Tai Chi, which originated in China as a martial art, is often described as “meditation in motion,” however, there is growing evidence that this mind-body practice has value in treating or preventing many health problems. In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of motions named for animal actions (such as “white crane spreads its wings”) or martial arts moves (like “box both ears”). As you move through these motions, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention on your bodily sensations.
Benefits of Tai Chi
Even though tai chi is slow and gentle, it still addresses the key components of fitness – muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning. Various research has shown that benefits of tai chi include improved balance and reduction of falls and fear of falling, pain management, better-quality cognitive functioning, improved sleep quality and enhanced immune system.
Instructor
Besides being a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinician, Garrett Riedemann is an accomplished martial arts instructor and practitioner. You can read more about Garrett here.