The Chinese martial art can help heart failure patients feel more energized and less depressed. The form of exercise that is around 5,000 years old can improve the mood and quality of life of people who practice it, no matter their age or level of health.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine describes tai chi and its uses and benefits in this way: “Tai chi incorporates the Chinese concepts of yin and yang (opposing forces within the body) and qui (a vital energy or life force). Practicing tai chi is said to support a healthy balance of yin and yang, thereby aiding the flow of qi”.

The Mayo Clinic suggests the ancient art as a way to reduce your level of stress, calling it “meditation in motion”. In fact, researchers at Harvard and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that even though tai chi doesn’t give any more physical benefits than a simple, easy six-minute walk, it has other benefits. For example, patients who did tai chi did much better in standardized tests that tracked the mood of patients with chronic heart failure.