How Tai Chi Can Improve Your Health

By Walter McKibbin

Tai Chi is believed to have beneficial effects on health. It can increase energy flow which results to an increase in strength and harmony in your body system. In fact, practitioners of Tai Chi have testified about how the meditative and calming aspect of Tai Chi have helped them eliminate stress brought about by their daily workloads.

Tai Chi, as an exercise can improve muscle tone and enhance the individual's sense of flexibility and balance. Indeed, Tai Chi shows a resemblance to the concept of Yin and Yang where force s expresses in a most harmonious and balance form.

Aside from relaxing the mind and enriching the soul, Tai Chi can also prevent complications of certain illnesses. Over all, it is a very good way of maintaining good health and wellness inside and out. However, it doesn't mean that Tai Chi is a disease-curing technique nor it can be a replacement to your medicines. Tai Chi is somewhat a form of therapy to consider - a therapy that gives you the following benefits:

Sense of Balance and Coordination

One of the major causes of disability and death among the elderly is loss of coordination or in more ways than one, falling. By practicing Tai Chi, balance in older people can improve thus reducing the risk of falling.

Soothes Arthritis

Tai Chi can be used to increase the range of motion without even causing a twinge of pain to the arthritic joint plus improving the flexibility of the bones and strengthening the surrounding muscles. It is not to be addressed that Tai Chi can cure the disease itself but it only lessens its severity and the contributing pain by working on those joints as early as possible.

Improves Circulation

Problems regarding the circulatory process of the heart can be remedied by involving oneself in Tai Chi. By practicing Tai Chi, it can enable the heart to pump enough blood throughout the body and thereby improving the system's circulation.

Multiple Sclerosis

Further studies about Tai Chi have known its great potential in enhancing both the mental and physical well-being of a person. Mental diseases like multiple sclerosis can be prevented by incorporating the practice of Tai Chi in ones daily life.

Banish Stress

Who would want stress? Although, stress is inevitable it surely can be prevented. Tai Chi and its meditation function can reduce the production of toxins and hormones that contribute stress which is directly reflected into your body.

For your Tai Chi experience to become more reproductive and effective, choose a practitioner that is a master of the different aspects and knows what is best for your present day situation.

There are no age limits when it comes to practicing Tai Chi. Everyone is welcome to join. Although, if you are really old and can no longer take such vigorous activities, better consult your physician on what is best before engaging in Tai Chi.

Always remember to inform your instructor of any health problems that you have so that he or she can make certain measures to provide you with the ability to do such movements. Tai Chi must not make you feel any pain. If you do feel any pain, tell your instructor right away. - 30294

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Meaning Of The Dragon Symbol

By John Chan

Dragon is one of the most widely accepted mythical creatures which has been an important part of the East Asian way of life. The creation of this beautiful creature comes originally from China. The body of dragon is scaly like any other serpent but it also has four legs with big foot and five claws on each claw.

Like China Europeans too have their dragons but they have different physical qualities and also in their meaning as European dragon has negative implications.

The Chinese dragon on the other hand has assumedadopted both roles of good and evil throughout Chinese history. But more than anything else the symbol of the dragon represents auspicious power according to ancient folklore and art from China.

The Chinese dragon takes on various qualities which the Chinese people have credited to it. It is hardly known that the Chinese dragon is the male symbol representing yang. Then again it is taken as a symbol to carry rain and water where the people are doing agriculture for a living.

A least known fact is that Chinese dragon has a female counter part. This not so well known creature is known as phoenix. As a matter of fact the westerners take it for granted that the Chinese dragon stands for China itself. This fact is not true at all.

You will find that in ancient Chinese history the dragon symbol was restricted to be used solely by emperors. It is well known that the common people were not allowed to use the Chinese dragon symbol during the reign of Yuan dynasty. Only during the Qing dynasty rule that the Chinese dragon was brought to be used on the national flag.

From a long time China has been trying very hard to convince the west that the Dragon has no real connotation in modern day China as they feel that the western people believe that the Chinese dragon represents a war like condition. Therefore they have been looking for something less threatening and have come up with giant panda as their official symbol.

Chinese Dragon plays an important part in giving ethnic identity to Chinese people even today when some of them feel that they are the descendants of the Dragon and they truly have faith in the powerful symbol. The identification of a nation with an animal is a tendency which started in 1970s when the Mongols felt that they have characteristics of wolf and Tibetans felt that they are descendants of monkeys.

The modern Chinese society is still using the Chinese Dragon a lot. The role of the Chinese dragon has changed from religious faith to that of decorative purpose. You will find posters, T-shirts, tattoos, advertisements etc. carrying Chinese Dragon symbol while you are walking around the streets in China. - 30294

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Chinese dragon symbols are a good option for a tattoo. If you would like to read further on Chinese peace symbols please follow the links.

Cheaponsale.com Reports Economic Meeting To Guide Direction

By Ke Lei

China is expected to fine-tune its macroeconomic policies, one year after it launched the massive $586-billion stimulus package to save the economy from the worst global financial crisis since the 1930s.

