Practicing Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, for 12-weeks may significantly reduce symptoms of depression such as persistent feeling of sadness or loss.
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‘Today Tai chi is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.’
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It is generally suitable for people of any level of physical fitness. 
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"While some previous studies have suggested that tai chi may be useful in treating anxiety and depression, most have used it as a supplement to treatment for others medical conditions, rather than patients with depression," said Albert Yeung from Massachusetts General Hospital.
Tai Chi can be particularly effective for patients who avoid conventional psychiatric treatment, the researchers said.
For the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the team recruited 50 participants through advertisements offering tai chi for stress reduction.
Of these 17 were in the tai chi group, 14 in the education group that included discussions on stress, mental health and depression and 19 in the a passive control, wait-list group.
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Earlier this year, China nominated Tai Chi, for inclusion in the Unesco List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Source-IANS