Tai Ji (Tai Chi)

I started this morning with the first in a series of Tai Ji* review courses. After several days of intense heat, we had a lovely cool morning in which to practice tai ji. I studied tai ji theory, health benefits and the practice while I was in medical school and practiced daily in the weeks before taking (and passing!) my board exams.


In addition to enhancing memory, tai ji has been suggested to have many other health benefits, including:

• balance, fewer falls in the elderly
• cardiac rehabilitation (post surgery)
• high blood pressure
• headaches

These effects have mostly been studies in the elderly, but in the few studies with younger adults, the effects have been even stronger. Tai ji is a very safe practice to introduce into your daily routine and makes for a great start to the day.

*Note: Tai ji is the same as the more commonly used "tai chi," but uses the more up to date pinyin romanization of Chinese, whereas tai chi is the older Wade-Giles romanization.