How could tai chi help you quit smoking? If you use smoking to calm your nerves, tai chi provides a more healthful alternative. Tai chi engages the whole person in the exercises, so you don't have time to notice that you want a cigarette: Your mind concentrates completely on the flow and balance of the body; the breathing synchronizes the harmonious action of the arms and legs and allows qi to circulate throughout the system.
The conscious breath in tai chi practice can help regulate the respiratory system and lessen the severity of asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis -- all of which can afflict smokers. In fact, a study conducted at National Taiwan University Hospital showed that oxygen uptake in patients practicing tai chi was significantly higher than in the sedentary control group. Connecting the breath and the movements can also engage the parasympathetic nervous system to promote deep relaxation and calm the sympathetic nervous system to keep stress at bay.