A government conference to lay the groundwork for the country's economic policies not only for 2010 but for the next five years may wrap up today, according to media reports.

Decisions made at the central economic conference, which began on Saturday, will influence policies next year, the last years of the 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), and guide directions in policy for the next five-year plan.

No details of the conference have been released.

But experts said a Nov 27 meeting could set the tone for the conference.

That meeting concluded with officials broadly stating that China will "maintain the continuity and stability of economic policies, and continue to implement the proactive fiscal policy and loose monetary policy".

The issues most likely to be high on the conference agenda include how the government will improve the quality of growth, speed up economic restructuring and boost domestic consumption.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.9 percent year-on-year in the third quarter and GDP growth for the year is expected to exceed 8 percent, government statistics showed.

To boost economic growth, the government must support policies that increase the income of residents, tackle healthcare reform and invest more in education, experts said.

The stimulus package has played the most important role in reviving the economy, but it also made the economic growth more reliant on investment, said Liu Manping, a researcher at a price monitoring institute under the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planning body.

"China should gradually and moderately adjust its macro policies to avoid any huge impact on economic growth," he said.

Jia Kang, director of the Research Institute for Fiscal Science at the Ministry of Finance, said that "the government may perhaps change its policies in the industrial sectors because of overcapacity and the increasingly ballooning property industry".

Fluctuating prices in the housing market may ease in the second quarter of next year if monetary policies are adjusted, said Wang Zhihao, an economist with Standard Chartered Bank.

During a visit to a number of low-income housing projects on Nov 28, Premier Wen Jiabao said the government should curb speculation in the housing market. - 30294

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Animal Zodiac Signs And Chinese Calendar

By John Chan

The symbols that make up the Chinese Zodiac calendar are images of various animals. The Chinese have been using this 12 year cycle for dating the years since ancient times. Unlike the western linear idea of time the Chinese lunar calendar represents a cyclical concept of time.

Since the Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon it is known as a lunar calendar and works absolutely opposite to that of the western solar calendar. On comparing the Chinese New Year to the western one we find that it begins somewhere close to the end of January and beginning of February.

The present day China even now stick to the lunar calendar for its traditional events and festivities though officially it had adopted the western calendar by 1911. To give an example the Chinese New Year is still celebrated as per the lunar calendar. The calendars which are printed in China today show both lunar and solar dates.

The Chinese followed the idea of accepted folk tradition of representing each year physically with some animal. A particular animal will represent a particular year. Thus twelve years show twelve different animals with their own characteristics. As the calendar is cyclic the same animals keep coming back once in every twelve years.

The animals that represented the years took on the meaning that is similar to the concept of monthly or daily horoscopes in the west. The only difference was that the Chinese zodiac symbols determined were for the entire year. Hence people born in the year of a particular animal were believed to have the characteristics associated with that animal.

You may take the personality traits which the Chinese zodiac symbols depict seriously or not seriously but they do have another part to play.

The other role which the Chinese calendar performs is to show the age of a person. By knowing the animal sign of an individual you can calculate the age applying basic math and common sense.

As the Chinese legend goes once there was a fight between twelve animals to enforce some control over the cycle of years. Finally it was decided that there would be a race of the animals in which the animal to reach the opposite bank of the river would lead and the rest would follow as they finish. Thus the practice of representing each year with one animal sign came into being.

In the race the Ox took the lead and the rat rode on the Ox's back. As the Ox almost reached the opposite bank, the rat being crafty jumped off the Ox's back on the bank and got the first place. So the rat leads the cycle of year till today with the ox being the second. The last is the pig to depict the last month. - 30294

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zodiac symbols from China are varied and interesting in their meaning. To read more on Chinese New Year symbols follow the hyperlinks.

Chinese Calligraphic Signs And Decoration

By John Chan

That the Chinese people have innate talent combined with inborn aesthetics is visible in the Chinese calligraphy. Hence, as a result, we find Chinese calligraphic silk rolls hanging in the studies of intellectuals who have refined knowledge about the history of Chinese calligraphy.

Chinese calligraphy is an art of high prestigious value in the eyes of Chinese people. One often sees two columns of calligraphic scrolls hanging at the entrances of houses in order to enhance the beauty of any decor. These scrolls are basically long pieces of paper with Chinese inscriptions on it.

Doorways of many Chinese houses have these Chinese calligraphic scrolls which contain specific Chinese symbols that are based on some concepts and philosophy. Chinese calligraphic scrolls that have wishes for a good New Year ahead written on them are the most common of all. Other variations involve name plates that bear the name of the resident of the house.

When it's the question of the artistic brilliance of Chinese calligraphy, it stands on the top undeniably. The Chinese were known to be experts with the brush and the volumes of Chinese calligraphic symbols are a proof of their craftsmanship.

The complete collection of calligraphic symbols is observed in hand painted works of art. However, there is such uniqueness in the craftsmanship that no two symbols in the calligraphy appear same.

In modern age, the whole world has developed a special liking for these marvelous Chinese calligraphic symbols. Many people have begun utilizing Chinese calligraphic symbols in interior decorations and as fashion commodities like pendants and necklaces.

