Tai chi is a form of exercise designed to improve your strength, balance, flexibility and peace of mind. You can burn calories while performing tai chi, but it provides you with a host of other benefits as well. It can help increase your performance level for other exercise activities, as well as improve your stability. Ask your doctor before you begin doing tai chi, and let him know about any injuries or conditions you have.
Calories Burned
There are many styles of tai chi, but all of them are comprised of slow and graceful movements. In a single session, you will be moving continually and flowing from one posture to the next. Calories burned will vary according to your current weight and the length of the tai chi session. For example, a 125-lb. person can burn about 120 calories in 30 minutes of tai chi, according to the Harvard Health Publication. A 155-lb. person, however, could burn 149 calories in the same amount of time, and if she increased her tai chi session to an hour, she could burn 298 calories.
Additional Health Benefits
Every exercise and activity you do contributes to your daily calorie burn, and tai chi is no different. However, it also provides a host of additional health and fitness benefits. It can help reduce anxiety, depression and stress, as well as improve the quality of your sleep. By performing tai chi regularly, you will also notice an increase in your strength, flexibility and balance, all of which can enhance your chances of remaining active for life. These benefits will also help you perform better in cardio and strength-training workouts, helping you incur a more efficient calorie burn from all of your exercises.
Getting Started
Almost everyone can do tai chi, since it emphasizes technique over strength and is considered a low-impact activity. This makes it ideal for those who are older or have joint problems that make higher-impact activities painful or unrealistic. If you are new to this form of exercise, consider taking a class from an instructor who can teach you the philosophy and techniques of tai chi. Let him know about any injuries or balance problems you have, and be careful not to overdo it while you are starting out, which can lead to injury.
Considerations and Warnings
While there are virtually no negative side effects to performing tai chi, you should always check with your doctor first. People who have a hernia, joint problems, back pain, severe osteoporosis or women who are pregnant may need to modify or eliminate certain postures from their workout. Also keep in mind that balance and stability exercises are just one part of a well-rounded fitness routine. You also need to include aerobic and strengthening activities to burn calories and improve your overall fitness level.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Tai Chi: Discover the Many Possible Health Benefits; Mayo Clinic staff; November 2009
- Harvard Health Publication; Calories Burned in 30 Minutes of Leisure and Routine Activities; July 2004
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Tai Chi: An Introduction; March 2011
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