Evidence that tai chi is a beneficial form of exercise that can help avoid various health issues has been steadily building over the past few years. In line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation, which highlighted the need for every human to exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes weekly. You can carry out this low-impact exercise in slow motion as a way to give your body the necessary workout it needs. 

Tai chi differs from other exercises because these movements are never forced and are circular, allowing the muscles to relax rather than contract and get tensed. Further, the joints in the body are not fully extended or bent, and the connective tissues are not also stretched. This implies that anyone can do this exercise whether they are fit and healthy, are just recovering from surgery, or have even been confined to a wheelchair. Rhayun Song, Ph.D., dean of the College of Nursing at the Chugham National University in Korea, highlighted that tai chi was highly beneficial for those that suffered from chronic pain or arthritis or experienced limited mobility. She further noted that incorporating Tai chi exercises into one’s daily life could culminate in enhanced improvements for those struggling with flexibility and mobility. 

Can Tai Chi Be Considered an Exercise?

There are many benefits of tai chi, making it a good form of exercise. These benefits include: 

• Muscle-Strengthening Benefits: First off, you should note that tai chi engages the entire body and, therefore, is a full-body workout. According to Kristi Hallisy, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin, tai chi strengthens the muscles as you stand upright and slowly move, shifting your weight and balance pose in motion. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society involving about 702 participants revealed that 16 one-hour weekly community-based tai chi sessions significantly reduced the number of multiple falls by 67%.
• Aerobic Benefits: Finally, research carried out in China -and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology on more than 61,400 men that those who regularly partook in tai chi significantly reduced the risk of death as much as their counterparts that were instead involved in jogging. Another study revealed that tai chi improved the hearts and lungs of those who regularly participated in this exercise.