Do you have aches and pains? Swollen joints? Are you overcome with anxiety or stress? Get rid of them at our library. How?? Come learn Tai Chi, a slow-motion exercise to help you feel good.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner accompanied by deep breathing.
Who can do tai chi? Just about everyone. It is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is a low-impact exercise, it may be especially suitable if you're an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.
You may also find tai chi appealing because it's inexpensive and requires no special equipment, just loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes or socks. You can do tai chi anywhere, indoors or outside, alone or in a group.
Our instructor, Jan Saecker, learned the long form of Tai Chi, Yang, from written descriptions, and then practiced it in Philadelphia with two people who had just returned from China, where they had studied the Yang form. Tai Chi, around for about 2000 years, has been the subject of over 500 scientific studies in the last half century. A review published in the Canadian Family Physician found that Tai Chi helps ease many health problems--obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, depression, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson's. Linda Larkey, a professor at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, at Arizona State U, says the mindful aspect of Tai Chi calms the nervous system and reduces inflammation, improving brain function, pain perception, anxiety, and blood pressure.
So, come join the group to learn Tai Chi on Tuesdays, at 5:15pm, starting June 11th. Think you are too old, too out of shape, etc. to do this? Think again. Jan Saecker, our instructor, is 83 and says it is fun, and you will feel great when class is done. And once you learn the moves you can do Tai Chi anytime, anywhere! Hope to see you there!