The Many Benefits of Tai Chi
By Donna Stark
When you hear someone mention tai chi, do you automatically picture your coffee cup filled with that sweet and spicy milky brew that warms you to the core? Well, if you do, you are thinking of the wrong thing. What you are picturing is chai tea and that couldn't be further from what tai chi actually is. Tai chi is often described as a graceful form of exercise, or as meditation in motion. And although both chai tea and tai chi are great at reducing stress, tai chi is also known for having an endless amount of physical and mental health benefits as well. Want to learn more? Grab your cup of chai and keep reading!
Tai Chi for Improved Health
Learning tai chi can be a most enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially if you are looking for a low-impact exercise that promotes optimal wellness. And although it may take a fair amount of searching to find a class offered near you, it's definitely something worth doing! Take a look at the following health benefits that can come from it.
- Reduces stress and anxiety - The calming motions and deep breaths involved with tai chi help to reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Tai chi also helps promote the production of endorphins, your body's "happy hormones."
- Alleviates arthritis pain - The gentle and deliberate movements of tai chi can help improve a person's range of motion, flexibility, and joint function ... all of which have been shown to help with the symptoms of arthritis.
- Improves balance and coordination - Tai chi encourages and supports both proper alignment of the body and good posture, which can have a significant impact on a person's overall balance and coordination.
- Decreases joint stiffness - The many different postures involved with tai chi flow from one to another, so your body is in constant motion. This can help stretch and strengthen your muscles and ligaments while also keeping your joints lubricated for optimal function.
- Eases muscle tension - Because tai chi keeps your body in motion, you can bet your muscles are getting a great workout! But don't worry! Tai chi is all about stretching and strengthening, so people who practice it are rarely sore.
- Improves posture - Slow and controlled. Purposeful and precise. The movements that are practiced with tai chi can have a significant impact on a person's posture because they are meant to always be carried out in the correct form.
It's Better Than a Chai Tea
Since tai chi puts minimal stress on the body, it is a perfect exercise for people of all ages and capabilities. So what are you waiting for? Put down that cup of chai, start looking for a class nearby, and invite your friends and family. It may just become your new favorite form of exercise!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Loganville, Ga.