Research

News Flash from NPR:

It seems that every week another study is published touting the effects of yoga, taiji, qigong and meditation on health and wellbeing.  Modern scientific research is demonstrating that these ancient practices can:

• Improve balance
• Increase flexibility
• Reduce stress
• Lower blood pressure
• Improve memory
• Enhance heart health
• Improve mood
• Improve sleep
• Promote weight loss
• Improve cognition in older adults
• Reduce risk of falling in older adults
• Improve fibromyalgia symptoms
• Improve COPD symptoms
• Increase mobility for people with Parkinson's Disease

Reliable research

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a division of the NIH (National Institutes of Health) is a fabulous resource for reliable information about the health benefits of taiji, yoga, qigong and meditation.

Taiji & Qigong: Visit the NIH Tai Chi & Qi Gong in Depth page for a comprehensive overview:  https://nccih.nih.gov/health/taichi/introduction.htm

Yoga: Visit the NIH Yoga in Depth page for a comprehensive overview: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm#hed4

Meditation:  Visit the NIH Meditation in Depth page for a comprehensive overview:  https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-what-you-need-to-know

Taiji Evidence-Based Research: The NCCIH 2015 Clinical Digest issue provides a summary of current evidence on taiji for several conditions:  https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/taichi  

Recent Articles

Medical Meditation? Clinical Yoga? Alternative Therapies Go Mainstream."  New York Times, Feb 4, 2024

"Deadly Falls in Older Americans Are Rising. Here’s How to Prevent Them," New York Times, June 4, 2019

"How Yoga May Enhance Heart Health," Harvard Heart Letter, April 2019

"Effects of Tai Chi on Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review," US Library of Medicine, NIH, August 2018: 

An Evidence-based Review of Qi Gong by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Natural Medicine Journal, May 2010