How can we stay vital and active throughout our lives? - A conversation with Alex Tiemes

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'Keep your physical activities as varied as possible. You'll benefit from it throughout your life.'

During Acupuncture Awareness Week 2026, the central theme is Staying Vital Throughout Life with Acupuncture. We explore how Chinese medicine views health and vitality at different stages of life.
Physical activity plays an important role in this. But what does our body need to remain active and healthy, from childhood through to old age? And what can Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) add to our understanding of movement? Not just for athletes, but for anyone who wants to stay healthy and active as they grow older.

We put these questions to Alex Tiemes, a physiotherapist, manual therapist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. Alex has 44 years of experience in clinical practice, teaching and research. Among other things, he works with elite athletes and collaborates with medical institutions and universities in China, focusing on bringing Western and Chinese medicine together.

Alex will present a webinar exclusively for NVA-members entitled Multidisciplinary Treatment and Staying Vital and Physically Active. We asked him to share his views on physical activity at different stages of life.

Everyone knows that physical activity is good for our health. Yet being active doesn't come naturally to everyone. How do you see this?
Alex: People's motivation to be physically active varies enormously. A dedicated athlete enjoys their sport, while someone who rarely exercises may feel exhausted just thinking about it.

I believe we shouldn't focus so much on how to get people into sport, but rather on how to encourage them to become more active. Enjoyment and social interaction are far more important than performance. A conversation you would normally have over a cup of coffee on the sofa could just as easily take place during a walk. You can always have the coffee afterwards.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine view the importance of physical activity?
Alex: In TCM, we look at the person as a whole. According to this approach, movement supports the circulation of Qi, our vital energy, as well as blood and body fluids.

In Western medicine, we know that physical activity stimulates blood circulation and metabolism, among other things. The explanations differ, but there are areas of common ground. What I find interesting is that we can consider insights from both medical traditions alongside each other. You don't have to speak the same language, as long as you understand what the other person means.

You emphasise the importance of listening to our bodies. How can we learn to do that?
Alex: It's harder than it sounds. Our bodies have a language of their own, so to speak. Even experienced athletes don't always interpret those signals correctly. When can you push yourself harder, and when is it wiser to rest?

My advice to anyone starting to become more active is simply to get moving, without putting pressure on yourself to perform. Walking, swimming — anything that is easy to incorporate into your routine. If you feel good and refreshed afterwards, the level of exertion is probably right for you. If you feel extremely tired, your body may need more time to recover. It's about finding the right balance between activity and rest.

But surely our need for physical activity also changes throughout our lives?
Alex: Absolutely. Every stage of life has its own characteristics. Children are bursting with energy. They run, jump, climb and move in all sorts of ways. From a TCM perspective, you could see this as Qi developing in different directions. That's why children should be introduced to as many sports and forms of play as possible. Not just football or badminton, but football and badminton — and much more besides.

As children grow older, their energy becomes more focused. In TCM terms, you could describe this as Qi becoming more concentrated. Young people develop preferences and may choose to specialise in a particular sport. But I would encourage them to maintain that variety for as long as possible. It helps them build a broad foundation.

Why is this variety so important later in life as well?
Alex: Because our bodies benefit from variety. That's true even for elite athletes. A footballer can learn a great deal from ballet. The balance and body control developed through ballet may help them dodge a tackle. Similarly, a shot-putter may benefit from exercises on a balance beam.

I call this 'borrowing from other sports': using movements from different disciplines to broaden your own physical capabilities. As we grow older, that variety remains important. By engaging in a wide range of physical activities, we maintain our balance, coordination and mobility. This contributes to our vitality and helps us continue moving safely and independently.

You combine physiotherapy with Chinese medicine and advocate multidisciplinary collaboration. What are the benefits of this approach?
Alex: As a physiotherapist, I look at muscles, joints and movement patterns. From a Chinese medicine perspective, I also consider meridians — the pathways through which Qi is believed to flow — and the relationships between different bodily functions.

I sometimes say that a TCM-practitioner should really be sitting next to the coach on the sidelines, with the physiotherapist on the other side. The coach knows how someone trains and moves. The physiotherapist assesses the physical demands placed on the body. As a TCM-practitioner, you can interpret that information through your knowledge of meridians and the interconnected functions of the body.
By observing together, asking questions and exchanging information, you gain a more comprehensive understanding of the individual and any recurring complaints. You don't always need to start by taking someone's pulse or examining their tongue.

I believe it's important to translate insights from Chinese medicine into language that other healthcare professionals can understand. In my experience, this leads to much greater mutual understanding.

What is the main message you would like people to take away about physical activity and staying vital as they age?
Alex: Explore different activities, find something you enjoy and do it together with others. It doesn't have to be complicated or focused on performance. Keep your physical activities as varied as possible. By doing so, you give yourself the best chance of remaining vital and active well into later life.

Discover more during Acupuncture Awareness Week
What does it mean to stay vital throughout life, and what role can acupuncture play? During Acupuncture Awareness Week, discover more about the Chinese medicine perspective on health and well-being at different stages of life.