What is Tai Chi?
Tai chi is part of the energy exercises of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is about a global energetic gymnastics. With continuous and precise movements, this complete discipline adapts to all physical conditions.
This practice remains deeply related to breathing. It wants to be slow and regular. Exercises should be performed in a extreme slowness in order to discover bodily blockages. Awareness of the transfer of body weight from one leg to the other and the alternating play of arms and legs promotes balance.
The benefits of tai chi
This Chinese gym can reduce the risk of falls in people over 60. If it remains essential to keep regularity in practice, tai chi allows you to increase walking speed, improve balance and to give the most vulnerable people greater confidence in their movements.
In 2004, a clinical study analyzed the effect of this practice on the sleep quality. Participants in the tai chi group reported a decrease in the time it takes to fall asleep, averaging 18 minutes. The duration of their sleep also increased by approximately 48 minutes.
Tai chi would also help maintain mental health and improve psychological well-being. Exercises can relieve osteoarthritis of the knee and improve range of motion in the lower limbs. The activity would also be effective in combating pain.
This physical activity could even help control a number of chronic pathologies, such as high blood pressure in the elderly and reduce osteoporosis.
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