The mind-body exercise based on Chinese traditional culture is a kind of physical activity that combines the martial arts with the mental training, based on the Chinese traditional thought and theoretical doctrine. It mainly emphasizes the movement and the mind-body integration, encourages the individuals to relax, and promotes a physical, mental and brain health. This paper explores the roles of the common traditional mind-body exercise (Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and others) in improving the physical, mental and brain health, reviews the scientific evidences in the changes of the structural morphology and the functional activity of the brain induced by the mind-body exercise, and expands the applications of the mind-body exercise in the clinical and daily life. The present study aims to understand the relationship between the mind-body interaction from the perspective of the traditional culture and the modern technology, and provides some scientific evidences with the mind-body exercise as preventive measures or treatments for clinical disorders.

mind-body exercise  /  Tai Chi Chuan  /  brain health  /  Chinese culture