Yoga and Tai Chi

While any kind of exercise is good for stress management, researchers have found that yoga and tai chi are particularly beneficial. Often referred to as “mind-body exercise,” yoga and tai chi give you all of the stress relieving benefits of moving your body while also working your mind. They are tools to consider using in your stress management toolbox.

While yoga and tai chi are distinct practices, they are similar in that they both connect movement to breath. Some call yoga and tai chi “meditation in motion.”

While many people begin yoga or tai chi for the physical benefits, the ones who stick with it often talk about the mental benefits. The physical practice is the gateway to the mental benefits and can become secondary to the sense of calm they gain.

There are many different styles of yoga, from gentle to quite athletic. There is a style of yoga that works for any age, level of fitness, and body type, so don’t get intimidated. Many people think you have to be naturally flexible to do yoga, but that isn’t true. Try different styles and different teachers to discover what you like. A few popular types of yoga:

Tai chi is a combination of martial arts and meditation. Like yoga, there are different styles. All of the styles are about moving energy or "chi" through the body. However, none of the styles are vigorous or athletic. If you sweat, you're working too hard! This makes it a good mind-body exercise for any age, level of fitness, or body type.

It is easier to begin yoga or tai chi by taking a class than figuring it out on your own. If you can find an in-person class, you’ll benefit from getting feedback from an instructor. As you feel more comfortable, there are many online videos and apps you can do at home. Thanks to technology, you can bring some of the world’s best teachers into your living room!

Yoga and tai chi help regulate your nervous system by activating the “rest and digest” response. In contrast, stress activates the “fight or flight” response. A well-regulated nervous system is balanced and resilient. That means it knows how to turn the stress response off and on, rather than stay on all the time.