Parents, Are you expecting too much from your kids?

When we all become parents, surely, all of us would want the best for our kids. Who will not want their own kids to be the best in everything, to excel and be the crème de la crème(cream of the crop)?

However, could there be a point where, in us, parents, we start being clouded by our thoughts of wanting our kids to be the best in everything and that we start to expect too much from them and still think that we are actually being reasonable?

In this post, I would just like to let parents know that, as what David Cohen, a recently retired psychology professor at the University of Texus said: “many potentialities and limitations-in intelligence, temperament and mental health-are laid down prior to birth.” We may want our kids to do better than we did at the same age. However, if it is not in their genes, no amount of coaching or coaxing will move them beyond their natural gifts. In fact, the pressure they receive may have an opposite, adverse effect on them.

Trouble thus arises when parents ignore the signs that their child is not ready or are unable to live up to their expectations. As what Goldstein said, repeated failures experienced by a child may cause him/her to set the bar/goals too low for themselves. They might also withdraw from new experiences and miss out on good opportunities. These are so that they can assure themselves that they will not fail again.

“When a child does not meet expectations, the parent may feel resentment, which shows up as anger or frustration,” says Ronald P. Rohner, director of the Centre for the study of Parental Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut. As such, children may feel see their parents’ disappointment as rejection, and these feelings can lead the child to become hostile, experience emotional withdrawal, have a sense of incompetence, delinquency and may conduct problems.

As parents, it is best if we accept our kid for who they are and allow them to become what they want to be. This means, allowing our kids to pursue their interests, instead of pouring cold water on what they want to do just because what they love might bring less income to them or the job is very tedious and difficult to do which no one may like to do.

However, Ziegler warns, “don’t misinterpret acceptance as permissiveness.” Letting children do what they want when they want does no-one any good; homework must be done, family rules respected and consideration shown.

Often, kids will give us-parents- the clues we need to help them set and achieve realistic goals. “When parents are more supportive and loving of their children, children are often more motivated to exceed their parent’s expectations”, says Goldstein.

According to experts, below are the rules of positive parenting to help sharpen parents’ skills.

1. Know your child

2. Know yourself

a. Examine your motives in wanting more from your child. “Parents may have their own shame or unmet needs that they project onto their children,” says Rohner.

3. Educate youself

a. Talk to other parents and your paediatrician and read more child-development books to learn what you can reasonably expect from your child at each stage of his life.

b. Here is a list of books recommended by Reader’s Digest, it may be found in your local book shop or library.

i. Raising Resilient Children: Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child, by Robert Brooks Ph.D., and Sam Goldstein, Ph.D.

ii. Stranger in the Nest: Do Parents Really Shape Their Children’s Personality, Intelligence, or Character? By David Cohen, Ph.D.

iii. The Irreducible Needs of Children: What Every Child Must Have to Grow, Learn and Flourish, by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., and Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D.

iv. Raising a Thinking Child, by Myrna Shure, Ph.D., with Theresa Foy Degeronimo, M.Ed.

v. The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy, by Edward Hallowell, M.D.

4. Empathise

a. Take time to see yourself through your child’s eyes. Do you always point out his mistakes and do not praise him when he does well? Would you want to be treated this way?

5. Make adjustments

a. “No-one responds well to someone who is accusatory or judgmental,” says Goldstein. If you find yourself always pointing out your child’s mistakes or weak spots, refocus on his/her strengths. Once you change on your attitude, you may find that your child changes too.

6. Collaborate

a. As said by Frances Stott, psychologist and dean of Erikson Institute in Chicago, create a partnership with your child in which he can participate in setting appropriate goals and solving problems.

7. Read how your child feels

a. Your child’s behavior-anger, fidgeting, procrastination- says a lot about whether he/she is being asked to do more than he/she can manage.

8. Explore possibilities

a. This is a very good way to encourage your child. This is done by exposing your child to a variety of environments, this includes sports, arts, nature and science. Let him/her find out what she enjoys.

