3 Reasons to Try Tai Chi Now
There’s a reason you see so many older people practicing tai chi: It does amazing things for both the body and the mind. But if you’re waiting until you hit retirement to start reaping the benefits of this gentle martial art, you’re missing out. Here are three reasons to start now.
1. Tai chi relaxes you.
All of those slow, flowing movements can lead to major stress relief. “You move forward, backward and from side to side in a carefully coordinated manner — flowing together as though your body was doing one continuous movement,” says expert Howard S. Smith, MD, director of pain medicine at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York. Because the exercise emphasizes rhythmic movements and passive concentration, many experts (including Smith) describe it as meditation in motion.
2. Tai chi can keep you healthy.
“Recent studies have found that it increases energy, boosts immunity against viruses, lowers blood pressure and improves cognitive function,” says Maoshing Ni, PhD, author of Secrets of Longevity. It also helps build bone density and improves your muscle strength, flexibility and balance, says endocrinologist David Slovik, MD. Plus it burns a few calories, which is always a good thing.
3. When you’re not healthy, tai chi can help you get better.
In the market for some pain relief? “Tai chi is also a wonderful choice for those seeking help with chronic pain,” says Dr. Ni. Researchers have found it can be especially effective for people with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. Scientists believe it may even help keep diabetes in check by lowering blood sugar levels.
Ready to try it? In this video, Dr. Oz Show guest Karl Romaine, takes you through a few basic tai chi moves to get you started.
Ancient Chinese secret indeed.
Have you tried tai chi? Is it harder or easier than it looks? Do you find it relaxing? Let us know in the comment section below.
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File under: Fit Friday
Contributor
Su Reid-St. John
Su Reid-St. John is Sharecare's Senior Fitness Editor. Before joining the team, she spent over a decade on Health magazine's editorial team, overseeing all things exercise-related during the majority of her time there. She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband (Eric), daughter (Zoe), and cat (Lucy), and can be found inline skating, Nordic walking, cycling, doing yoga, and strength training (TRX is her new obsession) whenever time allows.
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2 hours ago
JP
This is very informative. Tai chi has been studied in clinical trials as well. Tai chi has good preliminary evidence of improved sleep patterns, which is great this day in age with insomnia cases on the rise. It would be nice to see a rise in complementary alternative medicine in addition to the use of conventional medicine techniques.
Elizabeth
Many years ago, while taking martial arts with the family, I was introduced to Tai Chi and grew quickly to enjoy it. It is learned fairly quickly by repetition with a good teacher, or even a video recording. Later I joined a small group at the YMCA weekly to do Tai Chi. What always amazed me is how much of a workout you get even while moving so slowly. What isn’t obvious is the constant movement, balance challenges and core strength required to do it smoothly and correctly. I always managed to work up a sweat. Sadly, I have not continued the practice, but may again–now that I have been reminded of its great benefits and now that I have unexpectedly moved into the category of “senior”, aka older age group. No special equipment/clothing is required…just concentration and practice. Also…a great outdoors AND indoors activity, depending on the weather/climate. Great article!
LO
Thanks for a very informative article! It seems like I’ve been hearing a lot about Tai Chi lately and all of the great benefits people can get from practicing it. Natural Standard gives Tai Chi a grade B recommendation for sleep disorders and aging, and they say that it may provide benefit in a number of other medical conditions. If it can lead to major stress relief like this article says, I’m sure everyone could benefit from practicing Tai Chi!