Balance is important to help you perform many of your daily activities and prevent falls. Research has shown that tai chi can significantly reduce the risk of falls among older people. In tai chi, which is sometimes called "moving meditation," you work to improve your balance by moving your body slowly, gently, and precisely, while breathing deeply.
Other benefits from practicing tai chi include:
Improvements in bone and heart health
Easing of pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis
Better sleep
Improvements in overall wellness
Watch this video from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at NIH to see a demonstration of tai chi.
While practicing tai chi, try to put aside distracting thoughts and focus on being aware of your movements.
Reproduced from: the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Available at: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi (Accessed March 23, 2012).