Boost The Brain's Power Through Tai Chi

We all have heard those horror stories about losing the brain's cells at an early age and how that can effect our memory and cognitive skills. . Now there is something you can do about it.  And it does not involve buying expensive equipment or spending lots of money on supplements.  The answer?  Why, tai chi, of course.

In the June 19, 2012 edition of the  Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, a team of researchers from China's Shanghai Fudan University and the University of South Florida, reported on an eight month study they conducted of Chinese seniors who practiced the art of tai chi at least three times a week. They found that comparing those individuals with those who did not practice tai chi, those who did practice it had increased brain volume.  In turn, that resulted in improvements in both memory and cognitive function.

So, if you are having trouble remembering where you put the car keys, try tai chi.  Who knows, you might even find the keys. Let me know if it seems to work for you.

City of Parks: Great Minneapolis Parks

Minneapolis is known for the Vikings, the Twins and the Metrodome as well as the skywalks between downtown buildings that provide shelter to workers on cold winter days. What a lot of people are unaware of is that it is also a city full of parks.  Yes, parks.The land of 10,000 lakes is host to 182 parks, many of them on or near one of those lakes. On a recent visit to the Twin Cities, we visited several of those parks and were pleasantly surprised at their variety and the extensive use made of those parks.

Minnehaha falls is a wonderful place for a picnic or even a wedding, both of which we saw while visiting there. Located south of downtown Minneapolis, it has a wonderful waterfall, which drains into the Mississippi river.  No, it is not as high as Niagara Falls, but it is impressive.

There is a small concession stand where soft drinks and beer are available for drinking inside or alfresco. Bicycles, including one that can accommodate four people, are also available for use on the many trails throughout the park.  Parking in the designated lots is at a premium so be prepared to park your car on the street and walk to the falls.

Two other parks also merit mention.  These are Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, which are located about five minutes apart near the Uptown section of the city.  Both have walking and biking trails around the lake, each of which is around 3 miles long. They have small beaches where limited swimming is permitted. One of the benefits of walking around Calhoun is the presence of a small restaurant called the Tin Fish.  It offers mainly fish dishes (no surprise there) including fish tacos and walleye sandwiches. On the weekends, the lines can be quite long, so be prepared to wait. It is definitely worth the wait.

For more information on these and other parks in the Minneapolis area, visit www.minneapolisparks.org

Financial Freedom

The road to financial freedom can be a bumpy one. With children costing some $250,000 to raise according to some published reports (and that does not even include college, which can run another $250,000 at certain private schools) and the prospect of also having to take care of grandchildren (a not uncommon event these days), no wonder more and more people are choosing to defer retirement or even giving up the thought of retiring altogether.  We will try to give you some strategies which may help you through the thicket of information surrounding items such as mutual funds, Social Security, 401 (k)s, IRAs and other financial matters. Of course, you should always consult with a financial professional before manking any changes in your plans and there is no guarantee that you will make money.  We will try to be as factual as we can concerning these topics based upon our independent research, but keep in mind, no one strategy works for everyone.

In our next web we will discuss when you can receive Social Security and what other options you may have.  So, be on the lookout for it.

Fatigue

Today's "New York Times" has two intriguing stories on fatigue.The first discusses whether ginseng can help relieve the fatigue suffered by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ginseng is an herb or root that can also be found in supplement form. Although the article refers to a study that concluded that taking 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of ginseng can provide some relief from the sometimes paralyzing fatigue, it also cautioned that the long term impact of using ginseng was still unclear.

The second article, entitled "Statin Drugs Cause Fatigue in Some People" reports on a study from the June 11 Archives of Internal Medicine.  Statin drugs are regularly prescribed to lower cholesterol. Although its positive effects in lowering cholesterol are well-documented, the new study seems to support the long-held suspicion that one of its side effects may cause fatigue in some people, particularly women. Some participants in the study took between 20 and 40 milligrams of either
simvastatin or pravastatin.  Others were given a placebo.  More fatigue was reported in those taking the statin drugs than those taking the placebo.

As the lead researcher, Dr, Beatrice Golomb of the University of California, San Diego, cautioned, patients taking the drugs need to discuss the matter with their physicians if they notice the side effects.

Tara

For those of you who enjoy a bit of Southern hospitality but don't have the chance to actually visit the South, Tara-A Country Inn is the place for you.

