Though Tai-Chi was and is primarily a martial art it's beauty is that because it places so much inital emphasis on relaxation and intellegent movement it has lots of benifits outside of it's origional remit as a method of self defense. I can honestly saying that I'm fitter, stronger and more flexible now in my mid 30's than I was when I took up Tai-Chi in my early 20's. Am I ageless, able to run up walls and blessed with a perfect body befret of disease and postural imbalances? Far from it (yes you can stop laughing at the back there) but if I compare the way I move and feel now to that of my 20 year self it feels like I'm thinking of a different person.

And I'm still learning. That's important, everytime I come back to The Form or I go through a basic exercise I find something I haven't noticed before, some nuance that shed new light or takes me down another ally. I'm proud to say that in Tai-Chi I know no masters, I just know many endlessly enthusitic students. Some have been walking the path far longer than me and like to share their expierence and others are just taking their first tentative steps on their own journey, one that will last as long as they do.

That's what I've got the most out of Tai-Chi, that for me is it's main health benfit, an activity with seemingly bottomless riches which will inform and inspire me and many others until we cease to be.

For those wanting more concrete information on the health benfits of Tai-Chi then the articles below make fro interesting reading.

http://www.osteoporosistreatment.co.uk/tai-chi-prevent.php
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323105002.htm
http://www.williamccchen.com/Medical%20Studies.htm