fitness & fitness trends
tai chi
Just Relax. How many times have you been told to ‘just relax’. Much easier said than done. For example your body may feel tense but your mind is relaxed. On the other hand your mind maybe tense but your body is relaxed. Tai Chi is a mind-body activity, it trains both your mind and your body to relax at the same time.
Relaxing your mind is achieved by putting focused attention on your body. Relaxing your body is achieved when your focused attention instructs your body to relax, soften and ‘let go’. This is the basic state in which you practice Tai Chi. Then, with certain indicators to keep your posture naturally upright - you begin moving. Movement that is smooth and continuous. Never stop start. This type of movement relaxes a tense body and quietens a busy mind. With hundreds of years of development and success, surely there must be something in Tai Chi for all of us? 22
Also, Tai Chi now has a significant body of scientific literature supporting its beneficial health claims. Harvard Medical School being one of the leaders in the field. In addition, its use is on the increase within the NHS. The British Journal of sports medicine concluded that Tai Chi is a moderate intensity exercise that is beneficial to cardio respiratory function, immune capacity, mental control, flexibility, and balance control; it improves muscle strength and reduces the risk of falls in the elderly. Tai Chi looks at the body as an interconnected system, not as a collection of individual parts.
