Learn Tai Chi Movements for Better Health and Well-being

Tai chi chuan or Tai Chi as it is called in the West is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for better and emotional well-being. The literal translation is “Supreme Ultimate Fist” and is considered a soft style martial art — an art applied with internal power — to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles.

Tai Chi utilizes slow, consistent and flowing movements to stretch and strengthen various muscles of the body. Medical studies support its effectiveness as an alternative exercise and a form of martial arts therapy to promote an overall sense of well-being.

The practice of tai chi chuan primarily involves three aspects:

1. Health: Tai Chi concentrates on relieving the physical effects of stress on the body and mind
2. Meditation: The meditative aspect of Tai Chi is seen as necessary in maintaining optimum emotional well-being
3. Martial art: The ability to use Tai Chi as a form of self-defense in combat is the test of a student’s understanding of the art

By performing special exercises within a Tai Chi program, you can tighten up loose muscles and alternatively, loosen up tight muscles. Those muscles are then strengthened to allow for more endurance, which helps prevent injuries.

If you suffer from some pain in the joint areas, you can use Tai Chi to increase your range of motion within those joints, diminishing some of the pain. The muscles become more flexible and can endure more activity.

If balance becomes a problem for you, use the Tai Chi exercises that are designed to train your body to work from its center to provide stability for your body at all times. It strengthens your core more each time you practice it.

Balance within your mind can also be achieved by Tai Chi. It teaches you to focus your energies – not on the stress – but on relaxation and inner peace, which slowly builds a sense of calm and diminishes any anxiety you may have felt previously.

Many Tai Chi participants report that they’re able to get out of their mental fog, which may be a result of the oxygen flow that this exercise promotes. Aside from the mental benefits, it also helps your organs function optimally.

Certain diseases or medical conditions can be greatly improved with Tai Chi. For instance, high blood pressure can be stabilized or brought down to normal levels.

It’s also beneficial in giving your immune system a much-needed boost. Tai Chi is more a way of life than an exercise. Traditional exercises are for building muscles, increasing blood flow and burning calories.

Tai Chi does that, too, but it also does so much more. It works – not just the physical aspects of your body – but the mental ones as well. It benefits the whole package instead of just focusing on one area of improvement.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a grant to build a website titled “The Tai Chi & Consumer Health Information Center” and was launched in 2004. It provides scientific, reliable and comprehensive information about various health benefits of Tai Chi – for arthritis, diabetes, fall prevention, pain reduction, mental health, cardiovascular diseases, fitness and general well-being.

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