Tai chi is a Chinese exercise system which uses slow, smooth body movements to achieve a state of relaxation of both body and mind. It can help achieve a state of physical and mental relaxation while also strengthening the cardiovascular system.

As a very slow and gentle form of moving, tai chi has virtually no side effects. However, if a person has any doubts about joints, vertebrae, or heart, a doctor should be consulted.

Developed originally in China as a self-defense strategy, tai chi (the "supreme ultimate fist") is practiced in modern times primarily as a gentle exercise technique. Described as "meditation in motion," the tai chi practitioner performs a series of postures or bodily movements in a slow and graceful manner, with each movement flowing without pause to the next. According to Chinese legend, the technique was created by a Taoist monk who was inspired...