5 Facts About Tai Chi That May Surprise You

Lego Man Enjoying Chen Tai Chi Session

Chen Tai Chi is enjoyable. That’s important when it comes to exercise. It’s also highly effective for building strength and enhancing flexibility (among myriads of other physical benefits). Fun fitness. Hard to believe?

Here are 5 facts about Tai Chi that may surprise you:

(1) Don't Be Fooled By the Slow Movements

Scientific studies have determined that Tai Chi is categorized as moderate intensity exercise.¹ Related to this, the American College of Sports Medicine advocates adults do moderate intensity exercise at least five days a week.

(2) It’s an Exercise for Now… and the Future

A recent study demonstrated that people who become involved in Tai Chi are 2 times more confident that they will continue Tai Chi into the future as a regular form of exercise.²

(3) Tried and True Body Benefits

Chen Tai Chi has been shown to improve one’s general health, but it can also provide substantial fitness benefits. Chen Tai Chi’s intentional activation of muscles and joints greatly increases energy efficiency, stamina, strength, range of motion and dynamic flexibility (flexibility during motion and movement).³

(4) Your Brain Benefits, Too

Neuromotor activation generates and coordinates brain messages to muscle groups. Tai Chi  trains and improves neuromotor messaging, thereby also improving balance, gait, coordination, flexibility, strength, and agility. This is true for people of all fitness levels and all ages. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people engage in neuromotor fitness at least 2-3 days a week as a part of their overall exercise pursuits.⁴

(5) It’s Good for Olympians

Even Olympic athletes supplement their training with Tai Chi. Olympic skater Linda Arksey considers Tai Chi a perfect cross training activity. She articulates that it improves body awareness, stability, alignment, injury prevention, and coordination.⁵ Added note: Linda first became aware of Tai Chi when she saw the Chinese skating team doing preliminary exercises that, to her, looked unrelated to skating. However, she realized they were exercising with the elegance, beauty, and coordination that any excellent skater desires to cultivate. Linda began incorporating Tai Chi into her own workouts. Today, having been a professional skating coach for three decades, she requires Tai Chi as part of each of her athlete’s fitness training.

References 1) Li, JX. Hong, Y. Chan, KM., “Tai chi: physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on health. Br J Sports Med 35 (2001):148-156. 2) Lowrey, F., “Middle-aged women happier with moderate exercise.” Thomson-Reuters. Reuters online (2011). 3) Harvard Medical School, “Health benefits of Tai Chi. (Harvard Health Publications, 2015). 4) Gerber, CE, et.al., “American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise.” Med Sci Sports Exerc. 43 (2011):1334-1594). 5) Tai Chi for Health Institute, “Instructor Linda Arksey”. Accessed 17 October, 2015, http://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/instructors/instructor/?instructor_id=1371.