Development of body and meditation practices in the regions of Santo Amaro and Cidade Ademar: São Paulo, Brazil, 2007

São Paulo City Health Department has been promoting the implementation of body and meditation practices in its healthcare units, aimed at promoting the quality of life of the population and reducing vulnerability and risks to health related to its determinants. This study aims to assess the availability of these practices to the community and describe the profile of participants. The information was extracted from production spreadsheets prepared by the 15 healthcare units, in 2007. Traditional Chinese Medicine included 1,100 Lian Gong groups with 45,853 participations; 296 Tai-chi Pai Lin / Tai-chi chuan with 2,944; 93 Lien Ch’i with 1,918 and 22 meditation groups with 179. The age group above 60 years prevailed in the Lian Gong (75.2%) and Lien Ch’i (64,3%) groups; individuals between 20 and 60 years prevailed in Tai-chi Pai Lin / Tai-chi chuan (64.8%) and meditation (96.1%). Of the general body practices, there were 404 stretching, relaxation and walking or aerobics groups, with 6,723 participations; 218 of diversified dances with 2,286; 37 of capoeira with 332, and 32 of soccer with 183 participations. Individuals below 20 prevailed in the capoeira (87.0%) and soccer (73.8%) groups; in the 20 to 60-year-old group, dances (47.2%); and for those above 60, stretching, relaxation and walking or aerobics (52.6%). Individuals above 60 accounted for 67.1% of all groups; the 20 to 60 year-olds for 29.7% and those below 20 years for 3.2%. There was a predominance of men only in the soccer (93.4%) and capoeira (68.7%) groups. Body and meditation practices provide an alternative way of dealing with the health-disease process, with good receptivity and participation of different age groups, highlighting the importance of implementing and incrementing their development in all health units of the region.