Happy Holidays! And welcome to this months IRQTC training tips newsletter where we take a look at holiday heart health. This months newsletter is a partner to last years letter entitled Smile where I shared a personal story of overcoming negative thought patterns and its effect on my own heart health. This year we again return to this theme as Christmas week typically coincides with the greatest concentration of cardiac incidents in America.
Tai Chi has been shown to have positive effects on heart health and cardiac function measures after myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure; and let’s remember that in essence, Tai Chi principles can be practiced quite easily in many settings. Qigong and Tai Chi contain “4 baskets” of practice including movement, meditation, massage, and breathing. This month I share another brief personal story about how using just one of these baskets with my patients saved my heart and mind, plus an extra exercise that’s perfect for this time of year.
From the IRQTC, we are so grateful to have each one of you in our lives and wish the happiest and healthiest of holidays to you all.
Be well,
Brian