Mind-Body Exercises Benefit Emotional Health

Posted on December 19, 2013

Mind-body exercises such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Yoga not only improve physical fitness but also alleviate mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, according to a study.

Mind-body exercises such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Yoga not only improve physical fitness but also alleviate mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, according to a study.

The Chen Wai Wai Vivien Foundation Therapeutic Physical Mental Exercise Center at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) conducted a large-scale telephone survey from May to July 2013 to examine exercise patterns and their relationship with the risk of mood disorders among Hong Kong people.

The results reveal that regular mind-body exercise, such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Yoga, can reduce the risk of mood disorders.

The study, involving a random sample of 2,744 Hong Kong citizens aged between 18 and 75, showed that only half of the respondents performed ‘regular’ exercise (defined as exercising at least two times a week, each time lasting 30 minutes or more) while 6.4 percent of respondents did not perform any exercise. The research also indicates that their choice of exercise varies by gender, age and education level.

Exercises such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Yoga are effective in reducing the risk of mood disorders, according to the study. Only 4 percent of the respondents who performed these exercises have a high risk of mood disorders, as compared to aerobic exercise (4.8 percent) and walking (6.2 percent). This indicated that although walking has a great impact in physical fitness, it has a lesser effect on emotional health.

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Source material from Asian Scientist