Tai chi yoga combines yoga postures with tai chi movements, improving breath control, meditation, strength, and balance. It can benefit those with osteopenia, arthritis, high blood pressure, and immune system problems, and can also reduce stress and fight depression. It should be learned from a qualified professional and practiced with caution.
Tai chi yoga is a meditative exercise that combines the postures of yoga with the balancing movements of tai chi. Yoga is an ancient Indian exercise that focuses on breathing and meditation while keeping the body stable in specific postures. Tai Chi is a venerable form of Chinese exercise that exercises all major muscle groups while standing and moving in a circular set of poses. These two disciplines have various schools; yoga schools include Hatha, Raja, Tantra, and Bhakti practices, while tai chi schools, based on martial arts programs, include yang, sun, hao, hen, and wu.
Tai chi and yoga exercises produce similar benefits. Both improve breath control, meditation and mind control, strength, and balance. Both types of exercise are low-impact and can be adjusted to the individual’s fitness level. Tai chi practice is said to improve the flow of energy through the body and, as a fitness program, exercises the joints and major muscle groups. Yoga is said to promote serenity and reduce stress while improving flexibility.
A simple sequence of tai chi yoga exercises could begin with the yoga move called “Sun Salutation.” The person forms a diamond with their fingertips, raises their arms above their head and, looking through the diamond, turns at the waist at a 45-degree angle. After repeating in the opposite direction, the person loosens the body muscles and performs the tai chi exercise called “Parting the Clouds.” The person squeezes their fingertips together, raising their arms parallel to the ground and then out to the sides, before bringing their wrists together. Finally, the person can finish with the “Nauli” yoga pose, pressing the palms against the thighs and slightly bending the knees, while gently and slowly raising and lowering the abdominal muscles.
The Mayo Health Clinic in the US has determined that 20 minutes of tai chi yoga every day can provide measurable benefits to people suffering from osteopenia, arthritis, high blood pressure, and immune system problems. Practitioners also report better sleep patterns and better digestion, including reduced constipation. Like most exercise routines, tai chi yoga helps relieve stress, but the gentle, meditative nature of this exercise also helps fight depression and focus the mind. The fitness program should be learned from a qualified professional who can adjust the poses and ensure that the individual is not overstraining any muscle or joint. As with all exercise programs, a participant should consult with a physician before practicing tai chi yoga.
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