According to the Mayo Clinic, tai chi can help you improve your balance, coordination and flexibility; regulate your body weight and blood pressure; and improve your overall quality of life. Tai chi, which is a gentle Chinese martial art that involves fluid, choreographed movements, is an effective exercise for seniors, as it's low-impact, can be performed anywhere and yields significant health benefits. If you're a senior, consider participating in tai chi on a regular basis.
Improved Strength, Balance and Coordination
According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR), tai chi is a proven method to reduce your risk of falling. Tai chi movements and philosophy teach you to slow down, relax, integrate your mind and body and improve your posture. Tai chi also improves your cardiorespiratory endurance and capacity and increases your strength and balance, both of which can help prevent you from falling. Through a dedicated, daily program of tai chi, the strength and balance gains you'll experience will increase your self-confidence and improve your mobility. The AAPMR states that, if you're interested in learning more about tai chi, you should check for classes at your local community center or health club. Numerous tai chi instructional videos are also available at video rental stores or from online distributors.
Weight Loss and Regulation
According to the Bill Douglas, founder of World T'ai Chi and Qigong Day, although most people might not regard tai chi as a significant calorie burning activity, tai chi can help you lose pounds and regulate your body weight. Despite its slow pace and leisurely appearance and the fact that you may not break a sweat while performing it, tai chi can burn about 280 calories per hour, which is comparable to downhill skiing, which burns about 350 calories per hour, Douglas claims. Tai chi promotes weight loss and weight regulation by improving your awareness of your internal strength and by developing your mind/body union. Tai chi helps develop your muscular endurance, boosts your metabolism, increases your circulation and helps vanquish negative emotions that might be holding you back from losing weight.
Improved Flexibility and Range of Motion
Tai chi is an effective way for seniors to improve flexibility and maintain joint range of motion. According to an article by Carolyn Cooper at the Self Growth website, tai chi postures teach you how to move your body correctly and become conscious of your physical presence, which, along with improved balance, allows you to retain mobility as you age. Because tai chi requires you to move your joints and body segments through a full, dynamic range of motion, it increases your joint flexibility, improves your joint health and may reduce your arthritis symptoms. The improved flexibility and range of motion afforded by tai chi helps you perform your activities of daily living in a pain-free state.
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