Which is better, yoga or tai chi?

In fact, there is no absolute distinction between high and low. It all depends on your own physical condition, exercise needs, and even the time you can devote to exercise every day. You don’t need to blindly follow others’ opinions on which one is better. After all, the one that can last for a long time and make your body comfortable after practicing is the most suitable for you.

I have many friends who have persisted in both sports for five or six years, and I have never seen anyone insist on stepping down. Not long ago, I met an aunt who had just retired. She had been practicing yoga with her sister for half a year. Every time she did the downward dog pose, her heels hurt. Her waist hurt after she couldn't hold the plank for 10 seconds. Then she went to the park to practice Yang's Tai Chi. After practicing for three months, she told me that her knees no longer hurt. She lay down on the bed at night and slept with a pillow. It was much more comfortable than practicing yoga before.

This does not mean that yoga is not good. If you are an office worker in your twenties or thirties, your shoulders and neck are stiff when you sit in the office, and you want to improve your rounded shoulders and hunched posture. Yoga is actually more adaptable. Many basic postures do not require much space and can be practiced at your workstation. I used to rush to work on projects. After a week of classes, take 3 minutes every afternoon to do a few sets of cat-cow poses and shoulder and neck stretches. Your upper back, which is as hard as a stone slab, will immediately relax a lot. If you are willing to spend the weekend to go to a gym class, alternate flow yoga and yin yoga. Whether you want to sweat or relax, you can find the corresponding school.

Of course, both sides have their own "shortcomings". Nowadays, many yoga studios blindly encourage students to do difficult poses in order to achieve results. They force their legs to bend and lower their waists. I have seen people who injured their waists and meniscus during the exercises.； The problem with Tai Chi is that the barrier to entry is hidden deep. If you just follow the video and practice, you may not know the right way to exert force for half a year. Pure gestures are of no use. If you really want to practice effectively, you need to find a reliable master, which is troublesome for many young people.

To put it bluntly, these two are just like the fruit tea and old white tea you usually drink. No one is more advanced than the other. If you are looking for convenience and quickness, and you will feel relaxed immediately after practicing, you are right to choose yoga.； If you want to find an exercise that you can practice for a lifetime and slowly adjust your breathing and state, Tai Chi will have more staying power. If you are really confused, try two or three classes each. The physical feeling will be more accurate than anyone else's recommendation.