The Health Benefits of Tai Chi

Tai Chi has been used by Chinese martial artists over the years as a means of extending their life-spans. More importantly, it has been used as a method of ensuring optimum health during those lengthy life times. Today the simplified form is a part of the national curriculum in China - surely a country of a billion people cannot be wrong! Tai Chi is currently the subject of numerous medical studies into its health benefits, regarding everything from instability in elderly people to hyperactivity in school children. Here is a list of just some of the incredible health benefits of Tai Chi.

  • Psychological. Tai Chi's slow, meditative practice helps to calm the mind and focus the senses on the present. Everyday worries can be forgotten about, to be dealt with later, giving the conscious mind vital time 'to breathe' and see everyday life in perspective. Knowing a martial art of self-defence also boosts self-esteem and confidence.
  • Physical. You will work up a sweat in Tai Chi practice. Forms make you stronger and more supple. Blood flows to the limbs and circulation is improved. Also, the flux of chi around the body has been proven to strengthen the immune system against disease. Gentle postures are great for troubled knees, as vital nutrients can be delivered to the cartilage without the excessive force of many traditional forms of exercise. Huge benefits are brought to the spine by consciously thinking about and working through a sequence of postures refined over centuries for their health benefits.
  • Emotional. On a chemical level, Tai Chi has been found to decrease cortisol levels in the body, thereby eliminating mood imbalances. As a spiritual martial art, Tai Chi encourages peaceful interaction and understanding, as a way of life and as a means of conflict resolution. Like all martial arts, Tai Chi seeks mastery of the external world through mastery of the self and promotes a more fulfilling, joyful life for its practitioners.

Check out this list of Ta Chi Medical Studies to see just how serious the conventional medical fraternity is about Tai Chi's health benefits.