Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art, helps older adults prevent falls and improve balance.

Tai Chi can help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

Tai Chi improves balance and mobility in older adults with degenerative arthritis.

Tai Chi can help prevent falls in seniors living at home.

Reducing fall risk and improving protective responses may prevent fractures and serious injuries in the elderly.

Exercise programs that reduced fall-related injuries emphasized balance training.

Tai Chi is a health-promoting exercise beneficial for older adults.

Practicing Tai Chi can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

Tai Chi can help reduce the risk of falls and fractures in older adults.

Exercise that strengthens balance, muscle strength, and endurance can help prevent falls in older adults.

Tai Chi can be adapted for older adults with mobility or balance issues by modifying the practice.

Tai chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that reduces stress and improves focus through slow movements.

Tai chi can help improve balance and mobility, making it beneficial for healthy aging, especially for older adults with mobility issues.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong help cultivate and manage the body's energy, known as Chi.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong offer numerous health benefits, including improved flexibility, balance, strength, and emotional well-being.

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that can help lower blood pressure through meditation and mind-body workout.

Regular Tai Chi practice is linked to several health benefits, including mental clarity, lower stress, flexibility, and improved cardiovascular health.

Tai Chi can help reduce falls in older adults with balance problems.

Tai Chi improves stability and overall health in older adults.

Good balance depends on sensory information from the eyes, muscles, and inner ear.

Balance training can improve posture and reduce pain and injuries.

Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art, helps older adults prevent falls and improve balance.

Title:

Content: Learn about the sport of Tai Chi
The German health centre says Tai Chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art, also known as shadow boxing.
It combines physical training, self-defense and meditation.
The focus of Tai Chi is on body tightening, mental alertness and breathing, the center explained, noting that motor training consists of a series of traditional Chinese physical exercises that flow smoothly with each other in order to achieve harmony between body and soul.
Muscle and Joint Stimulation
In this way all the muscles, tendons, joints and bones are stimulated and stretched in a gentle way.
The upright position of the back during exercise creates a stretching effect in the spine, relieving pressure on the intervertebral discs.
The nervous system is also positively affected by the gentle posture of the back.
Studies have suggested that tai chi reduces the risk of falls in older adults thanks to its ability to improve their balance.
The sport also has a positive effect on degenerative arthritis, the symptoms of which are knee stiffness, pain and swelling.
Improve lung function
Tai chi is also beneficial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as it improves lung function.
It is also useful for patients with Parkinson ’ s, which affects the nervous system and its symptoms are disorders of movement, tremor of the hands, stiffness and instability of the body position, where sports contribute to improving balance and mobility.
In addition, tai chi improves the cognitive functioning of the brain, making it also useful for dementia patients.
On the other hand, slow flowing movements have a relaxing and meditative effect, helping to feel relaxed, calm and psychologically comfortable.
Source: German

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi can help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi improves balance and mobility in older adults with degenerative arthritis.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi can help prevent falls in seniors living at home.

Title:

Content: Exercise programs meant to prevent falls in seniors may also help prevent injuries caused by falls, according to a new review.

Fall-related injuries are common among seniors and a major cause of long-term pain and disability. They also increase the risk of having to go to a nursing home and have a high economic cost.

The new findings, published online Oct. 29 in the journal bmj.com, suggest that "reducing the risk of falling and improving protective responses during a fall may be an important and feasible means of preventing fractures and other serious injuries in the elderly," the study authors wrote in a journal news release.

Well-designed exercise programs can prevent falls in seniors living at home, but there is a lack of evidence on whether such programs can help prevent fall-related injuries, said French researchers Fabienne El-Khoury and colleagues.

In this review, they analyzed 17 studies that looked at whether fall-prevention exercises lowered seniors' risk of fractures and other injuries caused by falls. More than 4,000 participants were involved in all.

Tai Chi was the exercise in two of the studies, but most of them used gait, balance, strength and functional training, which involves workouts that help people do normal daily activities.

Most of the programs reduced fall-related injuries and appeared to significantly curb falls that lead to fractures, serious injuries and medical care.

