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By
brother initiate Chen Chia-bin (72 Years of age), Taipei, Formosa
I.
Physical Exercise
 A)
Tai Chi Chuan:This is a special kind of exercise that does
not emphasize using force, as do boxing and ball games. Instead, Tai Chi
Chuan stresses not using force, and in fact, it is better if no force
at all is exerted. At the same time, it also stresses slowness; the slower
the Tai Chi movements are performed, the better. This form of exercise
helps the various functions of the body to develop evenly. All the inner
organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and kidneys benefit
from this practice. It takes twenty-five minutes to finish one set of
Tai Chi Chuan exercises. After the exercises, respiration and pulse rates
remain normal. Even after two or three repetitions, Tai Chi practitioners
still look totally at ease. Therefore, Tai Chi Chuan absolutely does not
affect heart rate and breathing. While achieving the goal of exercising
the body, it also benefits health and longevity.
B)
Swimming: The oxygenating exercise in water is especially suitable
for overweight people, the elderly, and for people who suffer from arthritis.
It is a very safe activity for old and young alike. In water, we experience
resistance, buoyancy and pressure. People who cannot swim may do aerobic
exercises in the water to burn calories and produce a better physique.
Besides, swimming also helps to strengthen the cardiopulmonary functions,
rectify body posture, and prevent or treat pain in the shoulders and the
lumbar region of the back. Swimming is also good for unwinding, while
the buoyancy of water can minimize pressure on the joints. As one practices
in the water, one gets used to it and does not fear it anymore. After
some time, one can learn how to swim. I learned how to swim at the age
of seventy-two.
C)
Walking:This less vigorous exercise has become the most common
"national exercise" in many countries. There is no worry about having
any after-effects from walking, yet it yields results as good as those
of other exercises. The proper way to walk is to let the soles of the
feet touch the ground first and to maintain a certain rhythm. If you want
to increase your walking speed, increase the frequency and not the length
of your steps. Bigger steps may hurt your knees. Walking offers both biological
and psychological benefits. For instance, it helps us to unwind, resist
depression, become keener observers of our surroundings, lose weight,
increase the good cholesterol in the blood, minimize the risk of fractures
(in people with osteoporosis), lower high blood pressure, reduce the risk
of complications from diabetes, and improve the flexibility of arthritic
joints.
II.
Diet
A)
With a properly controlled diet, one attains longevity:
An ancient formula for longevity advises: "Don't eat to fullness;
walk don't run; and, don't get angry." The opinions of experts on this
subject are as follows: People in middle age are in a more stable stage
of life, while people in old age have entered the deterioration stage.
Since people in old age engage in less activity and suffer from physical
depletion, they should reduce their intake of food accordingly. Otherwise,
it is very easy for them to become overweight, which is a great enemy
to the health of the elderly. Since all bodily functions and organs are
declining, if the amount of food consumed is not controlled, the digestive
system will become overburdened, thus increasing the risk of gastrointestinal
diseases. In conclusion, our diet, just like the way we behave in daily
life, should be kept on the "middle way". The quantity and quality should
be just enough for the living necessities of the elderly; either too much
or too little is inappropriate. One who is good at maintaining health
will not eat too much, or keep himself too warm in winter or too cool
in summer.
B)
Take time to chew and swallow food: Human saliva has the function
of eliminating substances that cause cancer. When we take our meals, it
is better to chew each mouthful of food more than thirty times, because
the various enzymes in saliva, when mixed with food, have a strong influence
in reducing or eliminating the substances that can cause cancer. Therefore,
in ancient times, the importance of slowly chewing and swallowing food
was emphasized.
C)
Drinking a large quantity of water is good for one's health: Urination
is beneficial to health, and drinking more water increases the amount
of urine produced by the kidneys. The way we intake water is also a kind
of habit. If we seldom drink water in daily life, we have to drink a lot
at one time, and of course this is very uncomfortable. However, water
is an absolute must for good bodily health. If there is insufficient water
absorption in the colon, constipation will occur. Inadequate water intake
will make the urine cloudy, which is hard on the urinary system. Water
has the ability to dilute the toxins in the body that are to be excreted
and is also helpful in digestion. As a result, the three ways of toxin
excretion, bowel movements, urine and sweat, become smoother, and consequently,
the health of the elderly person will improve.
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