Often, when people hear the phrase “Kung Fu,” they think about acrobatic feats or high kicks. However, that is only one part of what Kung Fu in Charlotte actually is. Kung Fu takes different forms and has many health benefits which include improved personal energy and flexibility, enhanced strength, and conditioning of the body as a whole as well as benefiting the mental and emotional states of those who practice it regularly.
Following are some additional health benefits of Kung Fu.
Boost Your Energy: All forms of Kung Fu are centered on the principle of harnessing personal energy. Unlike many other sports, in which people tend to lose energy as they age, Kung Fu enables the practitioner to learn how to renew their stores of energy so that even when they reach middle age or are even older, they still retain the energy of a much younger person.
Stress Relief: Kung Fu in Charlotte is also a way to relieve stress. Tai chi and qigong have both been approved by the conventional medical community as methods of finding stress relief. People who practice this learn to draw energy into their bodies through visualization, breath work and flowing movement.
In addition, basic techniques of Kung Fu help you learn how to restrict the “fight or flight” response of the body by activating the parasympathetic nervous system and helps reduce symptoms related to stress.
This may include strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure and enhancing sleep quality. The results are not purely physical as practitioners may find that it helps alleviate depression and anxiety and improves the mood.
Increased muscle strength: Increased endurance and muscle strength are other obvious benefits of practicing Kung Fu in Charlotte. Through this exercise, you will tone muscles that are important when in fighting stances and forms in the arms, legs, and core. For example, the basic horse stance helps strengthen quadriceps. Even the warm ups done in Kung Fu help to make the abdominals and arm muscles stronger for the repeated punches and strikes needed in different forms.
Improve Strength and Flexibility: Unlike many workouts that focus on either strength or flexibility, Kung Fu in Charlotte helps develop both. The repeated kicks, punches, and pivots of the hips stretch the entire body and develop flexibility while increasing strength at the same time. Many Kung Fu workout practices also involve special stretching techniques to increase flexibility in various muscle groups in the body.
Improved Mental Focus: The meditation and breath work done in some forms of Kung Fu can help improve mental focus and result in a more relaxed mental and physical state. Breath training can provide health benefits such as increased lung capacity, an improved ability to absorb oxygen, and a stronger flow of qi (chi), which helps to increase energy and improve the overall condition of the body.
If you would like to know how Kung Fu in Charlotte can benefit you, please call our office or stop by today and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Taking a Kung Fu class is a great way to learn self defense. I like what you said about improving flexibility. My neighbor wants to take such a class with his son.