Tai Chi
Tai Chi for Your Head and Your Heart
Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life
We’ve written before about the benefits of Tai Chi for your brain fitness and your immune system. Now a new study shows some striking effects of a year-long Tai Chi program at dramatically reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The new paper published by Chin Lang et al. in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine details the evaluation of 53 patients with clinically problematic high cholesterol or triglycerides. About half of the patients in this study participated in a 12-month Tai Chi program while the other half continued their typical sedentary lifestyle. Since all of the patients were classified as high risk for cardiovascular illness, they remained on cholesterol reducing medication in both groups.
The group that received Tai Chi saw a significant improvement on many fronts. Their blood pressure dropped, their total cholesterol and ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) went down, their insulin levels decreased and markers of excess inflammation fell as well. The sedentary control group saw a slight reduction in blood pressure but their cholesterol and triglyceride levels actually got worse – even though they remained on cholesterol reducing medication (chalk up another point for exercise).
Beyond these blood markers, the Tai Chi group also experienced improvements on measure of physical fitness. They significantly improved their exercising heart rate, oxygen uptake and ventilation. The sedentary group saw no such benefits, and, in fact, saw a decline in several fitness markers.
This study provides more positive data for the health benefits of Tai Chi. Why is it so good for you? No one really knows the definitive answer to that, but there are likely many factors.
First, Tai Chi involves slow and deliberate movements that help regulate breathing and focus, which contributes to better stress management. A plethora of studies have shown the health boosting benefits of reducing stress, so this alone is a major plus.
Second, Tai Chi provides moderate levels of exercise that mixes cardiovascular with strength training – holding those poses ain’t easy. Even though the movements are slow, practitioners experience a sustained elevation of heart rate. Maybe not as much as shakin’ your booty in a jazzercise class, but elevated all the same.
Third, Tai Chi helps improve balance and coordination. This is a huge benefit for older folks, since falling is the number one cause of injury in this age group. Younger folks glean benefit from this aspect as well, especially anyone engaged in athletics. Balance control is central to performance in many sports.
Fourth, often times, folks perform Tai Chi in a group setting, involving the social support aspect. We have written about the huge benefits of social support in the past. In fact, a couple other recent studies found that social support significantly helps recovery from a stroke or heart attack while social isolation makes it worse.
Tai Chi, considered a ’soft martial art’, has been around in Chinese culture for a couple hundred years and is now making its way to the rest of the world. It shouldn’t be that difficult anymore to find a Tai Chi class in a community near you. Whether you’re a busy professional needing to reduce some stress, a retired individual needing to keep your brain and body fit or a patient fighting an illness, Tai Chi seems to have a little something for everyone.
Reference: Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2008) 14:7, 813-819.
About the Author
Learn to control stress, improve your metabolism and boost your cognition with the four cornerstones of Brain Fitness. Visit http://www.BrainFitForLife.com for FREE Brain Fitness resources.
Tai Chi 24-form
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Ash Wood (36 count) FINISHED $474.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Ash Wood (36 count) UNFINISHED $449.95 |
|
|
Chen Style Tai Chi Taiji by Zhu Tiancai Series 38DVDs $439.99 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (36 count) FINISHED $424.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (36 count) UNFINISHED $399.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box ASH WOOD (24 count) FINISHED $374.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (24 count) FINISHED $369.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box ASH WOOD (24 count) UNFINISHED $349.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (24 count) UNFINISHED $339.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box ASH Wood (12 count) W/finish $274.95 |