That the Chinese artistry is timeless and priceless can be seen by the growing popularity of Chinese calligraphic symbols. These symbols that were developed at a time dated much before and are so aesthetically genuine that they even appeal to people who are unaware of the language itself. This is the most amazing feature of these Chinese calligraphic symbols.

Chinese calligraphy requires concentration for better understanding of its meaning and to appreciate it more. Its beauty lies in the fact that it balances both form and function with precision. On one hand, these calligraphic symbols have great artistic skill which makes it look beautiful and on the other hand they also serve as modes of communication.

Besides serving both the purposes of form and function beautifully, these Chinese calligraphic symbols have talented craftsmen and skilful people practicing the art of calligraphy with their brushes. All these factors jointly make Chinese calligraphic symbols an honorable collection, something to be proud of by the Chinese. - 30294

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Traditional Chinese calligraphy symbols are fun and easy to learn. If you would like to learn more about Chinese kanji symbols follow the preceding hyperlinks.

Why Are People Still Choosing Laptops?

By Doug Thomas

Laptops are everywhere. Whether in business or personal situations, they are gaining more and more popularity. Somehow the compact and convenient nature of these computers has convinced people to spend the extra money that laptops cost. The question then becomes: is that really enough to justify the added price?

The affordability of the computer in question isn't something that should be taken lightly, given the current economic crisis. So if the only feature that recommends laptops over desktops is portability, then shouldn't you choose the one that won't break the budget?

Desktops have a number of beneficial features. For example, they are designed to be extremely modular which means you can set them up to meet your exact needs. This way, whether you are processing lots of videos or just want to play the high-end games, you can easily add the RAM or graphics cards that you need. You can also limit yourself to a very affordable computer if you just want to use it for social networking or Web browsing.

Laptops can be more difficult to upgrade and customize. Add to that their keyboards and touchpads that many people don't like using, and you can see some possible drawbacks to these systems. So why are they still gaining popularity? Is it really all about the convenience?

Right now we live in a very fast-paced world, and you can't underestimate the value of portability. Whether you use it for personal situations like social networking and word processing, or business situations like staying in touch with the company and accessing important documents, these laptops make it possible to do from almost anywhere.

Laptops continue to develop and they have advanced to the point that you can now get computers that are sleek and light and can easily be transported from place to place. Despite their small size, they often have all the processing power and graphical capabilities of their larger cousins.

It should also be pointed out that even though laptops have been (and are) more expensive than desktops, the prices have been steadily coming down. Technology continues to improve and manufacturers continue to find way to make their laptops more affordable.

There's no doubt that economic times are tough, but people will continue to go with laptops because they know the portability will give them an opportunity to be more productive. And if they can maintain those standards, they will have a better chance of pulling through these difficult times. They may cost a lot, but they can also be seen as a wise investment. - 30294

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Learn more about computers. Stop by Doug Thomas's site where you can find out all about laptops and what it can do for you.

Precious Peace Symbol From China

By Lucy Xiu

China has a exclusive system of writing which is totally unfamiliar to us. They use characters rather than letters and these character symbols formulate concepts instead of words with phonetic value. There are about 47,035 characters in Chinese language in Chinese dictionary known as Kangxi dictionary. Though the character symbol which is called Hans is so large in number, they are mostly not used any more.

The concept of peace holds a very special place in the Chinese symbols. The peace as understood by Chinese character symbols is more of the feeling of contentment in the heart of the people rather than absence of war. They believe that this is what the human race is actually looking for.

The best thing the Chinese symbols offers to human race is the symbolization of peace. We all have our personal ways of getting peace. Some people will do something as absurd as bungee jumping if it gives peace where as some will repent in front of God to attain it. Chinese people also have their own way of achieving peace.

The peace symbol in China has tremendous value and you will see extensive use of this symbol in all walks of life in China. The Chinese have a strong belief that these symbols are a means of attracting the good thing in life. Peace is one thing which the whole human race is searching for all the time.

You may speculate how the Chinese people attempt to use this symbol of peace. The history of China shows plainly how the Chinese people as a nation used the peace symbol. They have used the symbol of peace by surrounding themselves with it to achieve peace in their own hearts rather than anything else.

The use of symbols is rather common in China to achieve good fortune as you will find the character of peace symbols are not the only ones to be used widely in China but many home, offices, shops and cars have good fortune and blessing symbols too.

Today the Chinese peace symbol is amongst the most popular characters used not only in China but also around the world. The west is particularly infatuated with Chinese symbols and peace being a universally appealing idea is right on top of the list.

The idea of peace is regarded as cool by the young people in the west in recent times. The formation of the symbols has a special attraction to the westerners as they appear to have style and philosophical significance. The shops in the west are selling the fashion garments and accessories with Chinese peace symbol in bulk to the people.

The Chinese peace symbol which the west has adopted has a totally different implication to what the traditional Chinese concept is which they have been following for past so many centuries. - 30294

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Chinese peace symbols can be a good choice for a tattoo. If you want to see more Chinese kanji script please follow the links.