An Analysis of the Educational Value of University Tai Chi Courses for the Holistic Development of College Students

Abstract

This paper explores the educational value of university-level Tai Chi courses in promoting the holistic development of college students. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the study examines Tai Chi not only as a physical discipline but also as a vehicle for psychological growth, emotional regulation, and social engagement. Tai Chi offers a low-threshold, inclusive, and culturally grounded practice that addresses key challenges facing today’s students—sedentary lifestyles, mental stress, social disconnection, and diminished self-awareness. The paper articulates how Tai Chi improves physical health outcomes such as posture, flexibility, and neuromuscular coordination, while also cultivating emotional resilience, attentional stability, and self-concept clarity. In the social realm, Tai Chi fosters collective presence, non-verbal empathy, and cooperative interaction, enabling students to build meaningful peer relationships in a non-competitive environment. The integration of Tai Chi into university curricula is discussed through a practical lens, including weekly structuring, interdisciplinary value, and institutional scalability. The findings support the inclusion of Tai Chi as a viable and impactful educational component that contributes to students’ whole-person development in academic environments increasingly marked by fragmentation and psychological overload.