Instead of running up and down stairs, people are offered calm gymnastic exercises, instead of jumping and acrobatics – stretching and meditation. Slow, relaxed repetition of simple physical movements does not strain the heart and blood vessels, but at the same time makes them work harder than usual. The healing effect is best seen in older people who already have heart problems – they say they literally begin to feel their body and life anew.
According to the results of the study, 21.8 per cent of participants in the tai chi group had normalised blood pressure even without taking medication. In the group that performed aerobic exercises, this figure was 15.6 per cent. The reported incidences of arterial hypertension were similar: 12.0 per cent versus 17.7 per cent in the tai chi and aerobic exercise groups.
