| When we think of the martial arts we think of | | | | because the movements are usually circular and |
| kicking, punching and body contact. When we see | | | | never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than |
| videos of people practicing Tai Chi no one ever | | | | tense, the joints are not fully extended or bent, |
| categorizes those movements as war-like. Even | | | | and connected tissues are not stretched. |
| so, Tai Chi is identified as a martial art, a martial | | | | The beauty of this exercise is that it can be |
| art that has slow, rhythmic, meditative | | | | easily adapted for anyone, from the very fit to |
| movements to help you find your peace and | | | | someone confined to a wheelchair or recovering |
| calm. | | | | from surgery.It is gentle and you are not out of |
| There is evidence that this mind-body practice, | | | | breath when you practice the movements. It also |
| which originated in China, has value in treating or | | | | addresses the key issues of fitness including |
| preventing many health problems. Moreover, it is | | | | muscle strength, flexibility, and balance and to a |
| touted as an approach to health regardless of age | | | | lesser degree aerobic fitness. |
| and something people can do event if they are | | | | Recent studies showed that men and women, 65 |
| not in great shape. | | | | and older who practiced Tai Chi for 12 weeks |
| Tai Chi is a low-impact, slow-motion exercise in | | | | showed improvement in both lower-body and |
| which you go through a series of motions without | | | | upper body strength. Although there are no |
| stopping or pausing. As you move, you breathe | | | | weights or stretch bands, it strengthens both the |
| deeply, focusing your attention, just as you do in | | | | lower and upper extremities and also the core |
| some kinds of meditation, on how your body | | | | muscles of the back and abdomen. People also |
| feels. | | | | showed significant improvement in their upper and |
| History says that Tai Chi dates back as far as | | | | lower body flexibility as well as balance. |
| 2500 years and that the slow body movements | | | | The beauty of Tai Chi is that it is very safe, |
| were originally designed for self-defense to | | | | although it is always wise to check with your |
| promote inner calm. Tai Chi masters are famous | | | | doctor before you start on any exercise |
| for being able to throw an attacker to the floor | | | | program, and no fancy equipment is needed. |
| without anyone seeing how it was done. The | | | | Consider observing and taking a class. Ask about |
| movements use a small amount of internal | | | | classes at your local YMCA, senior center or |
| energy and movements to neutralize the greater | | | | community education center. You may also want |
| external force of an attacker and too subtle for | | | | to rent or purchase videos that give lessons |
| others to see. | | | | about how to perform the movements. |
| Tai Chi differs from other types of exercise | | | | |