Tai Chi is an ancient art form that is used for exercising, health problems and as a marital art for self-defense techniques. Tai Chi originated in ancient China as an instrument to promote medical healing, but gradually evolved into a form of marital arts. By many accounts, Tai Chi was created by a Taoist monk, named San-Feng, who developed 13 sets of exercises that mimic the movements of animals. San-Feng stresses meditation and the concept of inner force as oppose to external force, which is used in other types of marital arts. Tai Chi is a Chinese exercise discipline that has become very popular for providing healing to the body and mind. People who perform Tai Chi exercises enjoy a healthier and more active lifestyle. Many exercises can leave you tired and drained of energy, but Tai Chi rejuvenates the spirit and energized the body leaving you completely refreshed.
Taijiquan or Tai Chi is one of the three major international marital arts in China. Tai Chi is translated to mean, “Supreme Ultimate Fist.” The slow, gentle and graceful movements of Tai Chi brings a calmness and serenity to the body, which relaxes you and relieves stress. Tai Chi advocates deep breathing to calm the mind and relax the body. People participating in Tai Chi should focus and concentrate, so they can get rid of any distracting thoughts. Tai Chi focus the mind, so you can achieve inner peace, while conditioning your body by increasing flexibility, stamina and agility.
Tai Chi is referred to as “meditation in motion.” There is growing evidence that Tai Chi can be used to improve many types of medical conditions. Tai Chi is an exceptional fitness program for everyone, including the young and old, people who are physically fit and even people with disabilities. There are studies, which suggest that Tai Chi is a prevention mechanism for many common ailments associated with aging.
Tai Chi is an excellent low-impact exercise for people with arthritis and other problems of the joints. Tai Chi exercises can ease the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. It can reduce anxiety and depression and help to lower high blood pressure. Tai Chi improves concentration and helps to fight fatigue by improving your ability to sleep soundly at night. Overall, Tai Chi improves coordination and posture and tones the body muscles so you are leaner and stronger. It can improve balance, which is very important in the elderly, because of their tendency to fall.
To learn Tai Chi, it takes patient and dedication. The ancient art form of Tai Chi is not a mystical entity; it is a simple and effective concept that can be used to improve the quality of your life. Although Tai Chi is an art form that can never truly be mastered, students need to adhere to the principles of Tai Chi to achieve the full benefits of this form of exercise. To begin your spiritual journey to obtaining the many benefits of Tai Chi, you should purchase a video or enroll in a class for beginners. Check with your doctor to make sure there are no physical limitations that could prevent you from doing Tai Chi exercises. Do not implement Tai Chi in your life as a replacement for seeing a doctor. When using a Tai Chi instructor, get references or speak to the instructor about their experience and training.
Scientific research and studies continues to investigate the health benefits of Tai Chi, especially in the elderly. Studies indicate that Tai Chi may improve the immune system and other medical conditions in older people. Some studies conclude that Tai Chi has help people with cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis and hypertension. Limited research studies were done on the health benefits of Tai Chi, but there needs to be more conclusive evidence and research before Tai Chi is recommended as being beneficial to improving overall health.