9. Keep your eye on the end goal

a. “A Parent’s main objective should be to raise a child who loves well, works well and takes pleasures in life,” advises Stott. “You won’t want to stifle curiosity, initiative and confidence.”

10. Avoid comparisons.

a. A style of parenting that works for one child may backfire for his sibling. “Every child has his/her own personality,” says Xiegler.

Thus, when handling your child, do not be too hard on him/her. Know what he/she likes to do (understand them). Do not be too soft on your child too. It might spoil them to become brats. Also, try out many different styles of parenting that will fit your child’s personality.

For those whom have read this article in Reader's Digest, it would have been noted that i did not really add much into the article. In fact i was mostly copying and pasting. I apologize for this as, i really am not a parent yet. However, i would just like to share this out to those whom are already parents or whom are parents-going-to-be. :)

Source

Solimini, C.(2004) Do You Expect Too Much of Your Kids? Your child's temperament may be taking him in a direction you hadn't planned on. Reader's Digest January 2004, 60-64

Below is just me reminiscing on some stuffs that has happened quite some time ago that till now, i still remember and it is all these bits and pieces, that has made me this way all due to my parents. :D It is not a must to read for it is very lengthy. I apologize for it being so long. Heehee J

My dad and mum used to be very strict on my sis and i. If I were to compare my sis and I, they were much more harsh on me. I found it unfair back then, as I always had to study and could not do anything I loved. While my sis, she can bake, cook and learn ballet when she wanted. However, her studies are not as good as mine. I guess my mum knew my sis is not the study type. Thus, she focused on her mostly on cooking, though my sis still have to study to have a good education background.

Wells for me, from primary to secondary school, it has all been study study study. There was once, when I was in primary five, where I remembered that I loved skating. The first time when I stepped on the rink was when I was on a holiday in Kuala Lumpur with my family. I remember, looking down to the rink from level 3, seeing people all sticking to the sides of the rink, trying to keep their balance. Curious as to what those people are doing down there, I asked my parents.

They told me that it is an ice-skating rink where people wear skates and blade. They also asked me if I would like to try. Eagerly, I said yes. Thus, my dad and mum placed my sis and I inside the rink while they shopped. I remember that they bought gloves and socks for us as we didn’t have them at that time. They even rented a locker for us to put our shoes! I slotted the key inside the locker, placed our shoes in, and locked it. As, being the ever so scared girl I was, to make sure that our shoes are safely inside the locker, I turned it open to check and when I wanted to lock it again, I couldn’t as it was a one-time usage locker. To lock it again, I would need to get money from my parents. Afraid that they would scold, my sis and I left our slippers underneath a chair.

After putting on our skates and tying our laces, we stepped on the rink. The feeling was indescribable to me really. At first, both of us stayed to the side, holding on to the rails as our support going round the rink. As I saw skaters gracefully twirling and doing all sorts of spins, jumps etc. in the middle of the rink, I really yearned to be one of them. I strayed of the rail and tried skating without the rails. Needless to say, I did fall, but it was only twice. Then, for the next few moments, I did not fall. Instead, I tried to pick up my speed. When our parents came to see us from level four, I remember they took a short video of me skating :D However, I do not know where it went anymore. I hope it is not lost but just hiding inside one of those memory cards, waiting for me to find them again and uncover my first steps in the ice. When our parents came to pick us up (they could pick us up anytime for the time you can spend in the ice skating rink in Sunway Pyramid Ice is unlimited), I left, excited and sad that I had to go back to Singapore soon. In Singapore, the ice skating rinks are quite small. There only used to be one in Jurong, however, it closed down. In replacement of it will be an Olympic-size skating rink! Gosh. I am really thrilled when I heard the news and I really want to go there to skate when I am free or when I have mastered my skating skills. Currently, before the ice skating rink in Marina Bay Sands was opened, there was only one in Kallang Ice World. The rink in Kallang Ice world is smaller than the rink in Marina Bay Sands and the one which has closed down in Jurong-Fuji Ice Palace. However, as that is the place closest to my home, I’ll head there to train. Currently now, as I am busy with school, I have stopped training. However, I intend to pick it back up, soon.

