Seniors may ward off depression by practicing tai chi
Friday, 18 March 2011
Seniors may ward off depression by practicing tai chi
Tai chi is an ancient martial art that has impressed many people all over the world for its calming, strengthening techniques that promote stress relief. According to UCLA researchers, engaging in this form of exercise may not only be physically beneficial, but may also keep depression at bay, particularly in the case of elderly individuals.
The paper, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, reported that more than 2 million people over the age of 65 struggle with feelings of hopelessness and despair.
In order to assess the benefits of tai chi on seniors' emotional well-being, the research team recruited a total of 112 adults who were 60 or older. All of the participants were given antidepressants, but only half participated in a tai chi class for two hours a week over the 10-week study period.
Although improvements in the severity of depression were observed in all of the seniors, those who had engaged in tai chi showed the most significant progress in terms of achieving better emotional health.
"Adding a mind-body exercise like tai chi can improve the outcomes of treating depression in older adults," the researchers concluded.
As a result, seniors who are looking to optimize their well-being may greatly benefit from looking into Dahn Yoga tai chi.
