So I've been studying bagua very regularly for about 2/3 of a year now and while doing reading on it I've seen some people claim that after practicing IMA they never get sick anymore. I just wanted to see if this is something that all you IMA practitioners have noticed since you began your IMA career. Personally, I've gotten sick more times than ever this year, but I mostly blame that on the fact that I'm living in a college dorm now where 1 sick person leads to a campus wide epidemic.

Thanks,
Mike

Some adults rarely get sick (often they are in great shape, relatively uninjured, young, & they tend to eat well) -- the rest of us get sick more often (& we tend to be in lesser shape -- or is it just more rounded? -- because we exercise very little or inappropriately, we tend to be more injured, older, & we rarely eat well). Go figure!

Environment can help or hinder those who often get sick (as I find when I get sick there are multiple factors involved, environment being one).

"if you practice IMA's you won't get sick."

Kid, take it with a grain of salt. A little exercise and eating right with proper rest is your best bet. The IMA line is just BS marketing...

Michael,

Some students have been with my teacher for decades & say he only had the sniffles once or twice.

After a couple of years I was getting sick less. Yoiu can't always avoid the germs, but they may not get such a grip on you. I do still get sick in times of higher stress - like the week before my wedding.

At the time I started TCC I started taking vitamins too - so take this for what it's worth.

I think its bunk. In fact I think more often then not you can often over exert yourself doing ot much martial arts. Which I have a habit of doing. And then staying out late on the weekends just really does me in.

I think it helps your natural defenses surly. But don't think your impervious.

I've been of the thought that rather than any special or severe training making one less prone to illness, it was the reverse. It was usually the people who were already less prone to illness who were able to do the training.

Charlie Dubya,
If you spend what you earn, then you are surely going to end up broke.

My teacher use to say that all the time and I would look at him like he was nuts... then I realized what he meant...

You can not train all week and then go out and drink all weekend and stay out late etc. and expect it not too impact your training.

Rich,

I totally agree...but I do the things I love with a passion and since I picked up Hsing-I I've definately been working at it as hard as possible. I can't even stay out at the bars past 12 these days Im usually just too exhausted from practicing Hsing-I all week

I think in terms of just boosting your immune system, the benefits of practicing an IMA is about equal to the benefits of regularly practicing a EMA or going to the gym.

The real problem comes when you max yourself out doing one of these for "maximum benefit" but then still go out and do other things (like I do and like you pointed out).

Hsing-I has already given me the mental strength to finally stop smoking. Its been 5 years since I started and I have been trying to quit ever since. While I have only done Hsing-I since january, I have become concerned enough about my personal health and my ability to practice longer and harder to gain the ressolve to stop smoking. (yay)

Maybe I'll decide to stop drinking in the near future ....well....maybe not

Charlie,

Why are you trying to stay away from the bars after 12? As I recall monkey-bars can be a very strenuous workout no matter the hour.

Quiting smoking is easy. I've done it hundreds of times.

Don't try to stop drinking. That is a terrible idea. The human body is 80% water and you really need to stay hydrated. I hope you haven't imposed the concept on any children, elderly people or pets.

Charlie,
I think you just answered your own question, and I should take my own advice here, but...

As much as we all love to train in Hsing I or Tai Chi, it must not be overtrained daily.

It goes back to the spending what you earn. If you train everyday and earn all this "energy", but spend it all the next day by training "too much" then you will hurt your body and be discouraged from training.

I follow the "everything in moderation" rule. I train hard enough daily to enhance my technique, but I only go all out once a week.

However, take Bob#2 advice and dont stop the bar hopping... theres alot of "yin" out there to be had.