Tai Chi and a Balanced Life
With spring around the corner and Omicron starting to retreat, now is a great time to return to all of those activities that bring joy and balance back into our lives. After a long winter with COVID restrictions, activities that engage the body, mind and spirit may be just what is needed to balance our busy lives. One activity that can help satisfy this crucial need for balance is tai chi.
People come to tai chi for many different reasons. Some decide to try tai chi because their doctors have recommended low impact exercise to relieve the pain and stiffness of their arthritic joints or come to improve their balance and coordination to prevent a potentially devastating fall. Other people become interested in tai chi for its gently calming and meditative movements which have been shown to relieve stress and strengthen the immune system. Nearly everyone, however, appreciates how the slow, smooth movements can balance out their often hectic lives.
There are a number of tai chi classes taught in our area, but one that is especially easy to learn for all adults - as well as being safe for seniors - is the Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Program which uses the Sun style of tai chi. Often described as "meditation in motion," it consists of slow, continuous movements with a focus on body awareness, balance, posture, weight shifting and quieting the mind. While the movements appear gentle and graceful, they contain a surprising internal power. Dr. Paul Lam, a family physician in Sydney, Australia, and the program creator, describes it as being like a calm, flowing river that has the power and strength to reshape the earth.
All adults can benefit from the increased balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, focus and inner calm of the Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Program. However, for those who do have arthritis or an increased risk for falls, the Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Program has been demonstrated in numerous published medical studies to significantly decrease both falls and the pain and stiffness of arthritis and is an evidence-based program recommended by both the Arthritis Foundation and the National Council on Aging.
Student Connie Lokos says, "I was worried about falling and at times the pain in my knees was preventing me from hiking with my husband, so I decided to see if tai chi would help. I now have decreased knee pain and I feel more confident in situations that could lead to a fall."
The 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. 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 the 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 and in preventing falls.
New Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention classes are forming now in Elk Grove Village and Medinah. The cost to attend these programs is $60 for six, one-hour sessions, with one session per week. Class size is limited, so please register early. Pandemic precautions will vary based on the location and should be checked when registering for the class.
The AMITA Health Rehabilitation Hospital, 935 Beisner Road in Elk Grove Village, will be hosting a Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention class starting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1. Registration is required in advance for this class and can be done by calling the AMITA Outpatient Therapy Desk at (847) 981-5556, option 2.
The Medinah Park District will be hosting two classes, one starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, and another starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 5. Both of these classes will be held at the Connolly Recreation Center, 22W130 Thorndale Ave., in Medinah. Please register in advance for these classes by calling (630) 893-2560 or visiting the park district website.
If you have any questions on the program, please email the instructor at TCAFP.DN@gmail.com.