What Happened?

We at Chilady.com are not doctors, scientists, or health-care professionals. We are just ordinary people who have loved ones in pain. How could such man-made technology as the Chi Machine produce such amazing results? Why should we be able to expect such improvement in health and to consistently duplicate amazing results on any number of conditions? We devoured information anywhere we could, newspaper articles, journals, and treatises, books, as well as health department releases from all over the world. We asked questions, and asked more questions, and still more questions.

The Sun Harmony/Sun Ancon Chi Machine is advertised as a passive aerobic exerciser. What is that?

An article in the New York Daily News- © 2004 Healthology, Inc. “Maximizing Your Aerobic Workout” written by, Daniel L. Millrood, MSPT - New York Medical College defined aerobic exercise in a way that even we at chilady.com could understand. It broke down the energy conversion process in terms of 3 engines with fuel tanks of varying sizes that runs on different fuels created from and replenished by the foods we eat.
· One engine is responsible for the rapid production of a large amount of energy for your muscles in a very short period of time. This engine has a very small fuel tank. Its fuel is derived from a substance called creatine phosphate and does not require oxygen to run; therefore, it is anaerobic. For example, this engine will predominate when lifting weights.
· The second engine is also responsible for the rapid production of energy, but needs a little more time than the first engine. This engine's fuel tank is larger and it can provide energy for your muscles during a short period of time. Its fuel is the sugar glucose and, like the first engine, it does not require oxygen to run; therefore, it is anaerobic as well. This engine will predominate, for example, during a half-mile run.
· The third engine that provides energy to your muscles takes longer to do so. However, it can provide large amounts of energy over a long period of time. Because of this long time frame, this engine needs a very large fuel tank. The fuel is the carbohydrate glycogen and does require oxygen to produce energy; therefore, it is aerobic.
Ok, that makes sense. I think. The Sun Ancon/Sun Harmony Chi Machine brochures report that using the Chi Machine just 5 minutes is the equivalent of a 30-minute brisk walk in terms of oxygenating the blood.

We found this excerpt by Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-director of the Sports Medicine Center at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.:

“Aerobic exercise: Why and how”, from MayoClinic.com - Special to CNN.com - April 01, 2003.

Burning calories
“Your body burns calories all the time to maintain such basic activities as breathing, blood circulation and organ function. The energy to maintain these functions is referred to as your resting or basal metabolic rate. Any activity beyond these basic functions requires additional energy. This energy is obtained by burning glycogen (the stored form of carbohydrates) and fat.
When you participate in aerobic exercise, your body burns calories. Although a fat calorie is the same as a glycogen calorie, you can vary your exercise to focus on burning one or the other. To burn fat, choose an activity that's low to moderate in intensity and takes longer, such as brisk walking, swimming or square dancing.
Short-term, higher-intensity activities (anaerobic exercises), such as 100-yard sprints, tend to burn glycogen. These short, intense activities, however, won't burn fat as effectively and therefore aren't as effective for weight loss. They're also more stressful to the body in general, and you may put yourself at risk of injuring yourself or overstressing your cardiovascular system if you're not in shape.”
Hmmm, aerobic or anaerobic, with or without oxygen, because of Chilady’s age, weight-lifting and 100 yard sprints (both anaerobic exercises) would probably never enter her daily routine but 15 minutes on the Chi Machine is the equivalent of a 4 mile brisk walk in terms of oxygenation of the blood without increasing the heart-rate.
At Chilady.com, we believe our most precious gift is time, the quality and quantity of the time spent with family and friends. We are convinced that using the Sun Harmony/Ancon passive aerobic exerciser will allow all of us in the Chilady.com family, young, old, male and female to enjoy longer and healthier lives.
We would like to hear what you think and encourage comments on our research. If you would like to post any information, rebuttals, or stories / testimonials, please feel free. We, on the other hand, are going to lie down, relax, breath deep and “Chi-out”