Tai Chi anyone?

[artist]

Does anyone have any experience with Tai Chi? If so please share how this has helped you health wise.

One of my major goals for the next 12 months is to loose a considerable (80+ lbs) amount of weight and work my way to a healthier me. I'm taking the car less, and biking more and I have a gym membership and am meeting with the trainer to have a work out plan customized for me. One thing I was thinking was that something like Tai Chi might help as well. I would appreciate any imput and information on the subject as I'm rather uninformed.

:thankyou:

[Rosemary]

I've taken 2 types of tai chi classes. I really enjoy the moving meditation, and for my body, it is much better than yoga.
Tai chi is supposed to be excellent for improving balance, which is why it is often recommended for the elderly. In cold climates, good balance is important for everyone -- ice can make you slip almost instantly. Anyway, I think the constant, slow motion is very good as a mindfulness exercise and meditation.

[herbgeek]

I've done QiGong which is similar, and I will agree with Rosemary on the mindfulness side, but I can't see how its going to help you lose that much weight. Aerobic activity of one sort or another is going to be more useful (walking, swimming..).

[Rosemary]

Anything that makes you be upright vs sitting can help with weight loss.

[bae]

I have studied a Taoist martial art for ~35 years now, which has a lot of overlap with Tai Chi. I'm not sure how it has helped me health-wise, as it is such a basic part of how I have lived that I don't have another baseline for comparison. I do have very good balance and reflexes, good strength and flexibility, and am able to sit calmly in endless boring and irritating meetings without screaming, so I suppose that's something :-)