Taijiquan (also known as Tai Chi) is a traditional Chinese martial art, or wushu. Appearing during the mid-seventeenth century in Wenxian County in Henan Province, this wushu form builds upon the yin and yang cycle and     1     (practice) throughout the country by people     2     all ages now.

Modern Taijiquan serves a wide variety of needs. Some practice Taijiquan as     3     slow graceful exercise for health reasons. Others study it as a traditional fighting sport,     4     (equal) stressing the fast-paced, explosive combat aspects along with the softer movements. Still others perform Taijiquan which has been standardized for wushu sport competitions.

Despite the styles or schools, all popularly     5     (recognize) forms of Taijiquan are based on a perfect balance of yin and yang and stress breathing and qigong     6     (build) up internal strength, and the balance of both the mind and body.

So far this unique practice     7     (attract) people from around the world, with about 100 to 150 million people     8     (study) Taijiquan. And after centuries of development by generation of     9     (master), Taijiquan is still a living, breathing art, one     10     is continuously advancing to meet the needs of people in today's society.

3 . You may have seen them coming quickly towards you or passing you swiftly. They’re moving steadily, swinging what looks like a ski pole in each hand.     1     These people aren’t skiing. They’re enjoying a type of exercise called Nordic (北欧的)walking. They use poles not for balance but to get their arms working. And their arms do work! In fact, in Nordic walking, the whole upper body gets plenty of exercise.

    2     Some of the time, they have to go up hills! They use their poles to help push themselves along. Nordic skiers were the first to use poles while walking. It was a way to train for their sport when there was no snow. Then other people, learning of the health benefits of the exercise, began to do it, too.

In the early days of Nordic walking, all walkers -- skiers and non-skiers alike- used ski poles. In 1988, an American company began making and selling poles especially for walking.     3     That’s because they usually aren’t used in snow. And they don’t stick very deeply into the ground. Some of them come with various tips, or ends, for use on different surfaces.

Although regular walking is healthy, studies have shown that Nordic walking is even healthier.    4     This produces strength in the muscles (肌肉) of the arms and chest. It makes the heart and lungs work harder. For young and old, Nordic walking is a great way to exercise the whole body outdoors.     5    

4 . Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for beginners because it is gentle on the body. It does not shake your bones or damage your joints, but swimming is still effective for weight loss. Swimming improves your cardiovascular (心血管的) fitness and flexibility.     1    .

If you do not know how to swim, adult lessons are often available at gyms.     2    . You can learn how to more effectively work out in the pool with just a few lessons. Swimming styles include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

    3    . It is important that you stick to the posted guidelines, which are meant to keep the swimming pools running properly. There are different rules for different pools. But the majority request that you shower before you enter the pool.     4    .

You will find that there are also posted rules about using the lanes (泳道) of the pool. This simply means that the pool is divided up so multiple people can use it at the same time. At times, you may share a lane with one or more other swimmers.     5    . You need to stay in the appropriate lane. Find a lane in the pool where the other swimmers are similar to you. When several swimmers are using the same lane, all swimmers swim in a counterclockwise (逆时针方向的) direction.

6 . In Grade 7, my PE teacher watched me, as I tried to jump up and touch a marker on the wall. And he said: “You're doing pretty well in my ________, for someone like you with no ability at all.”

In high school, I wasn't ________ for a single team. I was bookish and slow, and that self-image-of being better suited to quiet reading and leisurely ________ remained with me for my entire life.

I discovered running in my 20s, and I ________ the feeling of quiet accomplishment-without the fear of ________teammates, but I always prioritized mental pursuits over physical ones.

It was my mental wellness that finally forced me to rethink my fitness. This winter, I found myself extremely tired. I knew ________ had to change. I needed a way to ________ the tension of months of video conferences, on-and-off (不断地) single parenting and virtual school.

I settled on an exercise bike. Since early March, I've hardly ________ a day on my bike. I'm not the ________. But I'm finally learning that movement isn't necessarily about athleticism (运动才能). More importantly, it’s about ________ your mind. It’s the feeling of accomplishment when you ________ something hard outside of your comfort zone.

A handful of people will find glory in athleticism. For the rest of us, the ________ is more personal: better sleep, improved spirits and ________ confidence. I’m not destined (注定) for the Olympics. But this was ________about ability. That's what I wish my gym teacher had told me.

If only he'd said, “You're doing really well in my class. Look at your ________.”

7 . Want to add a simple movement to your daily life? Walking may be your best choice.    1    .

Walking is good for your heart

Walking is considered as cardio（有氧的）exercise, no matter the speed at which you take it. Studies show that walking can reduce the risk of heart disease and lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure.    2    . You can go for a 30-minute walk once a day or break it up into three 10-minute parts.

    3    

What benefits physical health often benefits mental health-the same is true for walking. Just five minutes of walking can lower anxiety. If you have any kind of green space nearby, try to take advantage of it. One study showed that people who went on a 90-minute nature walk reported fewer bad feelings.

Walking can improve your sleep

    4    . Getting outside in the day for a walk can also help you stay awake in the morning and get sleepier toward the night. If a nighttime walk is your preference, experts suggest you finish it three hours before bedtime.

Walking can help with fat loss

Walking is a type of cardio workout that is good for fat loss and can help you achieve or keep a healthy weight. It should be done regularly and for long periods of time.    5    . A brisk（轻快的）pace refers to a 17-to 15-minute mile, or 50%to 70%of your maximum heart rate.

9 . Although a gym membership can be nice, you don't have to have one to get into great shape! All you need is a little bit of time and space at home for yourself.     1    

Spend 5 to 10 minutes warming up before every workout.     2     Try jumping jacks, leg or arm circles, or even dancing. Just get your blood pumping. Do a progressive aerobic activity that uses the same muscles you want to work out. For instance, slowly jog if you are going for a longer run.

    3     Strength training, also called resistance training, makes you stronger and builds endurance. Try to do exercises that work a lot of muscles and add weight to increase your resistance. This helps you do a harder workout every time you exercise.

    4    You might be eager to just stop your workout when you've finished your last set of activity, but take a few minutes to do low-intensity exercises that lower your heartrate. You might drop your run into a walk or slow down your cycling, for instance.

Set achievable goals that you can break into smaller tasks. It's one thing to say you want to get fit, but that means something different for everyone.     5     It should be specific, realistic, and meaningful. Then, break down each goal into small, actionable steps so it feels like you're making progress regularly.