Located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, about a 90 minute drive from Pittsburgh and about an hour from Cleveland, Ohio,it is a wonderful weekend getaway at a reasonable price. If you are a fan of "Gone With the Wind", this is the place for you. Named for the antebellum mansion in that book and movie, it offers some 27 luxurious guest rooms, all named for some aspects of the book, the Rhett Butler, Scarlett, etc. Built in 1854, it was opened as a country inn by the late Jim Winner and his wife Donna in 1986. Mr. Winner was noted as an entrepreneur (he was responsible for the popularity of the "Club" automobile safety device popular in the '70s and '80s) as well as his civic efforts on behalf of the Mercer County area, particularly Sharon, Pennsylvania.

When you arrive at the inn for a visit, you are greeted by the bellman, who offers you a glass of champagne as he takes you to your room.  In your room, you will find a bottle of champagne and several small snacks to tide you over until dinner. The rooms are quite spacious and include vintage furniture as well as in-room Jacuzzis and televisions and DVD players. (A large selection of DVDs is available. Just ask at the front desk)

Sprinkled throughout the Inn and the beautifully-manicured grounds (the smell of boxwood fills the air) are numerous large bronze statutes, most with a Western theme. Also, there are many Civil War artifacts and memorabilia from the movie. It is worth taking one of the tours to learn about those as well as the mansion itself.

One of the highlights of any visit is the food! Guests are invited to attend a tea on weekends at 4:00 p.m. that includes a large selection of teas (Plantation Mint is one of my favorites and particularly appropriate) as well as several pastries, including scones with clotted cream, cookies as well as chocolate-covered strawberries and egg salad sandwiches. At 6:00 p.m. a cocktail party is held in one of the parlors. A champagne punch is offered as well as cheese and crackers. Both are included as part of the "Gone With the Wind" package.

Also included in the package is dinner and breakfast at one of the fine restaurants, Ashley and Stonewall. We have eaten in Ashley's several times and it offers outstanding cuisine consisting of a seven course menu that begins with soup (last time we had asparagus consomme) and ends with a pastry with brie cheese and port wine or Christian Brothers brandy. In between are salads, appetizers such as beef carpaccio,  entrees such as beef medallions and desserts, including cherries jubilee (my favorite) and bananas Foster (a favorite of my wife). Both are flamed in the dining room before your eyes. A piano player, a large sparkling crystal chandelier and a large mural covering the walls showing plantation life create a truly romantic atmosphere. Many of the couples are celebrating wedding anniversaries and birthdays. A jacket and tie is required for men at dinner and reservations are a must for both dinner and breakfast. Breakfast is also wonderful, including fried french toast and buttermilk pancakes.

 Tara is a favorite place for wedding ceremonies and receptions.  The weddings take place in a large gazebo and the receptions in a large tent next to the outdoor pool. There is also an indoor heated pool.

For more information, contact Tara at 724-962-3535 or view the website at www.Tara-Inn.com.

We highly recommend Tara as a refreshing getaway.

Stress: Who is Stressed and Who Isn't

In a recent study published in "The Journal of Applied Social Psychology", researchers from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania reported on the results of three national surveys measuring the degree of stress in various groups of individuals.  The surveys, conducted in 1983, 2006 and 2009, showed some surprising results.  In all three surveys, it was found that stress levels were higher in women than men and stress decreased with age. Apparently that is one of the benefits of being older.

Not surprisingly, the surveys also showed that the unemployed showed higher levels of stress than the retired.  The young were particularly hard hit by the economic downturn beginning in 2008 as they found it difficult to find jobs.

One way to relieve stress, whatever your age, sex or employment status is meditation.  So, click on one of the recommended cites listed on this blog.  It could well help.

Meditation and Tai Chi

I begin each morning by doing a meditation exercise.  Usually while still laying in bed, I will just concentrate on my breathing. With my eyes closed, I will do this for as long as I feel comforable.  Sometimes it is just a minute, sometimes it is half an hour. No matter. Even a short period of meditation seems to make a difference in my attitude, sense of well-being and mental acuity.

I usually follow up with a session of tai chi.  If you are not familiar with tai chi it is a form of martial art without the martial.  It is very nature oriented in its movements and is said to follow  the path of least resistance.  Yet it is great for stretching and improving balance.  A great resource is the exercise dvds of an instructor, Scott Cole.  www.scottcole.com. He has videos of all types and for all age groups focused primarily on tai chi but with additional types of exercise such as yoga. Check it out.

For more information on meditation, click on the relevant links on this post.