Not only can the complementary and gentle alternative therapy known as Tai Chi (a subset of the art of Qigong, focused on movement) relieve pain, it can do wonders for the mental health of seniors fighting depression, according to a recent study.

First, scientists treated 112 Baby Boomers and seniors (age 60 and older) suffering from major depression with Lexapro (escitalopram) for four weeks. From that point, the 73 patients who showed partial improvement continued taking Lexapro and were also randomly assigned to two-hour classes teaching them either a form of Tai Chi known as T'ai Chi Chih or health education for 10 weeks.

Although a majority of patients in both groups found relief from their emotional pains by taking either class, a greater number of T'ai Chi Chih students (65 percent) experienced a remission of their depressive symptoms, as compared to those taking health education courses (51 percent).

If you're curious about T'ai Chi Chih, watch this first of a series of YouTube videos hosted by creator Justin Stone that describes how to use this gentle form of "non-exercise."

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry March 6, 2011

New York Times/Well March 18, 2011

ScienceDaily March 20, 2011