Study: Tai chi may help prevent shingles - USATODAY.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tai chi is already known as a good low-impact exercise for older people. Now a recent study suggests it offers benefits beyond improving fitness and balance: It may help prevent shingles, a painful skin condition.

Researchers found older people who performed the slow, graceful movements of tai chi had a better immune response against the virus that causes shingles than those who only got health education, according to the most rigorous test to date.

It's unclear how tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that has become increasingly popular in the West, affects the immune system. But health experts were encouraged by the positive results.

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Whereas shingles, at least in my experience, often is induced by stress, I can understand why T'ai Chi can help prevent this. The gentle, flowing movements of T'ai Chi, that encourage you to stay in the moment as you perform each movement can drain stress away faster than a foot massage (not to say anything against foot massages). A regular practice of T'ai Chi can indeed relieve many stress-related conditions, viral or otherwise.

In this moment

What time is it? If you looked down at your task-tray clock, you can probably tell me the exact hour, minute and maybe even second. The hour does not matter, the minute does not matter, not even the second. Only this moment, this breath... and the time for that is always NOW.

The past is done. There is nothing I can do to change it, so I need to let it go. Any tragedy or triumph, I just have to let it be there in the past. As for the future... no matter how carefully it's planned, it always seems to turn out differently than expected, even if it's just slightly. Therefore, I don't want to waste a moment concerned about the future. I have things in place that will come to fruition in their moment in the future. They may not turn out as planned, and that's OK. It's OK because right now, I want to be in this moment.

Where are you? No, don't launch google maps or anything... in this moment, all that matters is to be HERE. Not somewhere else.

My mind likes to drift off to other places quite often, it's true... and it's important to stay here in this moment. Because in this moment, right NOW, this is where I am.