The benefits of tai chi on mood disorders, stress, emotional instability and depression

Tai Chi (TC) considers physical tension and emotional stress as major inhibitors to the smooth flow of Chi. By relaxing the body and focusing the mind on TC's movements and breathing, we restore inner balance and optimum health in the following ways:

Mood Balance

TC is a system of physical exercise and controlled deep breathing that promotes a mind-body connection that leads to deep relaxation that encourages the flow of chi.

It is this mind-body connection together with increased physical activity that promotes a feeling of well being and mood elevation. At the same time, TC’s slow smooth movements and the calm atmosphere in which it is usually practiced, together with the requirement for focused concentration, can serve to moderate pathologically elevated mood.

Stress

Tai Chi reduces stress. Physical, psychological and psychosocial stress elicit similar responses by the body. The heart rate increases, blood pressure elevates, blood glucose levels rise, antibody levels are increased, vasodilatation in muscles and pupil dilation occurs.

The chemicals our bodies produce in reaction to stress cause the body to release free radicals. Free radicals have been implicated in many human diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and some degenerative diseases.

The techniques of TC , and the deep relaxation that results from it, have been shown to reduce some of the long-term consequences of stress-hypertension and increased cholesterol, lowered metabolism and immunity, hyperglycemia and depression as well as the obvious effects on the appearance.

Thus regular TC trining and the associated deep breathing can lead to a normalisation of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, metabolic rate and immune response as well as elevation of mood and a rejuvenation of the physical appearance.

Depression

TC reduces anxiety and depression which may be expressed in any of the body systems. A growing body of research links depression with an inability to fight cancer. Mental suffering and depressive symptoms such as insomnia, indirect self-disparagement, psychomotor retardation, and a pessimistic outlook may be improved by doing regular tai chi.

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