Balance training was emphasized in all of the exercises that were effective in preventing falls, the researchers noted.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about older adults and falls.

Latest videos

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What have studies shown about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms of Parkinson's disease that may cause falls of elderly patients.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Reducing fall risk and improving protective responses may prevent fractures and serious injuries in the elderly.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Exercise programs that reduced fall-related injuries emphasized balance training.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi is a health-promoting exercise beneficial for older adults.

Title:

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Jackie Chan ’ s daughter Ng Cheuk-lin is seen queuing for free food “dressed like a homeless man ”
Jinshan popular shopping mall attempted carjacking, shooting, people are shocked: it is crazy
World Daily “Dance for Life ” 200 Elderly People Show Their Passion
World Daily News and United Health Care held a “Dancing Life ” talk for the elderly on the morning of October 8 (Saturday), with 200 people dancing out of health and new life.
(Video source: reporter Zhang Hong)
Due to the on-site teaching activities, the seating space is wider, and only 200 chairs can be placed in the 300-seat venue.
On that day, three lectures were focused on health and wellness. Among them, two invited Mr. Chu Yicheng and Mr. Xing Ruhong, a taijiquan teacher, to demonstrate and teach, and more than 200 elderly people danced with music, brimming with a healthy and happy atmosphere; the other was explained by the red and blue card program of United Health Insurance Company.
The aim of the event is to bring everyone to a healthy old age, and let everyone dance healthily through gentle exercises such as dance and tai chi, said Yu Ching, president of the Los Angeles World Journal, the organizer.
At the same time, the site will also provide practical information and rich prizes, so that everyone can gain a lot.
Rita Tolbert, director of multicultural marketing at UnitedHealth, said that she hopes to provide everyone with health education activities, and hope that people will have more information and make the right choices before they choose health insurance at the end of the year.
Yuanji Dance is a fusion of dance, martial arts, qigong and tai chi, according to Zhu Yicheng, president of Yuanji Dance South Canada.
Yuan Pole Dance originated in mainland China, and then Taiwan purchased the copyright and made some movement corrections, and then brought it to the United States.
The music of the pole dance is very beautiful, suitable for the elderly to learn, he and his wife learn pole dance to improve their health and sleep.
Yuan pole dance instructor Susan Lin teaches the "Golden Lotus Open" dance set for everyone. Yuan pole dance volunteers stand in different directions to lead everyone to learn together.
Many elderly people in the venue have stood up to do the action with the volunteers, and some people can not stand up and also waved in their seats.
In the Taijiquan lecture, Mr. Xing Ruhong, founder of the "Thunder Gate Taijiquan Association", explained what Taijiquan is and what are the benefits of practicing Taijiquan.
He said, tai chi is health is also martial arts, tai chi moves people can do at home.
He taught everyone how to do the cloud hand movement on the spot, and many of the elderly people under the stage are obviously too old hands, and the various gestures are quite standard, so that Teacher Xing shouted "You are my teacher."
Health Care World Daily Red and Blue Card
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Wah Weng single leg acupoint foreign answer won the prize
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Los Angeles Celebration Double Ten Wine Party, Political and Overseas Chinese Students
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How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

Promoting relaxation
Enhance balance
Increased flexibility

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What have studies shown about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms of Parkinson's disease that may cause falls of elderly patients.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Enhanced flexibility.
An overall sense of well-being.
Improved cardiovascular health.
Lower stress levels.

What study was included in trials combining excercise with a cognitive compoent?

Cognitively enhanced tai chi in older adults at risk for dementia.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Practicing Tai Chi can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

How does Tai Chi enhance balance and body coordination?

It incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi can help reduce the risk of falls and fractures in older adults.

