Tai Chi in Lumpini Park

On any morning, from about 6:30am until around 9:30am, you will see groups of people assembling in Lumpini Park to practice Tai Chi.  Young and old alike, are realizing the mental and physical benefits of this old Chinese art form.  Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art, but not in the classical sense.  Although being a form of traditional Chinese martial arts, it is considered a “soft style” martial art, which is focused on mastering internal power.  Originally Tai Chi was studied to compliment training in other “hard style” Chinese martial arts, such as Kung Fu, but has recently been gaining popularity with groups of people who have little or no interest in traditional martial arts, but an interest in health and health maintenance.  Preventive medicine specialists have taken an interest in Tai Chi, and it is now widely used as a form of therapy, opening up a new interest in “martial arts therapy.”   

Tai Chi classes have become very popular in hospitals, clinics, health spas, community and senior centers in the last couple decades.  As the baby boomer generation begins to age, many are taking interest in forms of low stress training, with Tai Chi being on the forefront of such interests.  Many hospitals are beginning to advise patients on the advantages of regularly practicing Tai Chi, and are now offering classes to aid in varying types of rehabilitation in addition to health maintenance for senior citizens.  

Before Tai Chi’s introduction to the west, the health benefits of Tai Chi where mainly explained and associated with traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on a belief that the bodies healing and health mechanisms can not always be explained by modern medical science.  Recently, some of the prominent Tai Chi teachers have been advocating Tai Chi to be subjected to more scientific study, in hopes of increasing its acceptance in the west.  These researchers have found that Tai Chi practice shows favorable statistics on things such as balance control, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, reduced pain, stress and anxiety, improved respiratory functions, especially on subjects which have previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.  Tai Chi was also shown to help people who suffer from high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and heart attacks, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, and even obesity.  Most people don’t think that such a slow moving exercise routine as Tai Chi would help with losing weight, but studies have found that the gentle, low impact movements of Tai Chi burn more calories than  surfing, and nearly as many as downhill skiing.  In addition, a pilot study has found evidence that Tai Chi, and related Qi Gong may reduce the severity of diabetes.  Along with Yoga, Tai Chi is one of the fastest growing health and fitness maintenance activities in the United States.

 In most western countries, if you can find lessons in Tai Chi at all, it normally involves paying to sign-up for a class.  However, if you happen to be living in Bangkok, Tai Chi is available to you every morning for free.  All that is required is for you to show up and observe the groups of people whom have made Tai Chi part of their morning routine.