After that exposure to skating, I pestered my mum to let me learn skating. However, as she always focuses on studies, she did not allow me. It was only until I was at the ripe age of 16-17 that she allowed me to learn. It was there and then did she gave me more freedom. Before I could have this freedom I am having now, I hated my mum a few times and loved my dad more as he gave us things we wanted. I still remember when I was very young, I drew and explained out to my dad that I wanted a Nintendo Colour as it was advertising in the television. I explained to him in detail everything of it and that I wanted it to play pokemon. The next day evening, when he came back, he showed me a red Nintendo that I wanted. It was reddish pink. He even bought cartridges for me to play. I was so elated at that time. When he taught me how to press the on switch, immediately the screen lighted up and started to play music.

Now, as I am here, typing all these down, I thought about how my dad would have went to that shop where he got the Nintendo Colour, showing the shop owner my kiddy picture and checking the box which contained my Nintendo Colour to see if it looked like the one i drew and also, asking if they have some other colour like pink or red that would suit a girl like me :D & when the shop owner took out another box containing my red Nintendo, he said he would get that and so, as what normal shop owners would do, they would open the box to let my dad check the condition. Who knows, maybe the box contained batteries for my Nintendo. After my dad has checked the condition of My Nintendo Colour, I am positively sure the shop owner asked my dad if he wanted to buy any cartridges for my Nintendo as it needs them to play games. My dad asked if they had any pokemon games and he bought Pokemon Yellow and Silver version for me with my Nintendo Colour. :D As to where the box is now, I think my dad might have stored it somewhere or my mum had thrown it away. As given the young me last time, how would I know that gadgets all come in a box? Also, I definitely will not know what is the instruction manual for. Thus, dad prepared everything for me so that I can just on the switch and play J

Now, my Nintendo colour is spoilt as my aunt, whom kept it stored in her cupboard for years, kept my Nintendo with batteries intact. Also, as she has stored it with all her other stuffs, my Nintendo had a crack in the screen. It could not be played or used anymore for the batteries has melted and no matter how hard I tried to make I work( I am not a technical person, note) it just could not. ): I am saddened by this. Oh wells, the past is past, what is most memorable is that my dad got it for me.

Now, when I am of this age, I do not regret my mum letting me learn ice skating this late (although once in a while I would feel sad as this meant I am way behind all my peers) and asking me to study continuously and my dad, although he is always busy with work, we all know he loves my sis and I a lot and would pamper us lots. With these, I found balance and now, I love both of my parents for all that they’ve done! I don’t regret much really. (:

Thank you, daddy and mummy for everything. I am sorry if i have been a bad girl at times...I know that the feng shui shi said that i am becoming more playful and thus, my grades will be affected. However, i will try my best to prevent that (: I will buck up!

Love, your eldest daughter

Jermain

X-Ray Views, Visions and Beauty

X-Rays-normally-they reveal the consequences of our follies or sad turns of fate: a deadly tumor, broken arm, a lung clouded by pneumonia. Nobody ever thought of the beauty it could bring to us all. Neither have they thought that x-rays can be used to create something magnificently beautiful.

In his California studio, Albert Koetsier used X-Rays to discover the beauty within flowers themselves. Albert Koetsier is born in Dutch, where he worked as a manager for an X-ray manufacturer. He always had a passion for photography. In his retirement, he combined his two interests (x-ray and photography) together. He built an x-ray device from spare parts (not a project recommended to do) and has spent the last decade taking films of nature, which he calls X-rayographs. Inspired by the beauty of his x-rays images seen in Reader’s Digest January 2004, I decided to search the net for more captivating pictures that will steal your breath away; just like how they stole mine. Here are some that I have found and am sharing with you all (:

Camelia Leaves

Cyclamen

"In shining groups, each stem a pearly ray..." Mary Tacher Higginson

Calla

"The lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold." William Wordsworth

Gingko Leaves

"There are no such things as Flowers- there are only gladdened Leaves." John Ruskin

And wells, waddya know, while going through the web, i found Albert Koetsier's website as well :D

For those whom are interested to see more of these kind of pictures, feel free to head to his website's Gallery.

