Tai Chi in the News

Many Health Benefits, No Downside

" ... the proper question to ask yourself may not be why you should practice tai chi, but why not. It is a low-impact activity suitable for people of all ages and most states of health ... minimal stress on joints and muscles ... requires no special equipment ... can be practiced almost anywhere at any time ... health benefits ranging from better balance and prevention of falls to reduced blood pressure, relief of pain and improved immunity ...." Read more

Treats or Prevents Many Health Problems

"Tai chi is often described as 'meditation in motion,' but it might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice ... has value in treating or preventing many health problems .... " Read more

Reduces Stress

"Tai chi ... is often described as 'meditation in motion' because it promotes serenity through gentle movements .... Practiced regularly, tai chi can help you reduce stress and enjoy other health benefits ...." Read more

Relieves Depression

"The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi appears to relieve symptoms of depression in older people, a new study shows .... Other recent studies have shown that practicing tai chi may provide benefits for patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia ...." Read more

Alleviates Headaches

At UCLA, "researchers found that Tai Chi ... provided significant health benefits for adults suffering from tension headaches. Compared with a control group, patients who participated in a 15-week Tai Chi program were helped not only with headache pain, but also perceived improvement in other areas, reporting increased energy, emotional well-being, social functioning and improved mental health ..." Read more

Eases Fibromyalgia

"The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi may be effective as a therapy for fibromyalgia .... A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression ..." Read more

Relieves Knee Pain

A new study conducted at Tufts University found that people with knee pain from osteoarthritis had "a substantial drop in knee pain" after doing Tai Chi for three months compared with people who did not do Tai Chi. What's more, "the tai chi group also saw more improvements in function, depression and health status ..." Read more

Reduces Arthritis Pain

A new Australian study shows that "Tai Chi is beneficial for arthritis. Specifically, it was shown to decrease pain with trends toward improving overall physical health, level of tension and satisfaction with health status ... " Read more

Benefits Patients with Parkinson's

Tai chi, an ancient martial art characterized by slow, flowing movement and meditation, helps improve balance and movement control for people with Parkinson's disease ... " Read more

Improves Health and Well-Being

"Many people practice tai chi to improve their health and well-being .... Tai chi incorporates the Chinese concepts of yin and yang (opposing forces within the body) and qi (a vital energy or life force). Practicing tai chi is said to support a healthy balance of yin and yang, thereby aiding the flow of qi .... " Read more

Recommended for Older Adults to Prevents Falls

" ... the American Geriatrics Society ... recommends tai chi -- the meditative, slow-motion Chinese exercise -- as an effective way to prevent falls ... Exercise is essential for any older person who can manage it, according to Dr. Mary Tinetti of the Yale University School of Medicine, a chairwoman of the panel that issued the new guidelines. Tai chi gets the nod because several trials have suggested that it seems to help reduce the risk of falling ... " Read more

Boosts Immune System

"Tai Chi combines aerobic activity, relaxation, and meditation, which the researchers note have been reported to boost immune responses .... [in a recent study, tai chi] was found to increase participants' immunity to varicella [the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles] .... the tai chi group [also] reported significant improvements in physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health ...." Read more

Helps Prevent Osteoporosis

"Tai Chi may be a safe alternative to conventional exercise for maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women .... Low BMD is associated with osteoporosis .... tai chi may also improve balance, reduce fall frequence, and increase musculoskeletal strength." Read more

Treats Dizziness and Balance Disorders

"Tai Chi, a form of Chinese martial arts often practiced for its health benefits, may be an effective treatment option for patients who suffer from dizziness and balance disorders .... " Read more

Improves Balance

"[A] University of Illinois at Chicago researcher has found that stroke survivors can improve their balance by practicing the Chinese martial art of tai chi ...." Read more

Fewer Falls in Older People

"Older people who took part in a structured programme of Tai Chi found that their balance and physical strength improved, reducing the risk of falls .... significant improvement, with stronger knee and ankle muscles, improved mobility and flexibility and better balance ...." Read more