Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes a knack for balance — both physical and mental. For those seeking improvement in these areas and better overall well-being, a traditional Eastern martial art may provide just the right avenue.
Tai chi has been practiced for hundreds of years, and has roots in both Taoism and Buddhism. Though sometimes practiced as a form of self-defense, many schools teach tai chi as a means to improving health and balance.
Tai chi has made its way to the West, and there are numerous opportunities for one to embark on a tai chi journey in Toledo.
Barb Colvin is an instructor with Taoist Tai Chi Society in Toledo. She is a nurse by trade and has over 20 years of experience in tai chi. Colvin is a breast cancer survivor, and she began tai chi because she knew she would be prone to conditions such as osteoporosis.
“That was what kind of got me into it to begin with,” Colvin said. “Now I stay for the well-being that I get from it.”
Colvin explained that tai chi promotes strength in the legs and other parts of the body, stretches the spine, feet and hands and improves joint movement.
She added that tai chi geared toward promoting health can be effective in combating a wide variety of maladies or conditions.
“We have a lot of people with a lot of different health issues that come in — Parkinson’s, stroke, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, arthritis and fibromyalgia. What they find [over time] is that they are starting to feel a lot better.”
Colvin said students in her classes work on the external parts of the body to begin with, and eventually work on the inner parts of the body, as well.
“Classes help people understand how to move, where the hands need to be and how to shift weight from one place to another.
“It’s not an aerobic exercise —there’s no impact, and you stay on your feet. That’s the attraction for some people.”
Rebecca Rahe is an instructor and manager for the Dr. Paul Lam Tai Chi Workshop. She said tai chi is a multifaceted art form that integrates the mind, body and spirit.
“Tai chi has many layers, but kept at a basic level and practiced most days of the week, people notice an improvement in health and well-being. [It is] an affordable way to treat chronic conditions, and it empowers us to manage our own health.”
Rahe said tai chi is something that can be practiced by people of practically any age, and it is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as an effective way to promote fall prevention for seniors.
“Tai chi can be done seated, standing or even lying in bed. All you need to practice tai chi is loose, comfortable clothing and an effective teacher,” Rahe said.
Colvin also said tai chi is making its way into mainstream Western medicine as a legitimate means to improving one’s health.
“I think there is more of a growing interest in tai chi because doctors are starting to recommend it to patients,” she said.
Colvin said new students begin slowly, learning one movement at a time by repetition.
“You pick up what you can, you do what you can. We don’t expect people to go home and remember it, but the more we repeat, the more the body recognizes how to do it.”
The Taoist Tai Chi Society is a nonprofit, so donation amounts for classes vary, but the amount can be managed or reduced for those who are on limited incomes.
Beginner classes for the Taoist society began in January at various locations.
For more information, visit toledo.ohio.usa.taoist.org. For the Dr. Paul Lam Tai Chi Workshop, visit www.tchi.org.
