Arthritic pain is one of the major complaints of people over the age of 60 and for many it seems to be almost normal and natural to have some sort of pain and stiffness. I dare to say that arthritis, like many other illnesses, has its cause in our modern sedentary life style and unhealthy eating habits.

There is no easy way to have that healthy, slim body you always wanted – it takes self-discipline and hard work – diet and regular exercise.  If there was an easier way, believe me, I would have found it by now.  Here are some tips to help you navigate around perpetual food issues – especially for those of us who are food addicts . . .

Fitness center owner Judit Rajhathy has twenty years experience as a Nutritional Consultant and accredited Acupuncturist (D.Ac. Canada), well-known national health lecturer (Canada), former fitness instructor, and author of the best-selling Canadian health book Free to Fly: a journey toward wellness.

Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.” This study laid out a way to save our society, perhaps billions of dollars annually, and possibly save some patients with mild chronic hypertension the potential negative side effects of chronic lifelong medication. However, this largely hasn’t occurred.

Factors such as stress, and negative emotions such as depression and distress, are widely believed to contribute to the development of heart disease and the triggering of symptoms and heart attacks. Prevention Magazine backs this up.

According to a twenty-year study by Kaiser Permanente, between seventy and eighty-five percent of illness is caused by stress, meaning that in the U.S. alone stress is costing us about one-trillion dollars per year in healthcare costs. Since most absenteeism is due to stress, US business is losing upwards of $300 billion per year.

Today’s medical procedures can improve our lives, but a lot of us still eat too much and do too little exercise. This lifestyle contributes to diabetes, arthritis and other conditions that leave some people with limited and sometimes painful mobility. Most of us want to live long, enjoyable lives. The ancient Chinese weren't all that different from us in that regard and discovered a way to enhance and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Everyone knows the importance of regular exercise. Unfortunately, there are so many fitness programs available today, most of us are often confused as to which are the best. Turn on the television and without a doubt soon you will see the latest commercial for a fitness fad, from Booty Ballet to 20 minute ABS. Consequently, it becomes very confusing as to what program is really going to provide a balanced fitness program.. The two that seems to be in the forefront of almost every health club and fitness center are Tai Chi and Yoga.