Title:

Content: Health · Life
How to prevent falls in the winter? Scientific exercise helps reduce risk
December 10, 2021 16: 06 Source: People 's Daily Online
For older people, falling is no small thing.
According to the official micro-news of the China CDC, the low temperature in winter affects the physical activity of the elderly.
Rain and snow are common, and the ground is slippery and slippery to increase the risk of falls in the elderly
The China CDC reminds every elderly person and caregiver of the elderly to take the initiative to prevent elderly people from falling.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that scientific exercise can help reduce the risk of falls and fractures in the elderly, and the elderly do not break their exercise habits in winter and holidays, and can be replaced by indoor exercise when the weather is bad.
When the elderly exercise, under the premise of ensuring safety, attention should be paid to strengthening functional exercise such as balance ability, muscle strength and endurance.
For example, Taijiquan, Baduanjin and other sports can be carried out, and there are some small moves to strengthen exercise for preventing elderly people from falling.
Families are a common place for falls among the elderly.
The Chinese CDC suggests that the home environment can be adapted for aging.
For example, the ground anti-skid treatment, in the toilet, toilet, stairs and other positions to install handrails, remove the indoor floor height difference, improve indoor lighting and lighting, night can use night lights, replace the height and soft and hard uncomfortable sofa, etc., remove the indoor will hinder the elderly moving items.
In addition, the rain and snow weather elderly should be minimized to go out.
When the elderly go out, it is necessary to slow down the pace of walking, wear anti-skid shoes, don't put your hands in your pockets, and use a walking stick when necessary.
To choose a flat ground, few obstacles, handrails, good light road to walk.
When going up and down stairs, rolling stairs and steps, it is necessary to walk slowly and stand firmly.
(Editor: Sun Hongli, Lu Qian)
Related News

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Exercise that strengthens balance, muscle strength, and endurance can help prevent falls in older adults.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi can be adapted for older adults with mobility or balance issues by modifying the practice.

Title:

