Tai Chi

If you watch someone performing Tai Chi, you will think that it is a very low-impact, slow workout that won't be of much benefit if you are trying to lose weight or improve your health. If this is what you think of Tai Chi, you would be wrong - very wrong.

Tai Chi is actually a great workout that starts from within but has a huge effect on your outside as well. It is widely regarded as a form of martial arts, although you may find some classes that teach it strictly as an exercise regimen that tend to leave out its martial arts roots. The original form of Tai Chi was part meditation (in order to stop the damage that stress does to your body) and part 'routines' that would make your body use its full range of motion to further release stress and increase the effectiveness of meditation.

Some forms of this class that are taught may even include acupressure techniques to further de-stress your body. Practitioners often believe that unless you cure the inside ailments (stress, panic, grief, etc) then anything you do on the outside (such as the aforementioned forms) will not help. Because it believes in curing from the inside out, many classify it as a holistic type of exercise or workout.

No matter how you classify it, this type of workout has won fans the world over. As you learn to meditate and let it relax you, you will find that the workout aspect has a higher impact and you will leave feeling as if you did a light cardio workout. You should do other types of exercise in addition, perhaps some higher-impact cardio and/or strength training. A fitness professional can help you incorporate this relaxing technique into your workout regimen.