New Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes forming now

Tai Chi is recommended by many health organizations including the Arthritis Foundation, Harvard Health, the Cleveland Clinic and the National Council on Aging for its numerous health benefits such as increased balance, flexibility, coordination and even stress management. Unfortunately, like so many exercise and health programs, the most difficult part is often finding the right program and getting started.

While there are many tai chi programs available on DVDs and YouTube, they can be quite difficult to follow - especially for those new to tai chi. Also, many forms of tai chi have moves that are not suitable for everyone, including seniors and those with medical conditions that limit movement or put them at a higher risk for falls. Without personal instruction, one can easily do a tai chi move incorrectly, leading to frustration, increased pain or even injury.

The Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention program is a great way for adults and seniors to learn tai chi from the ground up and enjoy its many benefits. The program was developed by Dr. Paul Lam, an Australian physician and tai chi practitioner, specifically to provide a safe and easy entry into tai chi for those of us with and without the challenges of arthritis.

Ruth Valentino has been taking Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes for several months and says: "It's amazing how much this class has helped me. In the beginning, I had a lot of knee pain and wasn't able to stand for the entire class session. Practicing tai chi has really helped with the pain, increased the strength in my legs and greatly improved my balance."

Often described as "meditation in motion," the Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention program consists of slow, continuous movements with a focus on body awareness, balance, posture, weight shifting and quieting our busy minds. This program uses the Sun Style of tai chi - a beautiful, flowing form that is especially well-suited for beginning adults and seniors. While the low-impact movements appear gentle and graceful, they actually contain a surprising internal power. Dr. Lam describes it as being like a calm, flowing river that has the power and strength to reshape the earth.

These Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes are taught by Diana Nielsen, a licensed occupational therapy assistant and certified instructor for the Tai Chi for Health Institute, who has been teaching the program for almost five years. Each class consists of warm up and cool down exercises, a review of previously learned moves and the learning of one or two new moves in a positive and supportive learning environment. Over the course of this six-week program, participants will begin to build the balance and strength that is so important in all of our daily activities as well as in stabilizing and protecting arthritic joints.

New Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes are forming now in Elk Grove Village and Medinah. Class sizes are limited, so please register early. Pandemic precautions will vary based on the location and should be checked when registering for the class.

The Alexian Health Rehabilitation Hospital, 935 Beisner Road, in Elk Grove Village, will be offering two Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes, one starting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and another starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. The cost for these programs is $60 for six one-hour sessions, with one session per week. Registration is required in advance for these classes and can be done by calling the Amita Outpatient Therapy Desk at (847) 981-5556, option 2.

The Medinah Park District will also be offering a class starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Connolly Recreation Center, 22W130 Thorndale Ave., in Medinah. The cost for this program is $65 for the six one-hour sessions, with a discount for local park district residents. Please register in advance for this class on the Medinah Park District's website www.medinahparkdistrict.org or by calling (630) 893-2560.

For information on this program, email the instructor at TCAFP.DN@GMAIL.COM.