Source

www.google.com

Ways to live to be hundred-it May help :D

I am so pissed that after typing for so long and once I am ready to publish this post, blogger said that there were some errors occurred and thus, all my hard work were all gone in less than a few seconds. I really didn’t felt like continuing on this post as it will take some time again and I don’t really want to retype all those that I’ve painstakingly typed. However, after a few hours, things changed for the better. While I am typing this, I am actually accompanying my friend whom is doing revision now for she has a test tomorrow. So, kudos to my friend, whom made this post possible (:

In these few years and ongoing, the medical technology has always been improving for the better. In hospitals now, there is better hygiene and medical care. Doctors and nurses are all expertise of their areas. Many research has been done to find cures for illnesses that once, in the past, used to have no cure. For those illness that still haunts us today with no cure, aplenty of research are still being done to find the answer to solve the illness and meanwhile, while those researchers are painstakingly helping us to find a cure to illnesses, medications and suggestions to lifestyle has been created to either try to prevent the illness or to slow it down.

With all these backing us up, it is not a surprise that many people can start to live longer than before.

One bad news about living to 100+ is that; as your body grows older, we are more likely to be prone to much illnesses like: cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and arthritis. However, fret not. There is a growing number of research which states that it is never too late to make changes to your lifestyle and increase your chances of living longer.

The article "Want to live to be 100?" by Jane Parry has some helpful tips on how to live a longer, lasting live. You just might really live to be 100+ if you follow them.

So, here i am, sharing with you those, precious tips which you guys can follow(if you all are interested that is (: ).

1. Do weight training

a. Studies from Tufts University in Boston has confirmed that weight training can stop or even reverse muscle and bone loss.

2. Do brisk half-hour walk three times a week.

a. As said by Suzanne Ho whom is a professor at the department of community and family medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong kong: “Doing brisk walking help improves stamina and maintain muscle tone and balance.”

3. Quit smoking.

a. It is never too late to stop smoking. According to a report in the British Medical Journal, if a person stops smoking by age 30, their rate of survival can rival that of people whom have never smoke before!

4. Eat a broadly based diet that packs a nutritional punch.

This includes:

a. Dark-green, leafy vegetables(iron, folate, beta-carotene, calcium)

(Spinach, taro leaves and lettuce leaves)

b. Sweet potatoes(folate,vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and fibre)

c. Papaya, guava, mango, orange and pamelo(Vitamin C, iron and fibre)

d. Soy products(protein and flavonoids)

(Tofu)

e. Beans(iron and a high-fibre form of protein)

f. Whole grains(higher in fibre than refined grains, with more B vitamins, vitamin E, selenium and zinc)

g. Nuts

(According to a recent study done by Pennsylvania State University, eating nuts more than five times a week could cut death rates from heart disease by 25 to 39%)

h. Salmon, tuna and other cold-water fish

(Consuming omega-3 fatty acids contained in these fish may reduce or prevent inflammation of the joints due to arthritis and protect older people from eyesight degeneration)

5. Eat diets which are low in fat.

a. It improves people’s ability to learn and remember.

6. Eat vitamin pills(Multivitamin with minerals).

Note: It is no substitute for a healthy diet because foods contain important components like fibre.

7. Sleep only about 7-8 hours per day.

a. According to University of California, the San Diego researchers followed more than a million Americans for six years and discovered that:

i. People who snoozed eight hours a night had up to 13% increased mortality over those who slept only seven hours.

ii. & ‘ ‘ People whom slept four hours had a risk of mortality that was 17% higher than those whom slept only seven hours.

