Tai Chi General Information
All “Tai Chi for Health” programs use the most optimal blend of traditional Tai Chi styles of Chen, Yang, Sun and Wu, to achieve the health goals of the class. The classes have been developed by a team of Tai Chi professionals and Traditional Chinese and Western medical doctors, headed by Dr. Paul Lam, a Tai Chi practitioner and instructor and Traditional Chinese Medical and Western medical doctor. They are extensively researched and adapted based on scientific, professional and participant feedback for efficacy.
The best results are achieved with regular and sustained practice (at least two times a week for 16 weeks). Yet any amount of Tai Chi at any level will improve immunity, energy, relaxation, empowerment, strength, flexibility, and balance along with many other health benefits.
The classes are safe for anyone who is independently mobile with or without an assistive device and are adapted to match your current level of function and mobility. Even those who don’t have arthritis, balance challenges, or health conditions to recover from, will benefit from these classes.
You are encouraged to work well within your comfort level, use minimal effort and rest whenever you need to. Visualization of the full movement is used if full range is not possible, which has been shown to promote similar health benefits as the full movement. The forms can be done lying down, sitting, or standing with or without support and in any combination that best meets your needs.
Qigong is incorporated into the sessions for healing and relaxation. Like a river with a strong current underneath a calm surface, powerful health benefits and a sense of serenity are achieved with the gentle movements.
The stepwise progressive teaching approach makes the forms easy to learn.
Every class begins with a centering/warm up activity and ends with a cool down. The goal is to have fun and leave class feeling uplifted.
Brief description of the Tai Chi class offered
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention
Thursday,
11am-12pm
TCAFP uses the Sun style of Tai Chi with it’s higher stance for joint protection and tension release and step through for increased movement. Arthritis pain makes us want to stop moving, yet ironically, movement helps reduce the pain of arthritis. Recommended by the CDC, and the Arthritis Foundation for relief from Arthritis and for fall prevention.
Location
The classes are offered in person on a drop in basis at Balancing Meridians, 136 Owen Road in Monona.
Registration and Feedback
Fill out a registration form before or at the first class in addition to a feedback form after taking one or more classes is appreciated.
Free Will Donation
Classes are offered on a free will donation basis. Anything you feel good about contributing is greatly appreciated. Classes are accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay.
For more information
See the Tai Chi for Health Institute website for more information about the classes I teach and many different programs that they offer. If you see a program that you are interested in, please let me know. I most likely have the DVD that we can either go through together or that you can check out from my library.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or to register for a class.
I look forward to seeing you,
Amy Stoddard, Tai Chi for Health Instructor