The literal translation of Tai Chi includes “Supreme Ultimate Fist,” “Boundless Fist,” the “ultimate,” and “Great Extreme Boxing.” It is actually a form of Chinese martial art practiced for both defense and its health benefits. Its training involves three main aspects—health, meditation and martial art. The health training concentrates on relieving the physical effects of stress on one’s body and mind, while meditation cultivates focus and calmness necessary in the maintenance of full or optimum health and homeostasis or a state of balance. The use of Tai Chi as a martial art would require hard training and test the trainee’s understanding of the art while on training.
Tai Chi has now a worldwide following among people with little or no interest in martial arts because of its benefits to health. Medical studies have shown it is effective as an alternative exercise and as a form of martial arts therapy. As a relaxation workout, Tai Chi can be performed everyday by means of its gentle flowing movements that will not make you sweat, puff or pant while doing the workout. Instead, the individual is given a feeling of being cool and calm, energized and refreshed, and a state where his mind and body are apparently working harmoniously. The most common forms of exercise include the 4-step form Beijing 24, the 37-move Yang style Tai Chi, 108 old style Tai Chi, the compact Tai Chi, 32-sword form, competition form 42 or modern mixed style, and Tai Chi for arthritis and diabetes. Although some forms of the exercise are used as warm-up or cool down exercise, each move in the workout is an exercise for balance, physical control, coordination and regulation of breathing.
The health benefits that can be derived from a Tai Chi workout are boundless. Health emphasis on Tai Chi classes has become popular in various hospitals, clinics and community and senior centers in many parts of the world because of its low-stress training methods. Studies also show that Tai Chi has favorable effects on the promotion of flexibility, balance control and cardiovascular fitness. It is also said to be effective in reducing the risk of falls in both elderly patients and those recovering from heart attacks, chronic stroke, high blood pressure, and such other diseases as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and multiple sclerosis, or hardening of the tissues.
For added health benefits, Tai Chi exercises tend to burn more calories, reduce pain, improve overall physical and mental health in older people with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. It can also reduce the severity of diabetes, stress, anxiety and depression, and promote serenity through the gentle movements involved. A website of the Tai Chi and Consumer Health Information Center has been established to provide more and comprehensive information about the numerous health benefits of Tai Chi for general well-being, physical fitness, and mental health and against many other diseases.
