Tai Chi Lowers Blood Pressure by the Parasympathetic Nervous System and Its Importance to Improve Memory and Protect Against Cardiovascular Diseases

So what is it about tai chi that helps lower blood pressure? The University of Arizona College of Nursing professor who was not involved in the study said that the practice tends to elicit a response from the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger.

Prehypertension is blood pressure that’s higher than normal but doesn’t quite reach the level of high blood pressure, or hypertension. It’s considered a warning sign that heart disease may be ahead, and it raises the risk of having a heart attack.

The new findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, add to a large body of research pointing to health benefits from tai chi, a wellness practice that combines slow, gentle movements and postures with mindfulness. It’s often called meditation in motion.

Evidence shows it can boost memory and protect against cognitive decline. But you have to practice it consistently to reap the most benefit.