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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

#51

Post by foobarian »

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #19
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.

I happened to be in Shanghai for a work trip once, meaning the day was pretty booked with meetings indoors. The only time to go sightsee was in the early morning, which revealed a hidden side of the city - streets were filled with elderly people doing tai-chi exercises. It was pretty surreal! I could totally see how it would be a ton of fun as a local retiree :-)

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#53

Post by neaden »

ra7 wrote: post #21
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.

Purists like me would object to Chai being referred to its redundant form Chai Tea :)

You're not a purist, you're just incorrect. We are speaking English, so saying that it is redundant isn't true. Just like how Hound means generic dog in German but hunting dog in English, or rouge means red in French but means a kind of makeup in English, Chai doesn't mean tea in English and thus there is no redundancy here.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#54

Post by smolder »

adrian_b wrote: post #43
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…

Yoga is not really comparable, because it is much more static. Of course, there is nothing magic about the Tai chi sequences and many other sequences of movements executed in a similar manner should have a similar effect. A general stretching and mobility routine could be equivalent, but only if it would be similarly complete in exercising the whole body. Presumably the manner of executing Tai chi sequences, i.e. slo…

Recently a study showed that isometric exercises (i.e. holding a static position like planking) are more effective at lowering blood pressure than other types[0]. So relatively static exercises (slow moving, holding poses) are probably what you want for this purpose. I think this previous study is a bit more illuminating in general.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36884118

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#55

Post by [deleted] »

delecti wrote: post #47
ra7 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn’t mean it’s correct!

In this case, I would argue that it does. "Sahara" means "desert", but "Sahara Desert" is still the proper name for that place. "Naan" means "bread", but it's also the name we use for the kind of bread originally made by the people who speak the language where "naan" means "bread". Likewise, "chai tea" is a perfectly fine name for tea made in the style of the people whose word for "tea" is "chai". Languages do this a…

[deleted]

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#57

Post by mtremsal »

corysama wrote: post #44

Long ago, maybe before the consumer internet, I saw a video claiming to showcase people who studied tai chi as a fighting art instead of just exercise. It was a lot of being able to follow the other person's movements to the point that "Fighting a tai chi master is like wrestling with an empty jacket". There was also a demonstration where a master pushed a student's middle finger back using an open palm. No matter ho…

There are a lot of possibly exaggerated, and somewhat dubious, legends about Cheng Man Ching (who created the "Yang style" I believe). In one such story, he performs an exhibition match at the British Embassy in Chungking during WWII, and none of the British soldiers manage to land a single hit. In the story, the British army ends up so impressed they decide to study T'ai Chi.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#58

Post by jtbayly »

corysama wrote: post #44

Long ago, maybe before the consumer internet, I saw a video claiming to showcase people who studied tai chi as a fighting art instead of just exercise. It was a lot of being able to follow the other person's movements to the point that "Fighting a tai chi master is like wrestling with an empty jacket". There was also a demonstration where a master pushed a student's middle finger back using an open palm. No matter ho…

I've seen a video of a Tai-Chi master fighting a whole group of students of his simultaneously. He did things like throw several of them off the mat by swooshing his hands at them.

It was obvious to me that the students were simply responding to what they saw the master doing. I don't believe for one second that it would have worked if the students had blindfolds on.

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#59

Post by dukeofdoom »

If anyone want to get into this. There's a yoga series called "Namaste Yoga", a few of the episodes are online. This style of yoga emphasizes breathing. So if you actually do the stretching while trying to breathe in and out to the ques they give, it becomes much better and very meditative. If you really don't get the benefits of yoga, or are experiencing stress right now, you should give this series a try.

Actually might be even better if you do it after a hot bath, since your muscles are warmed up. And a darkened room.

Example episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGlTd1pNi4

Re: Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise

#60

Post by bunderbunder »

corysama wrote: post #44

Long ago, maybe before the consumer internet, I saw a video claiming to showcase people who studied tai chi as a fighting art instead of just exercise. It was a lot of being able to follow the other person's movements to the point that "Fighting a tai chi master is like wrestling with an empty jacket". There was also a demonstration where a master pushed a student's middle finger back using an open palm. No matter ho…

Alarm bells go off in my head whenever the demonstration of an extraordinary martial arts skill is being done by a master and his student. Maybe the most egregious example of how this sort of dynamic can work out is George Dillman and his "no touch knockouts". It's easy enough to find amusing YouTube videos showing how that worked out when someone roped him into trying to demonstrate the technique on someone who wasn't a student of his.

Anyway, it's usually not nearly that spectacular, but the same basic dynamic has historically pervaded many martial arts. Participants in one style typically only practice and spar with each other, and the "more advanced" techniques might only be demonstrated using advanced students who wouldn't get to be that advanced in the first place without being heavily bought into the whole thing, so you can get some almost cult-like dynamics coming into play.

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