Listening to those, you can understand why these are two of the very best things that you can do for both your physical and your mental health. You can even start to feel they’re starting to sound a bit like the fountain of youth. In fact they actually have that covered too, as the latest research shows that practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong helps to keep your telomeres intact, the little caps on the ends of your DNA that have an annoying habit of fraying over time and causing you to age.

For a deeper dive, below are links to peer-reviewed academic studies from leading universities around the world, including Harvard Medical School and Stanford, setting out the science behind each of the benefits:

Physical Performance

• Flexibility & Mobility

• Balance & Posture

• Coordination & Proprioception

• Strength & Stamina

• Heart & Lung Fitness

Body Health

• Weight Management

• Cholesterol

• Blood Pressure

• Blood Sugar

• Immune System

Mind & Mood

• Focus, Memory & Reasoning

• Stress & Depression

• Nervous System Balance

• Sleep

Longevity & Healthspan

• Life Expectancy

• Cognitive Ageing

• Chronic Pain

• Arthritis & Parkinson's