Which one is healthier, yoga or tai chi?

There is no absolute difference in this issue. There is no essential difference in the long-term health benefits between the two. The final effect depends entirely on the physical condition of the practitioner and whether the practice method is suitable.

I have been practicing yoga for nearly 8 years, and I have been learning Chen Style Tai Chi from my master for 5 years. Whether I am surrounded by young people who go to yoga studios or elders who practice Tai Chi in the park every day, everyone feels refreshed if they practice correctly, and there are many who get injured if they practice incorrectly. Two years ago, there was a retired aunt in our gym who had degenerative knee disease. She practiced yoga with the older sisters for half a month, but the teacher forced her to sit in the lotus position. The pain made it difficult for her to go up and down the stairs. Later, I persuaded her to try the Tai Chi team near her home. When I met her again six months later, she said that the pain in her knees had not happened much, and even her stubborn insomnia had improved a lot. On the other hand, there are also young people who have just graduated, who were dragged by their parents to do Tai Chi for two months. They said that they were stiff all over while standing and could not help but lose focus every time they practiced. Later, they signed up for a vital yoga class and practiced three times a week for three months. Not only did their previous problem of chest and hunched back change, but their overall energy level improved.

In fact, there are many comparative studies on the two projects in the sports medicine community. Supporters of both sides have defensible arguments: Researchers who prefer yoga believe that many yoga movement designs are more targeted at problems such as rounded shoulders, forward head extension, and core weakness caused by modern people sitting for long periods of time. They also have low space requirements. You can practice several sets of cat-cow poses and shoulder and neck stretches with a small cushion in the office or even while sitting, adapting to the fast-paced life.； Researchers who prefer Tai Chi believe that the movement logic of Tai Chi is more in line with the muscular and skeletal exertion habits of Eastern people. There are no forced anti-joint movements throughout the process. It is more friendly to middle-aged and elderly people, people with underlying diseases or old joint injuries. When practicing with breathing guidance, it has a longer-lasting effect on regulating emotions.

If you are really confused about which one to choose, you might as well consider your own situation first: If you can’t sit still, have no old joint injuries, and want to find an exercise that can stretch your muscles and burn some calories, then yoga is most likely to be more to your liking. If you like to be quiet, have joint wear or basic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems, and want to slowly adjust your body for a long time, then Tai Chi will definitely be more suitable. To be honest, I have seen too many people follow the trend and get injured over the years. They force themselves to sit in the lotus position because their knees are not good, and they force themselves to stand for an hour even though they cannot calm down.

Don't believe in the absolute statements that "yoga is better for fat loss" and "Tai Chi is better for health". No matter which one you choose, it is best to find a reliable teacher for two months in the entry-level stage. Don't just follow short videos and practice advanced movements blindly. The movements are standard and comfortable, which is better than anything else.