While walking through parks on a Shanghai morning, you are likely to see the beautiful and graceful art of Tai Chi in action. Being as cynical as I am, I wondered how dancing around doing some exotic ballet type moves constitute as exercise. How can something so slow actually do any good at all?

With this in mind I decided to investigate this ancient art form. The Chinese word Tai means "great" Chi means "origin" and can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of yoga and mediation combined. Derived from Taoism, its main is to ensure the tranquility of mind and improvement of temperament. The Chinese characters for Tai Chi can be translated as the "Supreme Ultimate Force." The notion of "supreme ultimate" is often associated with the Chinese concept of yin-yang, the notion that one can see a dynamic duality (male/female, active/passive, dark/light, forceful/yielding) in everything

For the practitioners, Tai Chi foster a calm and tranquil mind, focused on the precise execution of these exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement. Thus it is believed that the practice of Tai Chi can in some measure contribute to being able to stand, walk, move and run better.

While the theory sounded good to me, I wondered whether it actually worked? This led me to have a look at some good old proper scientific evidence. The advantages of Tai Chi have been known for thousands of years but only recently have been demonstrated scientifically. Much of the research has been directed at the senior population. Research conducted at the Emory University of Medicine in the US found that among older people, it improved their mobility and flexibility.

The psychological effects have also been well-documented. It produces inner awareness and reduces stress hormones. Your mind and body will begin to rest thoroughly in this tranquil state of mind.

Having examined the evidence in front of me, Tai Chi may look slightly suspect to observe but the practising of it does hold a certain charm. Whenever I walk past people in the park I might be slightly bemused, even amazed, but with so many benefits to the mind and body especially when we begin to get a bit older, I think I might go out there and give it a try.

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