I did a little Tai Chi a few years ago, but due to work commitments and the time of the class I wasn't able to continue. But now, I'm back on the hunt for a class in my area. I have found two, but unfortunately they run during the day, which is no good for people that work 9-5, like me!

Tai Chi (also written as T'ai Chi, Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan, among others) is a slow-motion, moving meditative exercise for relaxation, health and self defense. Originally from China, Tai Chi has gained enormous popularity in America and throughout the rest of the world for its health benefits.

Doctors in the United States analysed 47 studies looking at the impact Tai Chi had on people with chronic health problems, like heart disease or MS. They found that it could improve balance control, flexibility and even the health of their heart.

Writing in The Archives of Internal Medicine, they said it also reduced stress, falls, pain and anxiety.

You may have seen large groups of Chinese people practicing Tai Chi in the local park, all moving together in the same direction, at the sae pace, looking extremely graceful.

A common misconception is that it is only good for the elderly. While it is a popular form of exercise among the elderly, particularly in China, tai chi has been found to be health-promoting for younger generations as well. In the July-August 2005 issue of the Journal of Paediatric Health Care, an article outlined an educational program that was implemented in a Boston middle school which involved tai chi and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The boys and girls who participated in the program reported the following benefits:
• Feelings of well-being, calmness, and relaxation

• Improved sleep
• Less reactivity

• Increased self-care and self-awareness

• Feelings of interconnectedness and interdependence with nature

Another study, published in the March 2006 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, also found that tai chi enhances functional mobility. In addition, this study found that tai chi also enhances regulatory T cell function. T cells are critical to the overall strength of your immune system.

I've been doing Yoga for a few months now. I am really enjoying it; the balance of increasing fitness, increasing flexibility and de-stressing is something you don't get in an aerobics class where you can't see the instructor for the seat dripping down into your eyes! Yuck! The class I go to is on a Saturday morning from 10.30am to 11.30am at Merthyr Leisure Centre. For £3 a class per week, it's a snip and far more economical than £36 per month for gym membership!

Many people think that yoga is just stretching but yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose.

There a a wide variety of yoga styles. Some are more aerobic and designed to heat your body up, some are more focussed on perfecting the pose.

Ashtanga Yoga: This type of yoga is sometimes called "power yoga" due to the primary focus being to create a powerful flowing movement. These types of yoga often include classic strength and stamina routines such as lunges and pushups, and are more often used by people who are seeking a more challenging workout. Ashtanga might be suited to a person who as successfully overcome a minor back injury for example.

Hatha Yoga: If you see a class described as Hatha, it will likely be a slow-paced stretching class with some simple breathing exercises and perhaps seated meditation. This is a good place to learn basic poses, relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa is usually a fast-paced type of yoga with lots of different poses. Other than starting with a sun salutation, no two classes will be alike.

Kundalini Yoga: "Kundalini" refers to the energy of the base chakra, which surrounds the base of the spine. The principle behind Kundalini yoga is that in freeing up this area, we can unleash the unlimited potential that lies within that energy center. Expect lots of core work on your abs and around the spine with Kundalini yoga -- and perhaps even more sitting than usual.

Yoga fits really well with Reiki, and even though one comes form India and the other from Japan, they both focus on holistic wellbeing, energy flows and have chakra energy centres in common.