the New York Times recently reported various studies and researches done by medical centers in the United States showing the benefits of practicing Tai Chi Quan.Tai chi is a gentle form of traditional Chinese martial arts that combines elements of kong fu, traditional Chinese medicine, and art. Its practicing pose looks like slow dancing. The most significant feature of tai chi is to require participants to use diaphragmatic breathing.Will Kongaika, a sophomore majoring in finance from California, said, “I have done tai chi before. I think it is relaxing like yoga.”Zachary Kenneth, a senior from England, shared his experiences with tai chi: “I was involved with tai chi before coming to BYU-Hawaii. My family also participated in martial arts including kong fu and tai chi. I had a good experience with practicing tai chi and kong fu. It made me more stronger and flexible. I would love to do more.”Tsz Ki Ng, a freshman from Hong Kong, shared what she knows about tai chi: “My father is a tai chi participant. Several times, he joined the national tai chi competitions and achieved the ranks. He kept practicing it everyday for more than three years. At the beginning, he decided to learn because he read from a book that practicing tai chi can improve your brain and breathing. Later he took a few classes and then started to learn following a DVD all by himself.”A study from last year published in National Center for Biotechnology Information showed tai chi participants’ brains had greater development in connectivity, decision-making, and attention than the people who had never done tai chi.The study also found practicing tai chi can improve practitioners’ “balance, leg strength, cardiovascular endurance, pulse rate, muscular flexibility, sleep habits, immune system response, happiness, sense of self-worth, and ability to concentrate and multitask during cognitive tests,” reports the New York Times. It’s an effective workout for people of any age.Ng said her father always encouraged her and her brother to learn tai chi as it is good for health. “My father said he earns more energy through practicing tai chi, and his brain became more clear and nimble. He also said Tai Chi Quan is part of Chinese traditional culture. Practicing it is also to help continue the culture.”The director of the Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston said tai chi “can improve both physical and psycho-social health.”However, as scientists haven’t done the research that compares the effectiveness of practicing tai chi with other activities, they can’t say yet whether tai chi has better benefits for people than other types of light-to-moderate exercise, like walking, yoga or weight training, said the New York Times. Many low-cost classes for people who are interested in learning tai chi are offered by community centers and YMCAs nationwide in the United States. People can find the a program close to their location by visiting the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association’s website at americantaichi.net.Uploaded April 2, 2015
Writer: Siyang Chen
