Which one is healthier, yoga or tai chi?

In fact, there is no standard answer at all. For individuals, the one that adapts to your physical condition and has the correct practice method is healthier. Both of them are health-preserving exercises that have been verified for hundreds of thousands of years. There is no one higher than the other.

Two years ago, I met a 60-year-old lady at a yoga studio. She had an old lumbar protrusion injury, but she had to follow the younger girls to do deep backbends and side horses. After practicing for three months, her waist hurt so much that she couldn't get out of bed. Later, her neighbor persuaded her to go to a Tai Chi station near her home to learn the basic 24 postures. During the practice, the teacher watched her adjust the angle of her knees to prevent her waist from slumping. The frequency of waist discomfort was reduced by more than half in more than half a year. At that time, when she met people, she said that Tai Chi was much better than yoga. But a young Internet operator who I worked with in 1998 was so anxious that she couldn't sleep all night long. She was forced by her parents to do Tai Chi for two weeks. She said that she could not help but think about work because she was moving too slowly while standing.

You see, different people have come to completely opposite conclusions. Essentially, the underlying logic of the two movements is inherently different. Yoga originated from the ancient Indian practice system and has developed into a mainstream school practiced by the public today. It mainly focuses on the strength and extension training of muscles and joints, and slowly and synchronously adjusts the breathing rhythm. It will be more effective in improving the rounded shoulders and muscle tension caused by sitting for a long time. As long as you do not blindly pursue difficult postures, it is actually very adaptable to all ages. Tai Chi is a branch of traditional martial arts native to China. It emphasizes the integration of mind, body, and spirit. It has a slow rhythm and does not require instant explosive power. Instead, it pays more attention to the stability of the core and coordination of breathing. It will be more acceptable to people with old joint injuries, middle-aged and elderly people, or people who usually have high mood swings and want to practice their mind.

The "upper limit of health" between the two is actually not much different. On the contrary, the risk of injury caused by improper practice is quite consistent - I have seen an old man who did not pay attention to the knee bend angle when practicing Tai Chi, and twisted his knee blindly to damage the meniscus. I have also seen a young girl who just practiced yoga for two weeks and injured her femoral head by opening her hip hard. These problems are never the fault of the sport itself. They are all problems of blindly following the trend and failing to find the right professional guidance.

If you are really torn about which one to choose, you don’t have to listen to other people’s claims about Amway. Take the time to experience two or three classes for both of you. After finishing the training, which one will stretch your whole body and not cause inexplicable soreness. You may even think about continuing it the next day. Which one is “healthier” for you. After all, fitness is always more important than “popularity” when it comes to health care.