The Perfect Exercise?

The current hubbub about Tai Chi & Qigong may be that we are only now seeing the breaking of a tsunami wave of growing evidence unearthed by western medical research that has been quietly building for the last decade. Qigong is a Traditional Chinese medical/health practice that directly translated means "breathing exercise," or "energy exercise." Tai Chi is a sophisticated form of moving qigong, which involves a series of choreographed movements done in a relaxed and flowing way. Both have gained increasing attention by western medical researchers in the last decade that has been gaining steam, and resulted in more research dollars going toward discovering their benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health has increased funding to further research these ancient, yet modern, health techniques.

A couple of such study's findings, one a ten year study through Harvard, Yale, and Emory Universities, stunned researchers when they discovered that the gentle, slow, relaxing, low impact Tai Chi improved the balance of practitioners profoundly, reducing their risk of falling by 47.5%. Another found that Tai Chi offered significant cardiovascular benefits, roughly the same benefits as moderate impact aerobics. Yet, another study sited in the Hawaii Medical Journal asserted that Tai Chi increased breathing capacity and relieved back and neck aches in practitioners.

The pain relief and low impact aspects of Tai Chi was good news for everyone, but offered even more hope for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tai Chi being a weight bearing exercise offered the potential advantages of stimulating bone growth and strengthening connective tissue. The only concern was if they (RA sufferers) could handle a weight bearing exercise without exacerbation of joint symptoms. The American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reported on a study that found RA sufferers practicing a specially tailored form of Tai Chi suffered "no" significant exacerbation of joint symptoms. This was great news, not just for RA sufferers but for all maturing baby boomers looking for a health regimen that is kind to the joints.

Surprisingly, given its gentle nature, Tai Chi burns a significant amount of calories as well, 280 per hour. To understand how significant this is, realize that down-hill skiing burns about 350 per hour. Yet, Tai Chi is gentle enough to be done in business clothes in the office without even breaking a sweat. Which is one reason Tai Chi and Qigong are increasingly being used in corporate wellness programs. However, there are perhaps even more important reasons Tai Chi is being used, not only in corporate wellness, but health care, education, and even prisons and drug rehabilitation institutions.

Tai Chi provides a grouping of benefits that helps: reduce productivity losses in employees; may reduce health care costs preemptively; enable students to focus; and also empower those rehabilitating from drug abuse, etc;. to evolve more healthy productive lifestyles. This is the result of mood homeostasis Tai Chi practice fosters. The Journal of Psychosomatic Research reports a Tai Chi study's findings, "[Test Subjects] reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and state-anxiety; they felt more vigorous, and in general they had less total mood disturbance.

Given that 70 to 85% of illness sending patients to the doctor are rooted in unmanaged stress, and that U.S. business is estimated to be losing upwards of $300 billion annually due to unmanaged stress, Tai Chi's potential mood-stabilizing benefits are gaining increasing attention. Also in education, the rise in ADD and ADHD symptoms in our nation's youth, has peaked interest in Tai Chi by some education professionals. This may be partly due to a recent study from the University of Miami School of Medicine finding that Tai Chi provided substantial symptom reduction in students suffering from Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)..

In light of the multi-dimensional benefits these ancient health practices offer, which are now being validated by modern health research, Time Magazine's description of Tai Chi as "the perfect exercise," may be a very accurate description for this ancient mind/body health technique.