consequence of a medicated population. There is another kind of “side effect” we don’t often think
about that can also impact our health. Many times health care providers “prescribe” physical activities for their patients and physical activities also have side effects. Norman waited after his water aerobics session to speak the
instructor. “I want to tell you how much I appreciate your class,” he said. “My chiropractor kept telling me I’d get relief from my sciatica if I’d just started taking warm water exercise. He was so right! The only problem is, my wife tells me I smell like chlorine when I come home. But I don’t care. I hardly ever get legs cramps anymore.” The truth is, most “side effects” of the physical exercises
prescribed for patients are not as pernicious, long-lasting or devastating as the potential side effects of medicines. The nega- tive side effects of physical activities are more likely to be shrugged off by the patient as being expected and not that con- sequential. Warren, who was advised by his cardiologist in the mid-
1990s to take up a meaningful exercise program, became a long-distance runner. “Over the last twenty years, running has caused me some issues: shin splints, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and torn calf muscles. I don’t care though. I lost forty pounds when I started running and permanently got rid of my hyperten- sion.” In the same way that some side effects of medicine can
actually be positive, so physical exercise may also have benefits that go beyond the primary, intended purpose. That is, just about
every physical activity has unintended benefits—positive side effects. Further, there is probably no physical activity that has more unintended health benefits than Tai Chi. Most of us perceive Tai Chi as merely a (very) slow series of
movements intended to help its practitioners find some inner serenity. Tai Chi is often referred to as “meditation in motion.” Beyond calming our souls in the midst of our extremely hectic society, however, scientific studies over the past several decades have documented a multitude of beneficial “side effects” expe- rienced by those who regularly practice Tai Chi forms. Markham Heid, writing for the online edition of Time
Magazine, April 28, 2017, said: “Tai Chi is a richly researched exercise, with health improvements ranging from better blood pressure scores to a sharper mind.” He describes a series of health studies conducted over the course of a dozen years at the Uni- versity of California Los Angeles that found Tai Chi contributed to lower rates of insomnia, depression, illness and inflammation. Strangely enough, practicing Tai Chi also seems to help other medical treatments work more effectively. Heid quotes UCLA professor Dr. Michael Irwin: “We’ve seen improved immunity to viruses and improved vaccine response among people who practiced Tai Chi.” The past forty years has seen the emergence of Tai Chi forms
that are specifically intended to deal with certain health issues and distinct groups of people. Perhaps the best examples of these forms come from the famous Tai Chi for Health organization founded by the legendary Dr. Paul Lam. It’s estimated that 5,000,000 people worldwide practice the first form Lam devel-
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