The benefits of Tai Chi practice, specially for the aging population - Essay Example

Here in the United States too, Tai Chi is gradually gaining in popularity as a refreshing and rejuvenating activity that does not require strenuous physical exertion. Renowned for its health and spiritual benefits, Tai Chi is particularly suitable for the Baby Boomers generation. There are several mechanisms through which Tai Chi provides health benefits to practitioners. “According to Qu (1986), there are several reasons that tai chi practitioners experience health and fitness benefits. First, participants concentrate very hard on their performance, thereby excluding external distractions and generating a sense of internal peacefulness.

Second, the motion of tai chi is slow, smooth, and graceful, which facilitates mental and muscular relaxation while increasing range of motion.” (Yan, 2005, p.61) While practitioners vouch for Tai Chi’s health benefits, scientific research based on controlled studies do not give unanimous results. For example, Gong et al. (1981) did not find important physiological changes in practitioners above the age of 35 (evaluated using heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram parameters).

On the other hand, research by Meyer (1991) and Qu (1986) found that regular and rigorous practice of Tai Chi leads to improvement in the cardiovascular system. This fact is particularly relevant for the Baby Boomers as cardiac disorders are most prevalent in this group. Researchers have also identified psychological benefits associated with the practice, including reduction in “levels of tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, mood disturbance, and anxiety, while increasing vigor”.

(Yan, 2005, p.61) Making a comparative analysis with modern western psychotherapy, Suler (1991) concluded that Tai Chi is effective in terms of “simplicity, harmony, balance, and dynamic interactions between the human body and its environment.” (Yan, 2005, p.62) Hence a daily Tai Chi regimen for the Baby Boomers will help improve their overall quality of life. Another reason why Tai Chi Chuan is useful for elderly people is that it serves a purpose beyond self-defense. Since elderly people are more inclined towards spirituality than younger adults, Tai Chi can easily tap into this natural tendency of theirs.

For example, apart from being a health and wellness practice, Tai Chi also doubles up as a meditative art. Moreover, during much of Tai Chi’s history as a martial art, it was integrated into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. Since TCM theory is founded on the idea of balance in all aspects of lifestyle, physical exercise was also prescribed as a way of maintaining wellness, curing illness and strengthening the body and mind. This way, Tai Chi fits the TCM model perfectly. Underlying the multiple facets of Tai Chi is the interconnectedness of physical, mental and spiritual processes.

(Gilman, 2008, p.30) Renowned Tai Chi exponent Michael Gilman explains why it can be useful for elderly adults. He says that it helps strengthen the body and stabilize the blood pressure. The veins and arteries open up as internal tension are alleviated, which also aids circulation. This in turn improves sharpness of vision and hearing. As a consequence, the lymph system gets boosted, reducing the occurrence of common cold, flu, bacterial and other infections. One of the common complaints of the Baby Boomers is joint and bone weakness,