Tai Chi (cont.)
What clothing should I wear for tai chi?
Comfortable and loose-fitting clothing that won't restrict your movements are
best. Sweatpants, tights, or leotards, and a T-shirt will do. Although it
doesn't look like lots of work because the movements are so slow, you may work
up a sweat, and so I don't recommend overdressing.
What precautions should I take before practicing tai chi?
Tai chi is gentle enough for almost everyone. However, if you have arthritis
that affects your joints (the Arthritis Foundation recommends tai chi),
orthopedic conditions that limit your mobility (back pain, sprains, fractures,
and severe osteoporosis), if you're pregnant, if you have a hernia, or if you have
any other medical condition that might be affected by exercise, then it's a good
idea to speak with your doctor before you try tai chi. If you're concerned about
the class that you're considering, then watch the class or speak with the
instructor before you start. You want to feel comfortable with the activity, so
speak up!
What have you got to lose?
That's tai chi. Practicing it regularly can improve your aerobic capacity,
muscular strength, flexibility, and balance; and it can improve your well-being
and decrease your stress. It's a martial art that has been practiced for
centuries by millions of Chinese. Could all of them be wrong? My suggestion is
to give it a try. You've got a lifetime of fitness ahead of you, and so adding
something new and different to your fitness skills that has this much potential
is probably worth a try. It's worth the effort!
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