It is an ancient Chinese martial art form, and loosely translated it means “ultimate life force”. Using a series of movements that increase flexibility, build strength, and restore balance, Tai Chi helps a person reach a heightened sense of being.
Many people tend to slow down, as they get older. Exercise can become more strenuous with age, taking its toll on the body. One of the many reasons Tai Chi has a big following in the mature community is because it is gentle, requiring little strain on the body. As you enter this part of life, it can help empower you by letting you connect to the strength inside of you, balancing your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. No longer does growing older have to mean growing weaker. Doctors and other Western medicine practitioners have recommended Tai Chi for years. There are more and more studies proving the beneficial nature of its practice.
We’ve listed some of the benefits Tai Chi has to offer below.
Fall Prevention and Balance Building
Falling is the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. One of Tai Chi’s biggest benefits (and the one backed by the most evidence) is that it increases your balance, thus reducing the risk of falling. It strengthens leg muscles and increases flexibility in the ankles, which helps you balance on uneven surfaces. Tai Chi also builds core strength, a vital part of maintaining your balance.
Connect socially
What a better thing to connect over than a shared interest in an engaging, beneficial exercise such as Tai Chi. Check out your local community center or senior citizens center to find out when are where classes are offered. It is best to learn where there are others practicing it with you. An excellent place to learn Tai Chi is through the International Taoist Tai Chi Society. www.taoist.org
In the case where you may not have a local resource, then perhaps you could buy a Tai Chi DVD and invite some friends to practice it with you.
De-Stress Yourself
We all know stress can wreak havoc in our life, whether it is emotionally, physically or mentally. Tai Chi is all about relaxation. It helps ease muscle tension, and the continuous breathing over time can push you into a state of blissful tranquility. As time goes by, you’ll begin to notice the presence and release of tension in the body, which will allow you to break up tension when you feel it building. Tai Chi acts very much like meditation, in the sense that it draws you into the present moment, instead of letting you linger in the past or worrying about the future. The mind can focus and calm down, allowing you to think clearly, drawing you out of any stressful mind spiral you may be experiencing.
Joint Health and Arthritic Pain Relief
Incorporating Tai Chi into your daily routine for just 20 minutes can help make all the difference and will improve your health. Clinical Studies have proven that the practice of Tai Chi by elderly people can reduce arthritic pain and increase mobility. As maturity sets in, the lack of movement can cause tendons to become rigid, circulation to decrease and organ functions to slow down. Tai Chi uses easy movements, which emphasize balance and muscle control, to combat the degenerative effects of aging by creating fluid contractions in the muscles, increasing circulation and stabilizing joint structure.
Strengthen Your Immune System
Tai Chi has been proven as a great immunity booster. It keeps you healthy by enhancing functional T cells and increasing antigen-presenting cells in the immune system. The combination of movement, breath, visualization, and psychosocial interactions make Tai Chi a great intervening treatment, as well as being preventive.
Help Slow Down the Effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The loss of nerve cells in the brain, along with their connections is usually associated with cognitive decline, which often results in dementia. According to a recent study, Tai Chi increases brain volume and improves memory and cognitive function, and can counteract the onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Tai Chi is a wonderful healing art. It focuses on uniting your mind with your body, allowing you to engage with yourself on a full level.
Written by Kimberly Recor, Staff Writer
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