There are three health-building activities of which everyone should be aware—exercise, deep breathing and adequate sleep. Just like a good diet, avoiding toxins and managing stress are vital to health-building, so are these three health practices.
Exercise: Generally speaking, we live in a sedentary society. Many spend a great deal of time on phones, watching TV or doing other sedentary activities. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve mood (including lifting depression and reducing stress and anxiety), aid in weight management, improve blood sugar regulation, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve general health. It is best to do some kind of physical activity (like Tai Chi or Kung Fu) at least three times a week to make a big difference in improving your health.
Deep Breathing: Oxygen is the most important “nutrient” the body needs for healing, and yet, we seldom think about oxygen when we think about health. Deep breathing helps the body fight infection and oxygenation of the tissues inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Deep breathing can relax muscle tension, ease pain, increase energy and even help the body detoxify by increasing lymphatic flow. Deep breathing also helps reduce stress. The core principle and practice of Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Qigong is deep breathing.
Adequate Sleep: Research suggests that the average person needs about eight hours of sleep per night. Many people in modern society are lucky to get six hours of sleep a night, which means they are running up a sleep debt of about two hours per day. Sleep debt reduces your immune responses, making you more susceptible to colds and flu. It also increases your risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. If you’re having trouble sleeping, get someone to help you figure out what’s disturbing your sleep and correct it. If you’re suffering from injuries or ailments, you need sleep to heal properly as the body does its best healing work during deep sleep. Reasons why you might have trouble sleeping: dehydration, blood sugar issues, stress and muscle tension, pain, low magnesium and vitamin C or an out of balance Wood or Fire element. Students report they sleep much better on the days they come to class and practice Kung Fu or Tai Chi.
Therefore, along with a good diet, avoiding toxins and managing your stress Kung Fu and Tai Chi are the exercises that will help you with deep breathing and better sleep. Important health practices that are vital to proper health-building.