What Is Mindful Tai Chi ?

Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion. There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health.
In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of motion, for example, "white crane spreads its wings" — or martial arts moves, such as "box both ears." As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention — as in some kinds of meditation — on your bodily sensations. Mindfulness is deliberately paying attention to what is going on in the present moment that allows you to be fully aware of what is happening both inside yourself (in your body, and mind) and outside yourself (everything around you.) It is a sate of "calm alertness" that can be improved with practice.