3 AAPI Inspired Wellness Practices To Add To Your Health & Wellness Routine

While wellness practices like yoga and acupuncture are known worldwide, they have a rich history in Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Read on to discover how three of today’s most popular AAPI-inspired wellness practices came to be and the proven health benefits they have for your body and mind…

Yoga

Yoga has become an umbrella term for exercise that involves a sequence of body positions that can help you become more fit or flexible, improve your breathing, and relax your mind. According to The Yoga Institute, yoga originated in India all the way back in 2700 BC as a way to harmonize body and mind through breathing exercises and movement.

The Benefits of Yoga:

• Perfect For All Skill Levels: Even those with limited mobility can find beginner yoga practices at their local gym or online.
• Improved Flexibility: Even beginner techniques have been shown to improve flexibility and mobility in people of all ages.
• Better Sleep: Studies show that practicing yoga consistently before bed can better prepare your body for deep sleep.
• Stress Relief: Positions known as ‘asanas’ have been proven to reduce stress, and breathing techniques in yoga can help ease anxiety.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi originated in China as a martial art over 700 years ago, though today it is more commonly known as a low-impact, slow-motion exercise. While you may spot older people practicing at your local park, it’s a wellness practice of “meditation in motion” is perfect for people of all ages and abilities.

The Benefits of Tai Chi:

• Muscle Strength: Many tai chi movements require crouching and controlled arm movement which can help build strong muscles.
• Improved Balance: Tai chi improves proprioception, the ability to sense the position of one’s body. When bodily awareness increases, the chance of falling decreases.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a wellness technique that originated in China over 2,500 years ago, is the insertion of fine needles into the skin to treat a host of body pains and aches. Today, acupuncture is practiced in over 100 countries with studies proving its effects.

The Benefits of Acupuncture:

• Headache Relief: Acupuncture’s influence on the nervous system can help ease tension headaches and migraines.
• Improved Back Pain: Recent studies show that acupuncture can have the same pain-relieving effect as anti-inflammatory drugs for back and neck pain.

Do you incorporate any of these wellness practices into your health and wellness routine? If so, let us know which ones and how it’s working for you in the comments below and until next week, be happy, healthy, and beautiful!