8. Stimulate your mind with challenging, brain-stimulating activities.

a. E.g. Learning a foreign language, reading a challenging book, playing mahjong or attending a lecture.

b. Being mentally active will help to prevent or even delay the onset of intellectual decline, as said by Laurence Wee.

9. Keep the faith.

a. Nearly 1000 studies have indicated that those whom went to a temple, church or mosque were healthier than those whom did not attend. They also tended to live longer by seven years than their nonattending counterparts.

b. Angelique Chan, assistant professor in the department of sociology at the National University of Singapore says that: “Religion brings both spiritual and social fulfillment. Having higher levels of social support is correlated with better health.” She has noted this from many interviews which has been conducted with many elderly people, where many said that religion has played a very large role in their lives.

10.Pick a pet.

a. According to a 1999 study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, it has been shown that seniors who own pets are less likely to be depressed than those whom do not.

However, I would like to let you all know that, do not, I repeat, DO NOT get a pet on impulse just because you have read this or if you think they are cute when they are puppies etc Only get a pet if:

1) You are willing to commit your time to it.

2) You are willing to spend money(quite an amount) for it’s food and medical bills(if it ever falls ills or for vaccinations).

I have seen many pets being abused and mistreated in a sad way. In a year, many animals in Singapore are abandoned and very little of them are adopted in the SPCA-Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Due to the overwhelming-and still growing-numbers in the SPCA, many animals have to be put to sleep if they cannot find a person kind enough to adopt them.

How sad can this be now? Animals are very similar to humans, although they may be much kinder than us. They will not attack people unless they are hurt, afraid, injured or has felt the vibe of a stranger whom has the intention to harm them. They will never (very less) attack their own owners even when their owners are mistreating them. Animals know loyalty. To me, they are the purest of all kinds of forms in the earth. If you beg to differ and say that animals have no feeling, sympathy and are just heartless creatures that only live for their own, watch this video and tell me if you still think that way.

Yes, some might say that only good things like this and bad things like, dogs biting humans will never (wells, very less) appear on the news. I beg to differ again with these news and many more.

11. Look for the silver lining. Be optimistic.

a. Having the ability to not dwell on difficulties is the quality that most centenarians share. They tend to not look for trouble unnecessarily and also are contented so long as their basic necessities are met.

12. Help someone else

a. Studies has shown that people who devote time to community efforts are healthier in later years. Older adults who give are also more likely to receive help from family and friends when they need it.

13. Reach out and touch someone.

a. Social engagements may add as much to your life span as healthy measures such as cutting/lowering cholesterol or blood pressure.

Source

Parry, J.(2004, January). Want to live to be 100? Reader's Digest January 2004, 27-31

Fictional Characters-Their surprising Value! :O

As compiled by Forbes.com ,

check out the richest fictional characters in the world!

How cool is that? It seems that even if you're not real, you can make a nice living. Gosh, imagine if there really is any of these characters tucked somewhere...I'm sure they will be rich if they were discovered. Especially Santa Claus, his net worth is infinite!! All children were born to belief that if they were good kids for one whole year, Santa will come to his/her house through their chimneys and leave them presents on Christmas in the stockings that the children has specifically bought or made and have hung themselves by the fireplace. :D

I was born to think that way of Santa too. However, alas, in my country, we have no chimneys or fireplace. My family do not celebrate Christmas much too. As there were no place to put stockings, we didn't even have one. Thus, to all of the kids living in western countries, i envy you guys. (: Don't come to hate Christmas or not celebrate them due to your hectic work schedules when you grow up. Christmas is a must to celebrate :D

Quotable Quotes-Reader's Digest 2004

Alright. So, I've basically read through almost every single page of the Reader's Digest. As such, below are the quotes by people which i find very meaningful and which, can be used in real life if you guys would like. Or rather, it can be used as a lesson. Letting you know what you should do more often etc.(e.g. Do more good deeds. As, said by Kirsten, doing good deeds to people or even animals, karma will come to you, either in a good way(if you have been good to animals/people)or in a bad way(if you have been mistreating animals or have been bad to people.)

Archbishop Desmond tutu:

Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good that put together that overwhelm the world.

Jamie Lee Curtis on "The Early Show":

Don't judge a book by its cover 'til you've read the book.

Jesse Ventura in Time:

If you tell the truth you don't need a long memory.

Kenneth Cole:

I've come to learn that the best time to debate family members is when they have food in their mouths.

Kirsten Dunst in US weekly:

I've seen karma slap people in the face. You have to be good to people. It really does come around.

Madonna:

Raising kids makes most people grow up at least a little.

Patti Labelle in LaBelle Cuisine(Broadway):

The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention.

January 2004 Reader's Digest Jokes LOL

1)

A furniture manufacturer visited Sweden to place an order of timber for his factory. He went to a disco on his first night and met a beautiful blonde girl at the bar.

As neither spoke or understood the language of the other, they had to use graphic expression for communication. He drew a glass with a drink and an ice cute, she agreed, and they both had a drink.

The music was inviting so he drew a pair of people dancing. She agreed again. They danced and danced before returning to the bar.

The girl then drew a wardrobe, bedside tables and a bed. Looking at the drawing, his face lit up. "Yes, yes!" he exclaimed. "I'm a furniture manufacturer!"

(Antonio Queiroz, 2004)

2)

Here is the note i received from a parent explaining why her daughter was absent from school:

"Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday Paper off the porch, and when we found it on Monday, we thought it was Sunday. "

(Anne De Chastonay, 2004)

3)

As the troubleshooter for computers at the school where i work, i heard a colleague complain that her machine was running slowly.

I noticed she had almost 200 items in her trash folder.

"No wonder you're having trouble," i told her. "Don't you ever empty your trash bin?"

"Well, no," she replied, clearly flustered. "In our household, that's my husband's job."

(Diane Charlebois, 2004)

4)

Some friends formed a company built round an innovative idea for an online business and discussed what to name the venture.

"We'll have to call it Imagination," one passionate participant cried out. Everyone thought the idea over for a minute before a voice of reason asked, "Are you sure you want your business card to read 'Imagination Limited' ?"

(Vikrant Kothari, 2004)

5) This may not be a joke really...

Noted at the bottom of a receipt for funeral arrangements: "Thank you. Please come again." :O

(Carmela A. Henriquez, 2004)

6)

Our intern was not very swift. One day, he turned to a secretary. "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do i do?"

"Just use copy-machine paper," she said to him.

With that, the intern took his last remaining piece of blank typing paper, put it in the photocopier and proceeded to make five blank copies.

(Unknown, 2004)

7)

Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, i found one elderly gentleman-already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet-who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital. After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator. On the way down, i asked if his wife was meeting him.

"I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown."

(Patsy Dancey, 2004)

8)

We invited an elderly man who lived alone on a neighbouring farm to join us for the Sunday evening meal and were chatting afterwards when a fierce thunderstorm struck. We suggested to our guest that he stay at our house for the night, thinking we'd save him getting soaked riding his bike home.

Obviously delighted, the old chap soon afterwards excused himself. We assumed he had gone to the bathroom, but quite some time later he appeared like the proverbial drowned rat with his pyjamas in a plastic bag under his arm.

(Errol Menkens, 2004)

9)

I was talking abut how addictive games on the Internet can be. "I know," said my daughter. "I've been playing them way too much."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Just before i start dreaming at night a blue strip appears with the words, 'Loading, please wait.' "

(Verla Gayle Jordan, 2004)

Exercise-It's just that simple, put in the effort!

If anyone has noticed, there has been a growing trend of obese people.

Why is that so?

Here is a reason that i think may be the cause of it.

Fast food-they are becoming increasingly cheap, affordable and convenient. As such, due to the hectic, busy lives that people tend to have, fast food is their first option on their what-to-eat list. Besides, fast food like Macdonalds, KFC, are all so pleasant and nice on our taste buds. Having tried it once, there will be a twice and more.

