Tai chi has several “ingredients” that target various parts of the body in many ways. Instead of being like one drug used to focus on one ailment, tai chi is more comparable to a multidrug combination. Its therapeutic factors are interwoven and synergistic.
The philosophy of tai chi is to see the body as an interconnected system and not a collection of individual parts. So when you perform it, it’s not like other forms of exercise where you’ll perform specific movements for specific muscles on one side of the body at a time; it integrates everything.
The philosophy, therefore, prioritizes posture and alignment. Tai chi moves through a series of graceful and safe positions that naturally flow into each other.
It helps with body control and deliberate motion, which will ultimately move beyond the classroom and into your daily life. You are likely to begin moving more efficiently and relieving your joints from added stress. Better balance is also a highly probable outcome.
Improved posture is another likely benefit from tai chi. For example, it can help people sit or stand with a hunch and their shoulders rounded forward. It teaches the body control to stand straight up with shoulders back and rolled down to open the chest.
This is likely to result in less back, shoulder, and neck pain and more efficient and deeper breathing.
Tai chi promotes pain-free movement, efficient movement, and better posture and breathing. It may also be just the kind of exercise you need to get up and out more often.
Research also suggests that people with better posture tend to have a better outlook than those who slouch, indicating that tai chi may also help with mental health.
Look into tai chi as a potential New Year’s resolution to take a holistic approach to your health.