Is Taoist Tai Chi right for you?

Dr. Bruce MacFarlane, a specialist in rural medicine in Ontario for 40 years, is the medical adviser to the International Taoist Tai Chi society (www.taoist.org).   He knows first-hand the many health benefits of Taoist Tai Chi and has seen the practice benefit people afflicted with poor circulation, high blood pressure, arthritis, back pain, joint immobility, respiratory problems, digestive disorders, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and many other conditions.

Q: Taoist Tai Chi is sometimes described as 'an entire body workout'. What specifically does that mean?
A: The 108 moves in a set of Taoist Tai Chi engage the entire physiology of a person, including the tendons, joints, spine, connective tissue and internal organs. The unique, slow moving turns and stretches in a set of tai chi promote strength (especially of the legs, spine and abdomen), flexibility, balance and endurance. The moves also engage the respiratory diaphragm, the pelvic floor, as well as the ligaments and connective tissue that support the spine and abdominal organs.

Q: Should someone with back issues and other complaints, such as sore legs, do Taoist Tai Chi?
A: It's always important to speak to your doctor before launching into any new exercise regime. The movements of Taoist Tai Chi have the potential for maintaining the flexibility of joints, improving balance (thus preventing falls – which is hugely important as one ages), increasing strength of lower limbs and correcting posture. Particular attention is paid to spinal movements and thereby the stability of the lower back – which is one of the most common complaints among adults.  Tai Chi 'opens up' the body gradually, working the very muscles that can cause so much of the grief that is partly caused by sedentary lifestyles.

Q:  Type 2 Diabetes is rampant in our society. How does Taoist Tai Chi help prevent diabetes?
A: A person with diabetes who practices Taoist Tai Chi will experience the same benefits as anyone else — improved balance and flexibility, increased aerobic capacity and a slowing of the loss of muscle strength caused by ageing. Tai Chi helps to achieve and maintain an ideal body weight, which can be a huge challenge to someone with adult-onset diabetes. It also helps to improve control of elevated blood sugar levels. There are also the cardiovascular benefits of a decrease in bad cholesterol and an increase in good cholesterol, plus a normalizing effect on blood pressure, which alleviates another risk factor for stroke, kidney and heart disease.

Page 1 of 2 – read about the benefits of Taoist Tai Chi on page two!