Content: 7 Exercises Necessary for Perfect Balance
Balance is your ability to coordinate and control your body ’ s center of gravity – in everyday life you have to deal with this all the time!
For example, your balance ensures that you can walk without falling.
(Illustrated - Gettyimages)
Although it may not occur to you, you need a good balance to do almost everything, including walking, getting up from a chair and bending over to tie your shoes.
Balance training involves doing muscle-strengthening exercises that help keep you upright, including your legs and torso as these types of exercises can improve stability and help prevent falls.
And while there are intense balancing exercises like some very challenging yoga poses, others are as simple as standing on one leg for a few seconds.
If you have a problem with this, you can use equipment that forces your body to stabilize, such as a semi-circular stability ball.
Meaning of Balance
Balance is your ability to coordinate and control your body ’ s center of gravity – in everyday life you have to deal with this all the time!
For example, your balance ensures that you can walk without falling, that you can sit up straight, and that you can jump over a hole without falling.
Your body uses different systems: your eyes (the visual system) help you see the space around you, your inner ear (the vestibular system) records rotating movements and accelerations, and the receptors in your joints and muscles and the pressure receptors in your skin (together the stimulus receptor system) transmit changes in your posture.
All the stimuli your body receives through these systems come together in your central nervous system, and your brain in turn sends the message to your muscles that adapt immediately to prevent you from falling; all this has to happen at lightning speed and that ’ s what it should be, as our bodies have to adapt constantly as we move.
With the help of balanced training, you can teach your muscles to respond more quickly to brain messages as this allows you to improve fine motor and coordination skills.
Areas targeted by balance
• Middle: Yes, balance exercises target this area, you need strong core muscles to achieve good balance, many stability exercises work to exercise the abdominal muscles and other core muscles.
• Forearms: No, balance exercises do not target these ends, most balance exercises revolve around balance on your feet.
Legs: Yes, the legs are definitely areas where balance is targeted, and exercises in which you balance on one leg and then squat or lean forward also work to exercise the leg muscles.
Buttock: Yes, the same balance exercises that work on the legs also work to strengthen the buttocks.
Back: Another area targeted by balance exercises, where your core muscles include some of your back muscles.
Good balance depends on:
Sensory information from your eyes (visual system), muscles, tendons, joints (stimulation inputs), and balance organs in the inner ear (vestibular system).
The brain stem understands all of this sensory information combined with other parts of the brain.
Movement of your eyes to keep things stable in your vision and maintain your balance.
What are the benefits of balance training?
The benefits of balance training are great, for example:
• You can improve your posture and you can stand or sit better.
• Train your deep muscles, especially the muscles in the torso and around the spine.
• Reduce back wear and less muscle pain due to poor posture.
Prevent injuries during exercise and in daily life because your body is not constantly out of balance, causing muscle strain.
• Ability to perform movements more efficiently and smoothly.
A positive effect on how your body feels and your performance improves as you make faster progress.
• Improve the motor coordination of the body.
How often do you have to do this type of training?
You have to aim to do balance workouts one to two times a week, this applies to beginners all the way to advanced athletes, and it is very important that professionals improve their stability as well.
Simple exercises to get the perfect balance:
Tai Chi (Tai Chi)
Studies show that tai chi, a gentle exercise often called “movement meditation, ” can help you reduce falls if you ’ re older and have balance problems, a skilled teacher can show you slow and precise movements that help you not only achieve more stability but also boost your overall health and mood as well.
Standing on one leg (one-legged stand)
Start by installing yourself on the back of the chair or any other sturdy handle.
Raise one foot to approximately calf level and hold for 10 seconds.
• Repeat this 10-15 times and then move on to the other leg.
As time goes on and your balance improves you may be able to continue in this situation without fixating yourself on any purpose.
Weight Shifts (Weight Shifts)
Stand with your feet spaced by the width of your hip.
Slowly lean forward horizontally on one leg to bear all your weight while lifting the other leg off the ground.
• Wait for up to 30 seconds, then move to the other side.
You can do the same exercise while standing straight and raising one leg forward or left / right.
• Yoga and Pilates
To maintain your balance, you need muscles that can hold you while standing, walking, or doing other movements. These muscles are known as your “core muscles. ” Yoga and Pilates involve movements that help you stretch and strengthen these muscles, but first consult your doctor before starting and to learn the movements correctly it is a good idea to join a nearby class taught by a certified instructor.
Heel-to-Toe Walk
Walk slowly in a straight line.
• Touch your heel to the opposite toe as you progress.
Walk about 20 steps using the wall for support if you feel unsteady.
Back Leg Raises (Back Leg Raises)
To build up the lower back and buttocks, try raising your back leg while standing upright.
Hold a chair and lift one of your legs back without bending your knee or pointing your toe.
• Keep the leg on the floor slightly bent.
• Hold position for 5 seconds.
Do this 10-15 times with the first leg before moving on to the other leg.
• Squats (squats)
To strengthen the muscles of your legs and pelvis, do a squat exercise.
Stand up straight, make your feet slightly wider than your hips while pointing your toes forward.
Bend your knees and send your ass back, and slowly descend as if you were sitting.
Place your weight on your heels and arms in front of you or on your thighs.
Raise yourself once and repeat 10 times.
To get a better idea of how strong your balance is while standing, lift one foot and see how long you can keep it there, or test your balance as you move and try to walk as if you were on a tightrope for 10 steps and see how it goes, you ’ ve probably noticed that one side is much stronger and more coordinated than the other.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that reduces stress and improves focus through slow movements.

Title:

Content: Homepage

A financial analyst explains how tai chi 'stress bending' helped her avoid burnout in her high-stakes career

  • Former financial analyst Shirley Chock said tai chi helped her thrive in a career prone to burnout.
  • She now teaches tai chi full-time to help others boost their focus and energy while reducing stress.
  • Tai chi has been linked to a longer life, lower risk of illness, and better mental health, research suggests.
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Former Yale financial analyst Shirley Chock is no stranger to stress.

Throughout her career, she saw her peers crumbling from the pressure of juggling a heavy workload and high-stakes assignments while trying to keep their health and their personal lives afloat.

In contrast, Chock found herself much better off, working her way up through the ranks to a manager position and even netting a Working Mother of the Year award, with energy to spare.

Her "secret" to success? Tai chi, a traditional Chinese martial art known for slow, gentle movements, which she said helped her stress-proof her routine.

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"I realized I was applying what I was learning in the martial art to my career and my life," she told Business Insider. "It was like I discovered a secret scroll because no one talked about tai chi in this way."

Tai chi was the key to staying healthy, focused, and energized in a career that left colleagues burned out, according to Chock.

