Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Tai chi is back in fashion, from celebrities to TikTok
Tai chi is an old kind of exercise from China that people do with slow, careful movements.
For a long time it was known as a martial art, which is a fighting style.
Now, lots of people are trying it because it makes them feel calm and healthy.
Some famous people like Keanu Reeves and Lou Reed practised tai chi, and videos of it are popular on apps like TikTok.
In these videos, people do slow walking moves that some call 'Tai Chi Walking.'
Scientists say tai chi can help older people keep their balance and avoid falling.
It can also be good for things like blood pressure, sleep, and joint pain.
You don't need much space or equipment to do it, so it is easy to try at home.
Tai chi is not a magic cure, but moving slowly and carefully can be really good for your body and mind.
Tai chi, a centuries-old martial art, is gaining new popularity through celebrity connections and short videos on TikTok and Instagram.
Celebrity practitioners include Keanu Reeves, who directed 'Man of Tai Chi' (2013) with martial artist Tiger Chen, and Lou Reed, who practised Chen-style tai chi for years.
Gisele Bündchen calls tai chi 'moving meditation,' while Tom Brady has also shared his interest in the practice.
Historical evidence points to Chen-style tai chi developing in Chen Village, Henan province, during the late Ming and early Qing period, with Yang-style becoming the most widely practised form internationally.
Research highlighted by Harvard Medical School and the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health links regular tai chi to better balance and reduced falls.
- Who
- Keanu Reeves, Lou Reed, Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady are among celebrities linked to tai chi, which is being shared by users on TikTok and Instagram.
- What
- The centuries-old martial art tai chi is experiencing a revival as a low-impact wellness practice.
- When
- The current revival is ongoing; the article also references the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and Lou Reed's death in 2013.
- Where
- Globally through TikTok and Instagram, with origins in Chen Village, Henan province.
- Why
- People are drawn to a quiet, low-impact exercise that supports balance, mobility and mindfulness amid intense high-intensity fitness culture.
- Practice
- Tai chi (taijiquan)
- Origins
- Chen-style tai chi developed in Chen Village, Henan province, during the late Ming and early Qing period
- Most practised form
- Yang-style tai chi, developed by Yang Luchan in the 19th century
- Celebrity practitioners
- Keanu Reeves, Lou Reed, Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady
- Notable film
- "Man of Tai Chi" (2013), Keanu Reeves' directorial debut starring Tiger Chen
- Social media trend
- "Tai Chi Walking" routines on TikTok and Instagram
- Research institutions
- Harvard Medical School; US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health