{"id":10181,"date":"2016-09-16T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=10181"},"modified":"2017-07-28T11:32:15","modified_gmt":"2017-07-28T16:32:15","slug":"tai-chi-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2016\/09\/tai-chi-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Tai Chi for Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tai Chi for Seniors\u00a0\"Tai<\/strong><\/h1>\n

You know exercise is important, but you also know working out can lead to injuries<\/a><\/strong> in older adults that can cause serious issues. You have to maintain a tricky balance as you age between staying active and not pushing yourself to the point of injury.<\/p>\n

You know too well how easy it can be find excuses not to exercise. Unfortunately (or fortunately), we\u2019re not letting you have this one. You do have options for exercising as a senior that are completely safe, will make you healthier, and will reduce your risk of injury.<\/p>\n

One of the best forms of exercise that checks all of those boxes is tai chi.<\/p>\n

What is Tai Chi?<\/h2>\n

Tai chi is a form of martial art that originated in China and emphasizes cultivating a connection between the body and mind. It\u2019s an extremely versatile form of exercise \u2013 you could spend years studying it and always find more to learn, or stick to learning a more basic beginner version and still gain significant health benefits from it.<\/p>\n

A number of types of tai chi exist, some more focused on defense (it is a martial art, after all), some more focused on achieving the physical and mental health benefits it provides. The latter forms of tai chi, in particular, have grown in popularity so that classes are available in many cities, and are even often conducted within hospitals and assisted living facilities.<\/p>\n

Tai chi is less about exertion and more about control. You perform slow, flowing movements in time with your breathing that help to both loosen and calm your body. Where some types of exercise focus on pushing yourself, Tai Chi instead emphasizes knowing your limits and staying within them. The challenge you face in tai chi is more about coming to understand your body better than it is about pushing it beyond its comfort zone.<\/p>\n

While tai chi doesn\u2019t feel like a work out in the way an hour of cardio does, it provides similar benefits. It contributes to flexibility and strength, relieves pain, and boosts immunity.<\/p>\n

12 Reasons Tai Chi is Good for Seniors<\/h2>\n

Tai chi is good for everybody, but it\u2019s especially become popular with and recommended for seniors. In many cities, you can find tai chi classes for seniors or instructors that come into assisted living facilities and nursing homes to do tai chi with residents.<\/p>\n

Tai chi f has taken with seniors off for a few key reasons:<\/p>\n