6d • General Discussion
The Math of Life & Tai Chi 💯
I do my best to look at things in a way that makes sense.
The math adds up, or it doesn't.
The most important nutrient for people is obviously oxygen.
We can only go a couple of minutes without that.
Next is a combination of sunlight and exercise.
IRL, it would be almost impossible not to get both of these on a daily basis.
Sunlight is how we get vitamin D and exercise causes other chemical reactions that our body needs. Non-essential and semi-essential nutrients are those that our body makes on its own.
After that is hydration and with that would come minerals.
We can only go a couple of days without water.
Food is last on the list but since many people approach it the opposite way, cleaning up that aspect can be a good starting point.
Here the same logic applies.
We need fat.
Healthy fats like those that come from animals and EVOO.
Omega 3s.
NOT Polyunsaturated fat.
Fats are for the brain, the gut, and for energy.
Protein is the literal building blocks (aside from minerals).
Strength is a major indicator of longevity.
Carbs are at least somewhat optional.
Fast fuel.
Fermented foods have so many benefits including preventing waste.
Sleep is also something that should be pretty much daily.
It allows our body to reboot.
As you can see from the hierarchy, I look at exercise as pretty much the most important. A lot of times it goes hand in hand with being outside in the sunlight. Both go hand in hand with fresh air and oxygen. And both contribute greatly to sleep quality and vice versa.
I approach exercise the same way.
What makes the most sense?
What is the most useful for function?
What also develops necessary skills and mindset?
Tai Chi is one of my favorite practices because it emphasizes balance in all aspects.
Fall prevention is HUGE as you age.
But mental and emotional balance also go a long way.
That's why we constantly hear about meditation and mindfulness, even therapy.
Mental health.
Because Tai Chi is part of a larger philosophy, it contains all of these things.
Breathing techniques.
Low impact.
Slow and calm.
Returning your body and mind to natural alignment.
Instead of overthinking everything, Tai Chi (and Qigong) is a feeling out process.
Tuning in and tuning up.
Don't think, FEEL.
Calisthenics, rope flow, jump rope, hitting a bag, crawling, sleds, clubs, rucks, hills...
There are lots of great things that get you way more bang for your buck than what most people get out of the gym.
The more you can incorporate something into your day rather than trying to add another thing on top of what you already have, the better.
Where can you fit in an exercise snack?
It’s more about what you do most of the time...
And less about what you do some of the time.
Another thing to mention is fasting.
Wild humans would be unlikely to eat every single day, would often have one meal a day (sometimes small, sometimes large), would eat in a limited window.
Fasting allows your body to reboot, similar to sleep.
It triggers autophagy which is when your body gets rid of bad and damaged cells and replaces them with healthy ones. You want your body made up of healthy cells, not cancers.
It can also starve parasites and can be a big achievement mentally.
It can reset cravings and addictions.
Some even say there is a euphoric effect but I can't speak to that.
It's not mental vs. physical or nutrition vs. exercise or whatever else...
It's all just points on a graph that add up to one whole.
Which leads back to Tai Chi...
Because it's all right there in the symbol. 🙏
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The Math of Life & Tai Chi 💯
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