Tai chi: Stress reduction, balance, agility and more
Tai chi is a series of gentle movements that can bring about stress reduction, improved balance and many other health benefits. Find out what tai chi is all about.

Tai chi (tie-CHEE) is sometimes described as "meditation in motion." Originally developed in China as a form of self-defense, this graceful form of exercise has existed for about 2,000 years. It's becoming increasingly popular around the world, both as a basic exercise program and as a complement to other health care methods. Health benefits include stress reduction, greater balance and increased flexibility - especially for older adults.

What Is Tai Chi?

Tai chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise. To do tai chi, you perform a defined series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each movement or posture flows into the next without pausing.
Who is tai chi for?

If you're trying to improve your general health, you may find tai chi helpful as part of your program. Tai chi is generally safe for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Studies have shown that for older adults tai chi can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. Because the movements are low impact and put minimal stress on your muscles and joints, tai chi is appealing to many older adults. For these same reasons, if you have a condition such as arthritis or you're recovering from an injury, you may find it useful.

Tai chi appears to offer both physical and mental benefits no matter what your age. It's used to:

* Reduce stress
* Increase flexibility
* Improve muscle strength and definition
* Increase energy, stamina and agility
* Increase feelings of well-being

Tai chi hasn't been studied scientifically until recently. Preliminary research shows that for older adults, in particular, practicing tai chi regularly may:

* Reduce anxiety and depression
* Improve balance and coordination, reducing the number of falls
* Improve sleep quality, such as staying asleep longer at night and feeling more alert during the day
* Slow bone loss in women following menopause
* Reduce high blood pressure
* Improve cardiovascular fitness
* Relieve chronic pain
* Improve everyday physical functioning

Types of tai chi

Like yoga, many styles of tai chi exist. Some of these styles include:

* Chen
* Hao
* Sun
* Wu
* Yang
* Zhao Bao

The intensity of tai chi varies somewh