title: Curriculum, Practice, and Diet Predict Health Among Experienced Taiji and Qigong Practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential influence of curriculum, frequency of practice, and dietary quality on the health of experienced Taiji and qigong practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Theoretical and cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses from a volunteer sample of Taiji practitioners from across the United States were collected using an online survey. The instrument was designed to collect data on health-related quality of life, diet, and Taiji practice regimens. All experienced (≥4 years) practitioners (n = 94; mean age, 55.82 years [range, 24-83 years]) were included in the analysis. Relationships among self-reported health, diet, experience, practice frequency, and curricular complexity were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Practitioners' health status did not show the typical negative association with age and was positively associated with complex curricula, practice, and high-quality diets. Significant interaction effects were seen between (1) curricular complexity and additional practice (p < 0.05) and (2) curricular complexity and diet (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intervention designers, Taiji teachers, and practitioners should consider the potential influence of curricula, out-of-class practice, and healthy diets for optimizing health-related gains and minimizing age-related losses in interventions and community-based programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Human Development, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Komelski
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Human Development, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blieszner
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Education, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064906:Qigong; D011788:Quality of Life; D026302:Tai Ji; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult