Tai Chi

Tai Chi is sometimes called "moving meditation." It was absolutely one of my favorite things to learn when I studied Chinese medicine but it is something that takes years to master. It is a Qi building exercise that many Chinese participate in on a daily basis. The focus is on slow, intentional movements that based on martial arts moves. The slower the better. There have been a couple of interesting studies involving Tai Chi that come to mind. One looked at improving balance in elderly patients (which it did). A randomized trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 showed that it improved the symptoms of fibromyalgia compared to a control group. A researcher at the Univ of Missouri found in a small trial that it may also improve cognitive function (chemo-brain anyone?) Finally, another study published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2011 showed that Tai Chi may improve quality of life, mood, and exercise self-efficacy in patients with heart failure. Tai Chi is sometimes called "moving meditation." It was absolutely one of my favorite things to learn when I studied Chinese medicine but it is something that takes years to master. It is a Qi building exercise that many Chinese participate in on a daily basis. The focus is on slow, intentional movements that based on martial arts moves. The slower the better. There have been a couple of interesting studies involving Tai Chi that come to mind. One looked at improving balance in elderly patients (which it did). A randomized trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 showed that it improved the symptoms of fibromyalgia compared to a control group. A researcher at the Univ of Missouri found in a small trial that it may also improve cognitive function (chemo-brain anyone?) Finally, another study published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2011 showed that Tai Chi may improve quality of life, mood, and exercise self-efficacy in patients with heart failure.

I'm glad you asked this! I am thinking about the same thing..... My daughter started practicing Tai Chi and the movements seem much more gentle and appear to require deliberate concentration. Curious what our experts may say..... I'm glad you asked this! I am thinking about the same thing..... My daughter started practicing Tai Chi and the movements seem much more gentle and appear to require deliberate concentration. Curious what our experts may say.....