Tai Chi is a form of ancient Chinese martial arts that promises wholesome benefits. For a long time, Tai Chi has been practiced not just as a martial art technique, but as a health regime too. People all across the globe have made it a part of their lives.

The core of Tai Chi always remains the same – namely, the integrated development of mind and body to experience a better, healthier and more meaningful life. Chen, Yang, Wu-Wu, and Sun are the major forms of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi works with the ideals of Song and Jing i.e. loosening and creativity. These very core ideas of the art are coupled with modern medical techniques to address issues like joint pain, bone health etc.

Tai Chi benefits people suffering from joint pain, bone loss, arthritis and even osteoarthritis. Practitioners of this technique have reported marked improvement in joint health issues, which otherwise hampered their normal functioning in daily life

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Joint pain treatments are not always easy to follow. Tai Chi offers an alternative to them. The various Tai Chi poses and exercises preferred for joint pain relief (the sun pose for example) are slow, peaceful and straightforward to perform.

The aim of Tai Chi exercises is to ensure that essential fluids reach the muscles and tendons and that proper blood circulation and breath circulation takes place in the body. “When you repeatedly compress the joints, the synovial fluid flows in the cartilage better”, as noted by Mary L. Jurisson, MD of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN who teaches Tai Chi too.

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Circulation itself is an integral part of the healing process. A lot of importance is given to breathing techniques when it comes to joint pain treatment. The idea is to have a fit cardiorespiratory system. A proper blood flow and oxygen flow for an adequate amount of fluid reach is essential. These factors ensure reduction of stiffness, which causes joint pain. Tai Chi for Health Senior Trainer and Medical Qigong instructor Bobby Calhoun says that even minimal Tai Chi exercises are beneficial for arthritis patients.

Read on to learn more about some of the specific benefits of Tai Chi.

Build-up stamina:

If there are movement and flow of fluids into muscles and tendons, your endurance will build up. With lack of activity, muscular weakness sets in, leading to pain. Thus, Tai Chi not only cures the pain through exercise but also builds stamina to perform various activities.

Better muscular health:

Those who practice Tai Chi find a marked improvement in their muscular strength. Studies show as much as 20% improvement in the muscular health of practitioners.

Better flexibility:

Once you build-up stamina, you can turn to flexibility. Tai Chi movements work to increase flexibility through the motion of all joints, tendons, and muscles, bringing them back to working condition. Control and balance are vital issues that flexibility helps in invigorating.

Body balance:

Improvement of balance among elderly patients is also one of the crucial aspects that Tai Chi addresses. Among the old, injuries from falls are dangerous. Tai Chi helps to maintain body balance and allows your joints to act.

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Calm your nerves:

Control and balance have much to do with the mind. Your thought process, the clarity of your goals, lifestyle choices – all these are factors that work towards a healthy mind and a healthy body. Tai Chi exercises help calm your nerves and clear your mind, putting you in a positive mindspace. After all, healing must begin from within.

Tai Chi is an activity to be celebrated. You can do it alone or in a group; either indoors, or outside in the garden. The best thing about it is that its effectiveness does not depend on your age. You can master it at any point in your life.

Not only does Tai Chi enhance your body-mind coordination, but it is inexpensive too. So practice this ancient art to say goodbye to your joint woes, and take a huge step towards better health.

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