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everydaytaichi lucy & ken's granddaughter, Justine, at Iolani's Spring Honors Day, May 28, 20155/31/2015  HISTORY DEPARTMENT
History of American Song — Justine Duan PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT Chorus 1 — Justine Duan Editor of Iolani Literary Publication MANE O KE OLA Justine Duan
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 everydaytaichi ken's summer organic garden...ground prepared, seedlings in place... just as laying the foundations of tai chi! for everydaytaichi ken, gardening is almost as good as doing tai chi! Ken has grown up with garden fresh veggies having had the experience from his own dad and paternal grandmother. Even in medical school, as a resident in training in Denver, we had zucchini, carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes, Chinese pea pods and lots of other greens. Now ken has come full circle, so to speak! Take special note of how resourceful he is using his coffee and cold drink cups from his usual routine to have "coffee" after doing tai chi, either at McDonald's or Costco. His practicality goes even further to validate our home renovation as he uses the screens to shade his seedlings. Even son, Stuart's ceramic pots are used in the best way possible!! Click here for more everydaytaichi ken's retirement hobbies.  everydaytaichi lucy's students practice Yang Style Tai Chi at Kilauea District Park in Honolulu, Hawaii. Seeking to roll back the clock? Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, may be the answer.
A new study published in Cell Transplantation found that Tai Chi can help raise the numbers of a stem cell -- CD34 cells -- important to a number of the body's functions and structures. To evaluate the potential life-lengthening effect of Tai Chi, researchers conducted a year-long study comparing the rejuvenating and anti-aging effects among three groups of volunteers under age 25 who engaged in either Tai Chi, brisk walking or no exercise at all. "We used young volunteers because they have better cell-renewing abilities than the old population and we also wanted to avoid having chronic diseases and medications as interfering factors," said study author Dr. Shinn-Zong Lin of the China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, in a release. According to the study's authors, Tai Chi "has been confirmed to benefit" patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia. In addition, Tai Chi also appears to help with balance, blood pressure and stress reduction. The new study found that those who practiced Tai Chi enjoyed a significantly higher number of CD34 cells than those in the other groups. "This study provides the first step into providing scientific evidence for the possible health benefits of Tai Chi." said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg of the University of South Florida, Tampa, in a release. "Further study of how Tai Chi can elicit benefit in different populations and on different parameters of aging are necessary to determine its full impact." Yet over the years, many studies have linked Tai Chi with various health benefits. For example, one study from 2012 found that Tai Chi can give your memory a boost. Indeed scientists found that elderly Chinese people who practiced Tai Chi just three times a week for eight months performed better on memory tests than those who didn't do Tai Chi. Still another study from 2012 -- this one involving people with Parkinson's -- found that Tai Chi improved balance and lowered the risk of falls. Tai Chi, which originated over 2,000 years ago in China, emphasizes breathing and involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner. What are the benefits of tai chi?
In China, it is believed that tai chi can delay aging and prolong life, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and tendons, and aid in the treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, digestive disorders, skin diseases, depression, cancer, and many other illnesses. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a good deal of scientific evidence to support all of these claims. In a special study of tai chi called a meta-analysis, where many studies on one subject are reviewed, the author concludes that although there is some evidence to support the positive effects of tai chi on health, fitness, and balance and falling, many of the studies are limited by small numbers of subjects and wide variation in the type and duration of tai chi used. Bearing thesse limitations in mind, here are some of the documented benefits. Balance and falling Most of the research on tai chi has been done in older individuals in the area of balance and fall prevention. This area of research is important because fall-related injuries are the leading cause of death from injury and disabilities among older adults. One of the most serious fall injuries is hip fracture; one-half of all older adults hospitalized for hip fracture never regain their former level of function. Because tai chi movements are slow and deliberate with shifts of body weight from one leg to the other in coordination with upper body movements (sometimes with one leg in the air), it challenges balance and many have long assumed it helps improve balance and reduce fall frequency. This assumption has been credited and strongly supported by some research. One study compared men age 65 and older who had more than 10 years of experience practicing tai chi and no involvement in any other regular sports and physical activity, with similar-aged men who had not practiced tai chi or any other physical activities (they were sedentary). It was found that the men who studied tai chi performed better on tests of balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular function. In another study involving 22 men and women aged 22 to 76 years with mild balance disorders, it was found that eight weeks of tai chi training significantly improved function on a standard balance test (called the Romberg test). Fear of falling and improvement in self-confidence In an interesting twist on studies of falling, researchers found that the frequency of fear of falling was reduced from 56% to 31% in a large group of adults 70 years and older who practiced tai chi regularly. Confidence about not falling, and self-confidence in general, may be an unintended benefit of tai chi but one that is certainly worth pursuing. In a similar tai chi study of older adults, 54% of the subjects who practiced tai chi attributed their improved sense of confidence to improved balance. The authors concluded that "when mental as well as physical control is perceived to be enhanced, with a generalized sense of improvement in overall well-being, older persons' motivation to continue exercising also increases." Strength and endurance One study took adults in their 60s and 70s who practiced tai chi three times a week for 12 weeks (60-minute classes). These adults were given a battery of physical-fitness tests to measure balance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility before and after the 12 weeks. After just six weeks, statistically significant improvements were observed in balance, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility measures. Improvements in each of these areas increased further after 12 weeks. The authors of the study concluded that tai chi is a potent intervention that improved balance, upper- and lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and upper- and lower-body flexibility in older adults. Aerobic capacity Aerobic capacity diminishes as we age, but research on traditional forms of aerobic exercise show that it can improve with regular training. In another meta-analytic study, researchers looked at seven studies focusing on the effects of tai chi on aerobic capacity in adults (average age 55 years). The investigators found that individuals who practiced tai chi for one year (classical yang style with 108 postures) had higher aerobic capacity than sedentary individuals around the same age. The authors state that tai chi may be an additional form of aerobic exercise. Walking Walking speed decreases with age and research suggests that it may be associated with an increased risk of falling. In one study, however, it was found that individuals who practiced tai chi walked significantly more steps than individuals who did not. Walking has clearly been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illness, and so if tai chi can improve walking, then it's certainly worth giving it a try. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia (FM) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and is associated with high levels of impaired health and painful symptoms that frequently flair up without relief. The cause of FM is unknown, and there is no known cure. In a study of 39 subjects with FM who practiced tai chi twice weekly for six weeks (one-hour classes), it was found that FM symptoms and health-related quality of life improved after the study. This could be good news for many other individuals who suffer from this disorder. Stress The demands of living are stressful for adults of all ages. Although one cannot directly point to studies showing a reduction in stress from practicing tai chi (though in one study subjects who practiced tai chi reported that mental control was one of the benefits), the breathing, movement, and mental concentration required of individuals who practice tai chi may be just the distraction you need from your hectic lifestyle. The mind-body connection is one that deserves special attention, as it has been reported that breathing coordinated with body movement and eye-hand coordination promote calmness. I know that when I practice yoga or tai chi, the inner sense of peace and calm is indisputable, and so I suggest that you give tai chi a chance if you're looking for a creative and physically active way to improve how you mentally and physically respond to stress. Some more reasons to practice tai chi: Movements are low-impact and gentle and put minimal stress on your muscles and joints. The risk of injury is very low. You can do it anywhere, anytime. It requires very little space (no excuses apartment dwellers!) and no special clothing or equipment. You do it at your own pace. It's noncompetitive. It can be done in groups or by yourself (find a tai chi instructor to come to your workplace at lunch hour!). There are lots of movements to keep you interested, and as you become more accomplished you can add those to your routine. Watch this amazing video clip! Ekini our gracious hostess at our family luncheon did tai chi with lucy!! Eniki has learned Yang 10 Form just by watching our broadcasts on Olelo54. She is lucy's choice for everydaytaichi lucy's Olelo student for the month of May 2015. Congratulations, Ekini!!
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