fit body TAI CHI AND QIGONG
Life Force in Motion by Marlaina Donato
T
he flowing movement of tai chi mirrors the serenity of water, but still waters run deep. Tis ancient practice of gentle meditative movement is an offshoot of Chinese
martial arts that offers a spectrum of surprising benefits, including healthier soſt tissues and bones, as well as improved sleeping. According to Harvard Health Publishing, when practiced
consistently, tai chi supports both upper and lower body strength with effects that are akin to resistance training and brisk walking. Tai chi helps to fine-tune neurons of the inner ear and encourages muscle and ligament flexibility, resulting in better balance and fewer falls. Te practice is highly adaptable and anyone can benefit, even those that are wheelchair-bound or recovering from surgery. “It appears effortless, with slow and smooth movements, but
there is immense power underneath the tranquility,” says Paul Lam, family physician and director of the Tai Chi for Health Institute, in Sydney, Australia. “Tai chi has been shown by over 500 medical studies to benefit almost all aspects of health, including mobility, immunity and heart and lung function.” Lam
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also highlights other related benefits, including lower blood pressure, less arthritis pain and stress relief. Research published last year in the journal Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows that 12 weeks of tai chi practice initiated beneficial changes in the immune system with subsequent improvement of lung function in children ages 6 to 12 with asthma.
A River of Energy While tai chi is a modified martial art with a focus on form, its close relative, qigong, is a mind-body wellness system that uses breath, simple movement and stillness. Both cultivate qi, or life force, that is believed to permeate all natural existence. Te concept of qi, yet to be understood scientifically, is the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the focus of many studies in China and elsewhere. “It is believed that qi flows throughout and around the body.
If we are healthy, the qi will be moving smoothly and abundantly. If we are not healthy, the qi may be stagnant, excessive or
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