With obesity, comes many different kinds of illness. High blood pressure is one of them all.

Therefore, based on my information in my brain, and from Reader's Digest January 2004, here's a few tips to help people combat obesity.

1) Cut down on eating fried food or fast food

2) Eat more vegetables (They aren't called healthy leafy greens for nothing)

3) EXERCISE.

No pain no gain for exercise right?

When i speak of the word exercise, it has dawned on me that not much people like to exercise. It may also be partially due to their hectic work schedules that they are unable to do so.

However, based on the American Journal of Hypertension, it has been found that,

as little as one hour of exercise a week will reduce high blood pressure.

This is good news isn't it?

However, i still know of some people whom do not like to exercise because they hate being sweaty or clammy.

So, here's a exercise for you which all "sweat-haters" out there can do (:

T'ai Chi

"T'ai" literally means grand/limitless

&

"Chi" means inner energy/ your very essence of life.

Today, T'ai Chi is referred as internal kung fu or meditation in motion.

T'ai Chi is not about force or strength. However, it is about flow. It works on the whole body, including your mental state while other sports and hard workouts only tone the external muscles.

It was invented by a 14th century Taoist monk, Zhang Sanfeng, whom observed a crane and a snake fighting in a pond.

Statue of Zhang Sanfeng at Wudang Mountain

He was struck by the ebb and flow of the action of the crane and a snake, both of whom seem to be yielding to each other yet giving no ground. As such, he adapted their movements into a martial art based on the Taoist principles of balance between negative and positive, give and take, push and pull.

T'ai Chi brings about many benefits to the people whom are doing it. People whom do it discovered that by doing those movements super slowly, it enabled them to feel everything that was taking place in their bodies.

Regardless of whether you are young, old or middle-aged, everyone can do it.

The movements in T'ai Chi is not fast or strenuous. Rather, the movements are slow and gliding-like. T'ai Chi may look simple to those just observing others doing it, however, is is actually not so. Below this post is a video of T'ai Chi for people to view if they would like to know more about their actions etc.

T'ai Chi's movements, if done fast, can be a application for self defence too.

There has been research done and proven for T'ai Chi's health benefits.

• Based on a research done by Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield in the UK, it has been found that T'ai Chi slows the heart rate and lower blood pressure in heart-attack victims.
• As stated by Leslie Wolfson at the University of Connecticut Health Centre, T'ai Chi also helps in balance. This may be especially needed for old people whom may be afraid to go out for the fear of falling.
• The US National Institute of Health and Harvard Women's Health Watch also acknowledged that T'ai Chi has a very powerful effect on some ailments. This includes, arthritis to heart problems, bone loss and ageing.
• Other studies have also suggest that T'ai Chi has positive effects on diabetes, lower back pain and depression.

Critical to T'ai Chi is the way that one stands and hold themselves. One's body is always strongly rooted , such that, even though one might withdraw to avoid an attacker, their footing must be firmly grounded.

Thus, for those whom are looking for an easier, less sweaty way out, T'ai Chi is one recommended exercise. Not only is it slow and steady, it has many health benefits too.

Although sometimes, for young and middle-age people whom have no joint problems or illness, i'll recommend you guys to go for jogs, runs or even brisk walks. Sometimes, sweating it out may be a good thing too. So, consider that (:

If not, stick to T'ai Chi.

For those whom are not able to lose weight even after exercising, having a healthy balanced diet etc, fret not.

For it has been shown, based on the research done by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, where the researchers followed 6391 overweight people and obese people for nine years and found that the death rate was 24 per cent lower for those whom tried to lose weight(even if unsuccessful) than in people whom did not even try at all.

So, good luck on living a healthier lifestyle people!

Tai Chi for beginners

References

Dyson, J.(2004, January). Limitless Energy. Reader's Digest January 2004, 100-105