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Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Volume 2017, Article ID 8763915, 1 page
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8763915

Editorial
Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong as Mind-Body Exercises

Yong Tai Wang,1 Guoyuan Huang,2 Gloria Duke,1 and Yi Yang3

1
University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
2
University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN, USA
3
Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Yong Tai Wang; ywang@uttyler.edu

Received 22 December 2016; Accepted 22 December 2016; Published 5 January 2017

Copyright © 2017 Yong Tai Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Mind-body interventions or exercises may improve body effectiveness of these mind-body exercises in improving,
function and health since nervous system affects endocrine enhancing, or strengthening integrative health and well-
system and immune system while performing these mind- being in relation to functional outcomes or clinical benefits
body (MB) exercises. Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong are consid- on the human body. We hope you enjoy reading these
ered the most popular MB exercises, ranked by the 2002–2012 research articles on this special issue.
National Health Interview Surveys as the top three of the 10
most common complementary health approaches in practice. Yong Tai Wang
Tai Chi is a healing/martial art combining martial art Guoyuan Huang
movement with Qi—vital energy circulation, breathing, and Gloria Duke
stretching techniques. Tai Chi exercise consists of a series Yi Yang
of graceful movements with deep and slow diaphragmatic
breathings performed while standing. Tai Chi exercise has
been shown to have both physical and psychosocial benefits
for the different populations. Yoga, a mind-body exercise,
involves a combination of muscular activity and an inter-
nally directed mindful focus on awareness of the self, the
breath, and energy. Yoga integrates an individual’s physical,
mental, and spiritual components to improve physical and
mental health, particularly stress related illnesses. Qigong
exercise, similar to Tai Chi, consists of a series of breath
practices with body movement and meditation to attain deep
focus and relaxed state. Simply speaking, Qigong exercise is
practiced/used to cultivate the balance and harmony of vital
energy in the human body. Considerable scientific evidence
supports the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi and Qigong
in various populations with differing characteristics such as
age, gender, and occupation in NIH Research Report.
In this special issue, we have focused on Tai Chi, Yoga,
and Qigong as mind-body exercises. Nine research articles
including human experimental studies, clinical trials, and
meta-analyses have been carefully reviewed, revised, and
published. These research articles explore the efficacy and

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