6 reasons to practice tai chi chuan! Must give a try

Tai chi chuan or Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art with many benefits for any age, especially the elderly. We tell you about some of them so that you consider practicing it.

Surely you have ever seen a group of people in a park moving following a teacher, as if they were dancing and making shapes with their arms and legs. That, broadly speaking, is tai chi chuan, also known as Tai Chi.

This discipline is a Chinese martial art that is implemented for both armed and unarmed fighting. Beyond this purpose, there are many reasons to practice it, due to its health benefits.

What to know about tai chi chuan

Before talking about the reasons why you should practice Tai Chi Chuan, we will tell you a little about its main characteristics. As we said at the beginning, it is a martial art of Chinese origin and its approximate translation is 'supreme ultimate fist'. In its beginnings, it was taught for hand-to-hand combat —armed or unarmed—, but today it has become a physical and spiritual practice.

There are different styles and "schools" for the practice of this martial art, with basic movements, postures and breathing. Forms are the essence of tai chi chuan; a series of sequences in which you have to move fluidly, emulating for example picking up a bell, sweeping leaves off the ground, hugging the moon or pushing a mountain.

The fundamental rules of Tai Chi are: raise your head, keep your chest back, straighten your back, release your waist, distribute your weight correctly, let your shoulders and elbows hang, have integral coordination and inner and outer harmony, let the movement flow and keep still —of mind— in the movement.

What are the benefits of Tai Chi Chuan?

Many choose to do tai chi chuan as a way to meditate in motion or to enjoy the benefits of mindfulness, a technique that requires paying attention to the present moment. Others help reduce stress or even exercise that is not invasive or too demanding, although certain postures are.

There are several more reasons why you should give Tai Chi a try and try a class. Here we describe some detailed ones in a Mayo Clinic publication.

1. Reduce stress and anxiety

Through its breathing and meditative techniques, tai chi is more relaxing than other exercises, and many doctors recommend its practice. It also improves mood, can help overcome mild depression, boosts self-confidence, and has positive effects on the nervous system.

2. Improve muscle strength

Those people who suffer from chronic problems such as arthritis, or those who have suffered an accident, can enjoy the benefits of tai chi chuan. Being slow and relaxed, the movements are suitable for older people, for example, especially those who need to improve their muscle strength due to age or some pathology. This discipline mainly strengthens the arms and legs.

3. Provides a lot of energy

Even if a class is not very dynamic or fast-paced, at the end of the practice you will notice an increase in your energy. Tai chi is related to traditional Chinese medicine and qi, the flow of energy that sustains all living beings. Tai Chi Chuan movements are designed to relieve blockages in the pathways through which energy flows.

4. Strengthens balance and coordination

This is one of the main reasons why a person should practice Tai Chi Chuan, regardless of age. However, the elderly benefit remarkably from this by feeling more balanced when walking, with better coordination on a day-to-day basis and, of course, with fewer chances of falls or accidents that affect their health.

5. Helps control weight

If we practice tai chi chuan on a regular basis—that is, 4 or 5 times a day, 45 minutes per class—we can lose weight. Of course, for this you need to eat a healthy and controlled diet, but tai chi helps a lot in the goal of losing weight.

6. Increase defenses

The practice of this ancient martial art enhances immunity and accelerates cell renewal; therefore, tai chi chuan is said to be one of the keys to longevity. In addition, it can help prevent "everyday" diseases by improving the body's defenses. This is one of the benefits of physical exercise that is mentioned in a publication in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.

Tai chi chuan, a healthy alternative

Apart from those listed, there are more reasons to practice tai chi chuan: it reduces chronic pain, promotes sleep, improves the functioning of the respiratory system and lowers blood pressure.

As it is a low-impact activity and does not generate stress on the joints, it is recommended for all ages and physical conditions. The only exceptions in this regard are pregnant women or those with a severe medical condition. All other people can take advantage of the virtues of this practice with so much history.

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