn can be performed on your |
| rather than Tai Chi which is one long complex | | | | family room floor, in the park, or even in your |
| movement that must be memorized. There are | | | | office. (Make sure no one is watching or they'll |
| thousands of Qigong movements but they're | | | | think you've really lost it.) |
| generally grouped into what are called brocades, | | | | I've been doing yoga now for two years and can |
| or groups of movements. For instance, the most | | | | really feel a return to a youthful flexibility and |
| popular 8-section brocade consists of 8 | | | | balance to my body, and an all-round well being |
| movements done 8 times each. Some | | | | that many men either start to lose or perhaps |
| asymmetrical movements are repeated for both | | | | never had. Yoga and Qigong have become central |
| right and left sides. For instance, one movement is | | | | to my life. These Asian exercises truly can help |
| called "drawing the bow" and is done once on the | | | | you maintain your health to keep the gold in your |
| right side and once on the left. That pattern of | | | | golden years. |