Effect of T'ai Chi on mental & physical stress:

Mind & body exercises, such as ... T'ai Chi ... are increasingly replacing high-impact aerobics, long distance running and other body punishing excercises of the 1980's ...Mind/body workouts are kinder to the joints and muscles . . reduce the tension that often contributes to the development of disease, which makes them especially appropriate for high powered, stressed out baby boomers. Unlike most conventional exercises, these forms are intended to stretch, tone, an relax the whole body instead of isolating parts ... based on a series of progressive choreographed movements coordinated with deep breathing.