Every day, people in parks, community centers, YMCAs, gyms, churches, and living rooms across the country are performing tai chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art—not because of their interest in martial training, but for its purported physical and mental health benefits. Tai chi’s slow, repetitive movements provide a low-impact method for strengthening the body’s muscular, skeletal, and organ systems while the emphasis on breathing and inner stillness relieves stress and anxiety. And as an added bonus, it burns more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing. Studies have shown tai chi may help lower cholesterol, improve cardiovascular and respiratory function, reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), reduce the severity of diabetes, and improve people’s overall health. And recently, researchers found that regular tai chi exercise can also help reduce pain and improve knee function among seniors with osteoarthritis.
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