Tai Chi for Health & Balance
Tai chi is known as one of the most effective exercises for physical and mental well-being.
Practiced throughout the world for its many health benefits, tai chi strengthens and mobilizes joints and muscles, improving physical fitness and mental relaxation.
Program Description
Tai chi is easy to learn and do, no matter what your physical condition or age, making it suitable for most people. No special equipment is necessary – participants are encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing that they can move freely in. SMAA offers tai chi classes in rotating locations throughout Cumberland and York counties.
Tai chi is a low-impact exercise that works well for older adults because it is performed in slow, fluid movements which puts minimal stress on bones and joints. Tai chi can be done seated or standing, which allows for people to participate at their own ability level. Tai chi has been shown to prevent falls by:
- Improving balance
- Increasing leg strength
- Reducing fear of falling
- Improving mobility
- Increasing flexibility
- Improving psychological health
Tai Chi for Health and Balance (TCHB) was developed by Dr. Paul Lam for the Arthritis Foundation. The program uses gentle sun-style tai chi routines that are safe, easy to learn, and suitable for every fitness level. The ancient discipline of tai chi combines agile steps, joint-safe exercise, and mental strength to improve mobility, breathing, and relaxation in ways that help you feel greater control over your daily life. It is a joint-safe way for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy life and meet new friends while taking control of your physical, emotional, and mental health.
VIDEO: “The practice of tai chi; and why it’s sweeping senior homes” – Courtesy of News Center Maine
Program Structure
Tai Chi for Health and Balance – Introduction Workshop (Beginning)
Classes meet for one hour twice a week, for 10 weeks, learning a sequence of 12 tai chi “forms.” Our instructors are all trained and certified to teach tai chi. Instructors use a special teaching method, which breaks the movements down into small, simple steps. Students often say this method helps them succeed in learning tai chi, even if they have had difficulty with other movement classes.
Tai Chi for Health and Balance – Deepening Workshop (Advanced)
This workshop is open to students who have completed the Introduction Workshop. Classes meet for one hour twice a week, for 10 weeks. With this Deepening Workshop, you can continue to build on your skills to fine tune the movements themselves, as well as to begin to incorporate the essential tai chi principles. Once the tai chi movements become familiar to you, your practice can take on a whole new depth, and you can focus on other essential aspects of tai chi including slow movement, the importance of group practice for increasing energy, and experiencing “moving meditation.”
To receive the full benefits of Tai Chi, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that participants engage in 50 hours of tai chi practice, including both class and home practice time.
Registration and Suggested Donation
Tai Chi for Health and Balance workshops suggest a donation of $50 per 10 week session (20 classes).
