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Tai Chi
T'ai chi chuan,
also known as Tai Chi, is a fitness regimen that was developed to promote
the flow of qi, or energy within the body.
Through slow flowing
movements, Tai Chi increases strength and muscle tone, enhances range
of motion and flexibility, and improves balance and coordination. As
well, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine believe that although
these positions are low impact and low intensity, they have the power
to break up qi blockage, and re-establish the flow of this vital force.
All Tai Chi movements
are pairs of opposition, i.e. left and right, yield and thrust, etc.,
which reflect the attempt to harmonize the two opposing forces of yin
and yang.
Ultimately, Tai
Chi is a moving form of meditation where precision movements and controlled
breathing are synchronized to enable the practitioner to flow with
the direction of energy in and around the body.
Tai Chi has beneficial
effects similar to those of western aerobic exercise, minus the stresses
and strains. This could account for its recent surge in popularity
in the West.
What Can Tai
Chi Treat?
Tai Chi offers
a variety of quality of life benefits, such as improved cognitive ability,
decreased levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and muscular tension,
improved circulation, speed of rehabilitation following surgery, injury,
or serious illness, and enhanced energy combined with an overall sense
of well being.
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