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Discover The Surprising Benefits Of Tai Chi

By Shauna Walker
Updated October 3, 2016

Tai Chi is a type of martial art that has been used for many years as a self-defense tool. However, it also has far-reaching health benefits, making it a great choice for a diverse range of people.

Before you start a tai chi routine, it’s a good idea to do your homework, which will help you decide if tai chi is something you can benefit from. The great thing about tai chi is that you can practice it with a group in a class setting, but you can also do it alone once you learn the techniques and are confident on your own.

Wondering if tai chi is just the thing you’ve been looking for to enhance your life? Read on for its wonderful health benefits and you’ll be a convert in no time.

Flexibility

Having a certain amount of flexibility is important because it allows your body to move in all kinds of ways so that you can do more activities and lower your risk of injury while doing them. Tai chi is wonderful for helping you boost your flexibility and increase the range of motion all over your body. This will make it easier to move while you do your daily tasks, but will also make other forms of exercise easier on your body.

Muscle Strength

Using your muscles helps them get stronger and leaner. Lean muscle mass helps speed your metabolism, making your body more efficient at burning calories. Because tai chi works the muscles throughout your entire body, you can build strength and size all over with a regular tai chi routine.

You might wonder how this is possible without the use of weights or resistance bands. Experts say that the motions you use during tai chi can be compared to body weight moves. A consistent tai chi schedule should have you stronger and leaner in no time at all.

Aerobic Benefits

Some of the moves and motions used during tai chi are slow, but when you incorporate some of the faster and more difficult ones, you can easily get your heart rate going, which is great for aerobic conditioning and enhancing the health of your heart and respiratory system. Tai chi probably shouldn’t be your only form of cardio, but it is a good addition to your routine that keeps things from getting boring and allows you to enjoy something a bit less intense from time to time.

Balance

If you are prone to falls due to age, health conditions or body shape, tai chi can help you increase your balance and reduce the risk of an injury. Tai chi helps train your body to sense your position in space. This awareness helps you stay balanced and improves the sensory function in your inner ear that is responsible for balance. In addition, the calm that you feel while practicing tai chi can help reduce the fear of falling, which makes you more confident when standing or walking.

In addition to these physical benefits, tai chi is also linked to a reduction in symptoms that go along with a wide range of health problems. If you suffer from any of the following, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether or not adding tai chi to your routine could be helpful. Tai chi may not replace your current treatment plan, but when used in conjunction with it, you might experience more control over your health and an increased quality of life. Practicing tai chi shows promise with the following health conditions.

Tai chi may not replace your current treatment plan, but when used in conjunction with it, you might experience more control over your health and an increased quality of life. Practicing tai chi shows promise with the following health conditions.

Fibromyalgia

This condition can cause intense pain and fatigue and can really interfere with everyday life. While there is no cure for the disease, there are many ways you can treat it, including using tai chi. Studies show that people who have fibromyalgia noticed a dramatic reduction in joint pain when they practice tai chi on a regular basis.

In addition, participants who used tai chi as part of their treatment plan reported better sleep, fewer symptoms of depression, more ability when it came to movement and exercise and a generally improved quality of life when compared to those who didn’t use tai chi. More research is needed, but tai chi could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Chronic Heart Failure

This can be a scary health issue to deal with, causing fear, worry and depression in many patients with the condition. According to top researchers at prestigious hospitals across the United States, tai chi improved mood and boosted quality of life. Living with a potentially fatal health problem can make a person more susceptible to mood swings, hopelessness and the drama that goes with constant medical appointments and an intense medication regime. By simply adding tai chi to the routine, people with heart failure can live what’s left of their life to the fullest.

Depression

Depression affects people of all races, socioeconomic levels and ages. It does not discriminate with gender either. People who suffer from depression may have a hard time enjoying life and could suffer at work and at home in terms of relationships and productivity. Tai chi, when practiced once a week as part of a depression treatment plan, has been linked to an improvement in symptoms, according to several research studies.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition that gets worse over time and doesn’t have a cure. Because the illness can cause shakes and muscle issues, tai chi is recommended as a way to improve balance, flexibility and coordination. In research studies, participants with Parkinson’s disease who practiced tai chi on a regular basis experienced fewer falls, improved walking capabilities and better posture.

Diabetes

Having diabetes can decrease quality of life because it requires constant vigilance when it comes to eating and having blood sugar tested. In studies, people with diabetes who included tai chi in their treatment regimen experienced better blood glucose levels and an improved immune system response when compared to those who didn’t practice tai chi.

Clearly, tai chi can have major benefits for all types of health issues. More research is being conducted to prove some of the preliminary findings, and that gives hope to many peo Pin It ple with health problems that interfere with their quality of life.

You should never start a tai chi program without first getting approval from your doctor. Tai chi probably won’t replace your current medications and treatment options, but it can certainly be used together with them to help you feel as good as you can and truly enjoy your life, despite having health problems.

If you’re new to tai chi, talk to your doctor about a class you can take that will teach you the techniques and help you maximize the benefits. If you’ve already learned, feel free to practice tai chi at home following the guidelines of your physician.

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Katherine Hurst
By Shauna Walker
Personal trainer, fitness coach and wellness expert for over twenty years. Shauna is able to connect personally with her clients because I faced my own wellness challenges at a young age. She started her personal journey towards feeling fit and healthy twenty years ago, and has never looked back. Once struggling with her weight, she also had confidence issues and found it hard to stick with diet and exercise. Shauna managed to break free of this struggle, and now wants to give back and share the lessons she has learned.

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