"They just seemed like they were beaten down and facing obstacles all the time. And it was a much easier road for me to navigate the career," she said. "I had energy at the end of the day."

The experience was so profound that Chock left her finance career to teach the art full time with Aiping Tai Chi, a Connecticut-based school with a growing social media presence.

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Now her goal is to create an "army of stress-benders," demonstrating how to use tai chi to reduce stress, improve focus, and boost physical and mental health even (or especially) in a fast-paced, ambitious lifestyle.

"It helps you to stay centered so that you don't get distracted by all of these things that are trying to pull you away from your focus," Chock said.

How tai chi can make you mentally and physically stronger as you age

Chock found tai chi by accident. She initially used the deliberate, graceful movements of the practice to recover from an injury while training and competing in mixed martial arts and kung fu.

"I thought it would just be a recovery thing for me because I really wanted to do the cool acrobatic moves," Chock said. "I had this misconception that had was for old people like everybody else."

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It's true that tai chi has some serious benefits for healthy aging, helping to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability. Evidence also suggests it can help lower blood pressure, even in younger people. Practicing tai chi has been linked to better wellbeing, lower risk of anxiety, and fewer symptoms of depression in some studies.

But Chock was most excited about how learning tai chi was teaching her about habits to improve focus and energy in the rest of her life, and became hooked on the challenge of mastering the subtly of the art.

For instance, the tai chi concept of allowing your body to flow with gravity instead of resisting it beautifully illustrates how you can choose to respond to life challenges too, prioritizing what matters instead of becoming distracted by conflicts that ultimately aren't worth your energy.

Practicing stress management and focus through movement not only gives you the physical benefits of the exercise, but a deeper understanding of what it means than you might get from picking up a self-help book.

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"You might learn it in theory, but then when you need to apply it, you don't actually have it," Chock said. "Tai chi is a way for you to understand these philosophies in life by learning them through your body. In that moment where you're overloaded, the body just knows what to do."

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What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

An overall sense of well-being.
Higher mental clarity.
Lower stress levels.

Tai chi can help improve balance and mobility, making it beneficial for healthy aging, especially for older adults with mobility issues.

How does Tai Chi enhance balance and body coordination?

It incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong help cultivate and manage the body's energy, known as Chi.

Title:

Content:
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Chi is the key

Inglis Carré

Special to the Village News

What is Chi? It is a special type of energy. Every living thing has Chi. Inanimate objects have it also. Chi flows in our bodies through pathways called meridians and it can be enhanced by special exercises, massage, and meditation. Chi also surrounds us. It is in the very air we breathe.

The Chinese character for Chi represents steam, vapor, or mist rising upward from a pot of rice, which is connected to the concept of nourishment. The vapor or mist calls to mind breathing, which can be controlled to facilitate the flow of Chi in the body. The word "Chi" or "Qi" can be translated as air, energy, or spirit, and the word "Gong" or "kung" means achievement, skill, or work.

Recommendations about cultivating and managing Chi can be found in several cultures. The concept of Chi dates from the ancient Chinese Book of Changes from about 2000 B.C. and has come down to the present day to become "The Force" in "Star Wars." It has been preserved, honored, and known by many names as it has traveled through time.

When we practice the gentle arts of Tai Chi and Chi Gong with attention to magnifying and moving the Chi, we enjoy many health benefits. Among these benefits are enhanced flexibility, balance, strength, cardiovascular health, increase bone density, relaxation of the mind and emotional balance. According to Eastern wisdom, our health improves when we have more energy circulating in our bodies and our ability to handle stress increases.

Whether we are learning Tai Chi or Chi Gong, there are guidelines involving posture, breathing, and mindfulness that help us to circulate the Chi energy. Blockages of the Chi flow can be caused by straining too much in our exercises, being under stress, or holding on to negative emotions. But being totally relaxed and in the present moment, we encourage a connection with the Chi energy which is the key to optimal physical and emotional health.

What does Chi feel like? It manifests in many ways. There could be tingling in your hands or feet. For some people, it is an inner feeling of wellness, wholeness, and calm. There can be a sense of aliveness and awareness that travels out into our surroundings, enriching our interactions with others, and our creative endeavors. Think of Chi as a key to the door between the world of the senses and the world of the spirit.

