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Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

npr.org

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Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#11

Post by beezlebroxxxxxx »

There doesn't really seem to be anything unique to single out tai chi in particular in this study. The benefits pointed out in the article --- that it's meditative, encourages stretching and relaxation, improves balance --- seem to also be associated with things like yoga, or just going through a general stretching and mobility routine. They idea that calming yourself (removing stress or just relaxing) will lower your blood pressure is so intuitive to most people that we say someone needs to calm down or "they'll blow a gasket."

The contrast with "vigorous aerobic exercises" is also interesting. The study looked at

> "Aerobic exercise interventions included climbing stairs, jogging, brisk walking, and cycling. Exercise intensity in the aerobic exercise group was monitored. The maximum heart rate was estimated as 208 − (0.7 × age in years)."

which makes you wonder how much the findings compare to the well known benefits of zone-2 HR aerobic training. "Vigorous" is a bit of weird term that suggests very different things between different people. Low HR cardio is usually not considered "vigorous" at all.

Another broader question would be whether maximizing lowered blood pressure is more important than getting people doing "vigorous" aerobic exercise, which brings a whole host of important benefits along with lowering blood pressure. Most people should get a lot more aerobic exercise and use relaxation methods, but I would probably recommend aerobic exercise first.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#12

Post by elbear »

adamgordonbell wrote: post #9

Are they sort of saying that guided relaxation helps lower blood pressure? I assume restorative yoga, or mindfullness mediation or just "The relaxation response" would all do the same?

I believe the benefit to Tai Chi is that you're more in motion. With Yoga you are more static. If you are static in a position where your muscles are contracted, it's hard to relax.

With Tai Chi you are doing movements which contract and relax your muscles for shorter periods of time, which helps you relax. Also, the fluid movements can bring you to a state of effortlessness, which is of course also relaxing.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#13

Post by bdsa »

beezlebroxxxxxx wrote: post #11

There doesn't really seem to be anything unique to single out tai chi in particular in this study. The benefits pointed out in the article --- that it's meditative, encourages stretching and relaxation, improves balance --- seem to also be associated with things like yoga, or just going through a general stretching and mobility routine. They idea that calming yourself (removing stress or just relaxing) will lower you…

Isn't the expression usually "blow a gasket"? Meaning to blow a seal in a pressurised system

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#17

Post by cachecrab »

elbear wrote: post #12
adamgordonbell wrote: post #9

Are they sort of saying that guided relaxation helps lower blood pressure? I assume restorative yoga, or mindfullness mediation or just "The relaxation response" would all do the same?

I believe the benefit to Tai Chi is that you're more in motion. With Yoga you are more static. If you are static in a position where your muscles are contracted, it's hard to relax. With Tai Chi you are doing movements which contract and relax your muscles for shorter periods of time, which helps you relax. Also, the fluid movements can bring you to a state of effortlessness, which is of course also relaxing.

Not all yoga is like that. Yin yoga involves holding one position for longer periods of time (often 2 minutes or more) and is meant to be relaxing.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#18

Post by RajT88 »

bmwolf102990 wrote: post #16
tanseydavid wrote: post #15

I think someone could make a fortune in SF if they opened a place that had both: Tai chi and Chai Tea.

That is the most clever and hilarious thing I have read in a long time.

Probably not original. From a 1989 episode of The Simpsons:

https://tv.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c1743b56-f791-49a9-9d22-0bd5...

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#19

Post by brendoelfrendo »

beezlebroxxxxxx wrote: post #11

There doesn't really seem to be anything unique to single out tai chi in particular in this study. The benefits pointed out in the article --- that it's meditative, encourages stretching and relaxation, improves balance --- seem to also be associated with things like yoga, or just going through a general stretching and mobility routine. They idea that calming yourself (removing stress or just relaxing) will lower you…

It's probably worth mentioning that the Chinese government really likes to promote Tai Chi as a cultural and athletic practice, so there's a lot of effort spent on justifying Tai Chi as uniquely beneficial, especially as compared to Yoga or other foreign practices that might have similar benefits. Looking at the author's affiliations on this paper, I imagine this is what they're doing.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#20

Post by bmwolf102990 »

RajT88 wrote: post #18
bmwolf102990 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is the most clever and hilarious thing I have read in a long time.

Probably not original. From a 1989 episode of The Simpsons: https://tv.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c1743b56-f791-49a9-9d22-0bd5...

Well, original or not original, it still gave me a good chuckle. I don't watch The Simpsons, so I guess that is why I didn't register it in my brain.
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