|
|
Valiant Armoury Golden Lion Tai Chi Sword 1502 $269.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (12 count) W/finish $269.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box ASH Wood (12 count) WO/finish $249.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi Rulers By the Box Maple Wood (12 count) WO/finish $239.95 |
|
|
Yang Style Taiji Tai Chi Quan Essence Series 20DVDs $199.99 |
|
|
Wu Style Tai Chi ( Tai Chi )Series by Wu Guangyu 18DVDs $179.99 |
|
|
Chen Style Tai Chi Taiji by Chen XiaoWang 27DVD w/ Demo $169.99 |
|
|
Chen Style Taijiquan Taichi Small Frame Series 18DVDs $159.99 |
|
|
Wu Style Taichi Wang Peisheng 15VCDs Special Collection $159.99 |
|
|
FAST & EASY TAI CHI INSTRUCTOR certification program $159.00 |
|
|
Chen style Tai Chi taijiquan Series by Wang Xi‘an 15DVD $149.99 |
|
|
Wu Style Tai Chi ( Taiji ) Series Complete Set 24VCDs $139.99 |
|
|
Internal Combat Arts Package – Kun Tao Silat, Xing Yi, Bagua, Tai Chi & Qigong $139.00 |
|
|
Yang Style Tai Chi Taiji by Yang Zhenduo Series 16DVDs $129.99 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu Taichi Uniform phoenix Embroider M Size Competition $120.00 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu Taichi Uniform Dragon Embroider L Size Competition $120.00 |
|
|
Chen Style Tai Chi Practice Guide (Zhang ZhiJun) 11DVDs $119.99 |
|
|
Chen-style taiji Quan Tai Chi Series by Ma Hong 14DVDs $119.99 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu ChangQuan Uniform Phoenix M Competition Taichi $105.00 |
|
|
MARTIAL ARTS TAI CHI SWORD – discontinued SPAIN MADE QUALITY SWORD $100.00 |
|
|
Chen Style Tai Chi Taiji Series by Chen Qingzhou 15DVDs $99.99 |
|
|
Wu style Taijiquan ( Tai Chi ) Series – Li Bingci 10DVD $99.99 |
|
|
Xiao style Nei Jia Boxing ( Tai Chi ) Series 16VCDs $99.99 |
|
|
Taikikenpo Taikikempo Martial Arts Book Tai Chi Sawai m $99.99 |
|
|
Hong Style Tai Chi Taijiquan Series by Li Zhujun 10DVDs $99.99 |
|
|
Taikikenpo Taikikempo Martial Arts Book Tai Chi Sawai 1 $99.95 |
|
|
Tai Chi African Blackwood Bang (Stick) $99.95 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu Taichi Uniform Uniforms S Size LEMON Color chinese $99.00 |
|
|
Authentic Chen Style Tai Chi Complete Guide(15 DVD) NEW $97.99 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu ChangQuan Uniform Uniforms S Light Orange Taichi $95.00 |
|
|
[Hyem]100% Silk Wushu Kungfu Taichi Uniform Uniforms S size Light yellow Tai chi $95.00 |
|
|
Tai Chi Bang Stick/Ruler $94.95 |
|
|
Wu Shijun Series by(Tai Chi, XingYi, Bagua,Bafa) 12DVDs $89.99 |
|
|
Yin-Yang Structure Of The Internal Energy Taichi 12DVDs $89.99 |
|
|
Actual Combat Techniques of Old-styled Taichi 11DVDs $89.99 |
|
|
Lecture on Chen-style Tai Chi series – Zhu Tiancai 8DVD $89.99 |
|
|
heavyweight cotton shaolin monk robe kung fu uniform~kungfu suit~tai chi~gray $88.00 |
|
|
high quality 100% cotton tai chi uniform~jackie chen style taiji suit~wushu $88.00 |
|
|
high quality shaolin monk robe kung fu uniform~kungfu suit~tai chi~wing chun $88.00 |
|
|
10x SET Chinese Kung Fu/Tai Chi/Performance Dance/Practice Bamboo Dragon Fan #B $85.00 |
|
|
Zwilling JA Henckels Tai Chi 5 Piece Place Setting $24.95 Henckels 5 PC Tai Chi Place Setting… |
|
|
Kung Fu Tai Chi Martial Arts Cork-Backed Beverage Coasters $6.00 Nothing irritates a Kung Fu master more than rings on his wooden tables. Wise students understand that the best way to show respect is to use a Kung Fu coaster. Tai Chi students and other martial artists agree! Each coaster depicts a different illustration of a Kung Fu move…. |
|
|
Zwilling JA Henckels Tai Chi 4 Piece Steak Knife Set $49.95 Henckels 4 PC Tai Chi Steak Knife Set… |
|
|
Tai Chi for Beginners $24.95 In this introductory program, Dr. Paul Lam presents an innovative 3 Step method that makes learning Tai Chi both easy and enjoyable for beginners… |
|
|
Reiki (Mind, Body, Soul Series) $9.69 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Tai Chi Melody $10.67 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |