Chinese New Year (also known as the lunar new year) is the most important holiday for Chinese people around the world. The celebration begins today and lasts 15 days. It is celebrated with a plethora of dinners, which are as much about reuniting with family as they are about the wonderful cuisine. During the festivities, there may be a traditional lion dance, fireworks display, or martial arts and tai chi demonstrations. There is the traditional exchange of red envelopes containing money, which are passed from older family members to the younger ones. And finally, on the last day, there is the Lantern Festival, where revelers carry lighted lanterns throughout the streets.

You can celebrate too, and stay healthy doing it, by joining in on some of these activities throughout the year. Try to eat dinner together as a family on a regular basis. Chinese cuisine is a nutritious option for dinner. That is, if it is cooked at home with low-sodium sauces and not deep fried.

Also consider getting into Chinese exercise regimes like kung fu, tai chi, or qi gong, all of which have known benefits in overall health.

High-impact martial arts like kung fu help improve aerobic capacity and bone density. Kung fu has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, body muscle endurance, and muscle velocity in overweight teenagers.

Tai chi is a Chinese exercise system that uses slow, safe, smooth body movements to achieve a state of relaxation of both body and mind. It has been shown in numerous studies to improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and balance control. Qi gong, sometimes referred to as medical tai chi, is a Chinese system of physical exercises or movements performed in a meditative state. Both tai chi and qi gong have been shown to be very helpful for people who suffer from chronic pain.

One study by The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto examined the health effects of qi gong on 80 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a condition that causes joint pain. The children participated in an exercise regime of either qi gong three times a week, or high impact aerobics three times a week. Qi gong significantly improved physical function. Also, the children were likely to stick with qi gong than with the aerobics. And that’s important too – children enjoy qi gong!

Chinese New Year is a time of festivity and fun. Enjoying time together as a family, eating nutritious meals, and participating in martial arts and other Chinese exercise regimes, are all ways we can make this celebration a part of our everyday lives.