May the force be with you!

Inglis Carré is a Tai Chi practitioner certified by the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association. She has been teaching Tai Chi and Qigong since 2020. She also has a background in Kenpo Karate and Hung Gar style Kung Fu.

Tai Chi and Chi Gong offer numerous health benefits, including improved flexibility, balance, strength, and emotional well-being.

How does Tai Chi enhance balance and body coordination?

It incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

Promoting relaxation
Enhance balance
Increased flexibility

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Enhanced flexibility.
An overall sense of well-being.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that can help lower blood pressure through meditation and mind-body workout.

Title:

Content: Study suggests tai chi is better than aerobic exercise at lowering blood pressure

According to a recent study, Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, lowers blood pressure more effectively than other types of exercise such as stair climbing or brisk walking. Over a year, Chinese researchers examined two groups of high blood pressure participants—one performing the Chinese martial arts and the other with aerobic exercise.

The study's authors argue that their findings, which were published in the JAMA Network Open Journal, should persuade medical professionals to advocate for moderate martial arts as a means of preventing heart disease in those with high blood pressure.

How was the study conducted?

The study included 349 individuals, 51.5% of whom were women, who had been diagnosed with prehypertension and were randomized to either the aerobic exercise or tai chi group. During a 12-month period, both groups engaged in four weekly 60-minute supervised sessions.

The aerobic exercise interventions comprised jogging, cycling, brisk walking, and climbing stairs. The tai chi group practiced Yang-style tai chi, which consists of 24 standard movements or forms. At baseline, six, and twelve months, blood pressure was measured. The mean change in SBP from baseline to 12 months, as measured while walking and in an office setting, was the main endpoint.

At the end of the research, blood pressure was within normal range in 21.8% of the tai chi group and 15.6% of the aerobic exercise group without medication. In the tai chi group, fewer patients had advanced hypertension (12.0% vs. 17.7%) than in the aerobic exercise group.

What is tai chi?

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that has gained popularity as a kind of meditation and mind-body workout. Its roots are in traditional Chinese medicine and Taoist philosophy, which date back to ancient China.

Key features

This practice is known for its slow, methodical movements that seamlessly transition from one stance to the next. These motions, which are frequently continuous and circular, encourage balance, flexibility, and calmness.

This practice places a strong emphasis on the relationship that exists between the mind and the body. Practitioners emphasize developing an internal awareness, living in the now, and synchronizing their movements with their breath.

This practice includes aspects of meditation that promote a relaxed and concentrated state of mind. People who participate in the technique, which is sometimes referred to as "moving meditation," perform a series of flowing motions while paying close attention.

This practice incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines, which can enhance balance and coordination. Because of this, this Chinese practice is very helpful for senior citizens and anyone looking to improve their stability.

Regular practice has been linked to many health advantages, such as higher mental clarity, lower stress levels, enhanced flexibility, improved cardiovascular health, and an overall sense of well-being.

These results clearly show that this Chinese practice can be very helpful in lowering sympathetic excitability and offering prehypertensive people primary treatment. This practice may be a more beneficial option for controlling high blood pressure than standard aerobic activities, especially for people with prehypertension, according to new research.

Future research is necessary to fully investigate the possible advantages and long-term impacts of this Chinese practice in the management of hypertension.

Edited by Divya Singh

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Regular Tai Chi practice is linked to several health benefits, including mental clarity, lower stress, flexibility, and improved cardiovascular health.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

Promoting relaxation
Increased flexibility

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Enhanced flexibility.
Improved cardiovascular health.
Higher mental clarity.
Lower stress levels.

Tai Chi can help reduce falls in older adults with balance problems.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi improves stability and overall health in older adults.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

It improves the balance of older people.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Good balance depends on sensory information from the eyes, muscles, and inner ear.

Balance training can improve posture and reduce pain and injuries.


The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 is seen by many observers as an attempt by President Erdogan to erase part of the country's multiculturalism and shore up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

The transformation of museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, has been criticized as a move to undermine the country's cultural and religious diversity.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Istanbul's most identifiable monuments, has been particularly contentious.

The move is seen as a compensation by President Erdogan for his weakened internal position due to a bad economy and lack of political perspective.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia and other churches into mosques is part of a broader trend of Islamization in Turkey, which has raised concerns among minority communities and international observers.

The UNESCO World Heritage site's conversion to a mosque in 2020 was criticized, with Turkey responding that UNESCO's criticism was 'biased and political'.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque in 2020 was a decision made by Turkey, led by President Erdogan.

The change has impacted tourist access, with the site now charging an entrance fee and controlling visitor flow to avoid disturbing the prayer environment.

The Greek Orthodox Church has decried the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque as an 'ill-advised decision' that 'makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom'.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia and Chora Church into mosques implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, including Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, and Syriac.

The rededication of the sites as mosques means that artwork of human figures, including mosaics of Jesus and Mary, are forbidden in places of prayer and have been covered with curtains.

Turkey reneged on its promise to keep Hagia Sophia fully accessible and free to all visitors, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The conversion of Chora Church into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's attempt to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn.

Greece, the U.S. State Department, and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

The Turkish government's appropriation of both Hagia Sophia and Chora Church as the property of one faith group constitutes a sign of contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage and imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land.

Greece has criticized the Turkish government’s decision to return the Hagia Sophia and Khora to use as mosques, accusing Ankara of a “personal insult” to another World Heritage site.

The decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan’s ruling party amid an economic downturn.

The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments.

Both Hagia Sophia and Khora have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations, and their conversion into mosques has raised concerns about their preservation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum into mosques in August 2020.

The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.

Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453, by reconverting Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

The transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is seen as a distraction from Turkey's economic problems, which include a strongly falling lira against the dollar.

Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque is criticized for proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.

The Turkish authorities' actions are seen as an attempt to distract citizens from economic issues by emphasizing the Islamization of Turkey.

Erdogan's response to criticism is to 'lead his people to what they deserve' and 'apply the laws of Islam', which is seen as a further emphasis on Islamization.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 was seen as a challenge to global trusteeship by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The decision to return Hagia Sophia to a mosque was made after a Turkish court overturned a 1934 ministerial decision that turned it into a museum on July 10, 2020.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque was a controversial move that promoted democracy in the country, according to President Erdogan.

The historic building was used as a mosque for nearly 500 years before becoming a museum for 86 years, and its reconversion was seen as a restoration of its former glory.

The UNESCO World Heritage List addition of Hagia Sophia in 1985 may have been challenged by the reconversion, as it is one of the most visited historical buildings in Turkey.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 is seen by many observers as an attempt by President Erdogan to erase part of the country's multiculturalism and shore up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

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What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The transformation of museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, has been criticized as a move to undermine the country's cultural and religious diversity.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Istanbul's most identifiable monuments, has been particularly contentious.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The move is seen as a compensation by President Erdogan for his weakened internal position due to a bad economy and lack of political perspective.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia and other churches into mosques is part of a broader trend of Islamization in Turkey, which has raised concerns among minority communities and international observers.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The UNESCO World Heritage site's conversion to a mosque in 2020 was criticized, with Turkey responding that UNESCO's criticism was 'biased and political'.

Title:

Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

Published: Updated:
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Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Read more:

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Turkey says UNESCO criticism of Hagia Sophia conversion ‘biased and political’

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Top Content Trending

The conversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque in 2020 was a decision made by Turkey, led by President Erdogan.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Why did Erdogan restore Hagia Sophia as a mosque in 2020?

Because he wanted to end its 86-year museum status to return it to its original role as a mosque.

The change has impacted tourist access, with the site now charging an entrance fee and controlling visitor flow to avoid disturbing the prayer environment.

The Greek Orthodox Church has decried the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque as an 'ill-advised decision' that 'makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom'.

Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The conversion of Hagia Sophia and Chora Church into mosques implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, including Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, and Syriac.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The rededication of the sites as mosques means that artwork of human figures, including mosaics of Jesus and Mary, are forbidden in places of prayer and have been covered with curtains.

Turkey reneged on its promise to keep Hagia Sophia fully accessible and free to all visitors, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The conversion of Chora Church into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's attempt to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn.

Greece, the U.S. State Department, and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Turkish government's appropriation of both Hagia Sophia and Chora Church as the property of one faith group constitutes a sign of contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage and imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Greece has criticized the Turkish government’s decision to return the Hagia Sophia and Khora to use as mosques, accusing Ankara of a “personal insult” to another World Heritage site.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan’s ruling party amid an economic downturn.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Both Hagia Sophia and Khora have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations, and their conversion into mosques has raised concerns about their preservation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum into mosques in August 2020.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.

Title:

Content: Roundup of news from December 30, 2021
Erdogan the Conqueror
The Turkish president compared the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Constantinople.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453.
In this regard, he, summing up the year, compared the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque with the fall of Tsargrad, reports the UOJ with reference to the publication “Vima Ortodoksiya ”.
According to the head of Turkey, the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is “as important ” for the Turks as the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
However, at the same time, many pay attention to the fact that the Turkish lira in the outgoing year fell strongly against the dollar, and this seriously hit the Turkish economy.
Responding to the criticism, Erdogan said he would “lead his people to what they deserve ” and stressed that he would“ apply the laws of Islam. ”
Thus, the Turkish authorities seek to distract their citizens from economic problems by proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.
The economy of Turkey is not in the best condition, but Erdogan was again able to win the Hagia Sophia.
This is what officials in Ankara are thinking.
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Erdogan seeks to try on the kaftan of Sultan Mehmed II, whose troops captured Constantinople in 1453, by reconverting Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

How did Hagia Sophia become important for Muslims?

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,making it a key religious site for Muslims for centuries.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is seen as a distraction from Turkey's economic problems, which include a strongly falling lira against the dollar.

Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque is criticized for proclaiming the Islamization of Turkey to the detriment of its secular status.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The Turkish authorities' actions are seen as an attempt to distract citizens from economic issues by emphasizing the Islamization of Turkey.

Erdogan's response to criticism is to 'lead his people to what they deserve' and 'apply the laws of Islam', which is seen as a further emphasis on Islamization.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 was seen as a challenge to global trusteeship by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The decision to return Hagia Sophia to a mosque was made after a Turkish court overturned a 1934 ministerial decision that turned it into a museum on July 10, 2020.

Title:

Content: She returned Hagia Sophia to a mosque.
Turkey has challenged global trusteeship
Daily Morning
Istanbul, Turkey
Posted at 29.10.2022 10: 23
Hagia Sophia Mosque (Getty Images)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that the fact that Turkey has returned the Hagia Sophia museum from a museum to a mosque represents a major challenge to the global trusteeship.
Speaking at a ceremony announcing the vision of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) “Turkey ’ s Century ” in Ankara, Erdogan said his country was challenging global tutelage and thanked citizens for their support for the decision to return Hagia Sophia.
He noted that his party has always sought to eliminate any vestiges of guardianship and promote democracy in the country over the past 20 years.
Turkey has lived through a remarkable period in its history in general and the history of Istanbul, especially when Hagia Sophia was transformed from its status as a museum and restored to its former glory as the Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia on July 24, 2020.
The historic building remained a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul.
It was then used as a mosque between 1453 and 1934, nearly 500 years before becoming a museum for 86 years.
It is one of the most visited historical buildings in Turkey by domestic and international tourists, and Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court overturned a 1934 ministerial decision that turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for it to be used again as a mosque after an 86-year hiatus.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque was a controversial move that promoted democracy in the country, according to President Erdogan.

The historic building was used as a mosque for nearly 500 years before becoming a museum for 86 years, and its reconversion was seen as a restoration of its former glory.

How did Hagia Sophia become important for Muslims?

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,making it a key religious site for Muslims for centuries.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

Why did Erdogan restore Hagia Sophia as a mosque in 2020?

Because he wanted to end its 86-year museum status to return it to its original role as a mosque.

The UNESCO World Heritage List addition of Hagia Sophia in 1985 may have been challenged by the reconversion, as it is one of the most visited historical buildings in Turkey.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.