Health & Longevity
We've named this class Health & Longevity because "Tai Chi, Qigong, Accupressure and other Great Stuff" just didn't have a great ring to it. :) And since T'ai Chi, Qigong and Accupressure all promote health and longevity ... well, you get the picture. This class is for the most part a combination of T'ai Chi Chuan and Medical Qigong. The class includes energy work, motion, meditation, balance work, pressure point (accupressure) information, and more to help you care for your body, mind and spirit. Many of the motions and exercises you learn in class can be incorporated into a home study that will help you stay healthy and strong for the rest of your life (which should be longer than if you don't practice!)
Classes are held Tuesdays from 10 - 11 am and Thursdays from 8 - 9 am.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are the classes held on different times Tuesdays and Thursdays?
We polled everyone we knew who might be interested, and different times worked better for different people. We're hoping that the two different times will fit into everyone's schedules one way or another! (And if your schedule is flexible, come to both!)
Who can benefit from these classes?
The short answer is: Anyone! These classes are particularly beneficial for people with health issues, stress issues, flexibility/strength/balance issues, etc. The classes are appropriate for any age level, and any physical condition. Exercises can even be done while sitting down, if necessary! This is a particularly great class for anyone who has wanted to take tai chi or yoga, or any other fitness class, but felt they were physically unable to do so.
Is there a "religious" component?
While we do address the spiritual part of each of us, no particular religion is studied or practiced in these classes. They are appropriate for people of any religious (or no religious) persuasion, and can fit nicely into just about any belief system. You don't have to become a Taoist or Buddhist to practice. :)
How much does it cost?
Classes are $15 each, or $60 per month for unlimited attendance at all Tai Chi, Health & Longevity, and Yoga classes. Students wanting to attend these classes and also study Kung Fu pay $15 per class or $90 per month for unlimited attendance at all above listed classes and group kung fu classes.
What is T'ai Chi?
T'ai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for health reasons. Tai chi is typically practiced for a variety of reasons: its soft martial techniques, demonstration competitions, health and longevity. Consequently, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims.
How does T'ai Chi promote health?
Researchers have found that long-term tai chi practice shows some favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elderly patients. Studies also show some reduced pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects.
Other studies have indicated improved cardiovascular and respiratory function in healthy subjects as well as those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients that suffer from heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's may also benefit from tai chi. Tai chi, along with yoga, has reduced levels of LDLs 20–26 milligrams when practised for 12–14 weeks.
In one study, tai chi has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 13 adolescents. The improvement in symptoms seem to persist after the tai chi sessions were terminated. Tai chi's gentle, low impact movements burn more calories than surfing and nearly as many as downhill skiing. In addition, a pilot study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, has found preliminary evidence that tai chi and related qigong may reduce the severity of diabetes.
Current research includes studies on tai chi's impact on the immune system and stress levels of women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, the effect of tai chi on physical and quality-of-life factors for people with chronic but stable heart failure, tai chi's impact on physical and psychological factors related to osteoarthritis of the knee, and tai chi's effect on physical function and immunity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
What is Qigong?
Qigong (pronounced "chee gung") refers to a wide variety of traditional cultivation practices that involve methods of accumulating, circulating, and working with Qi or energy within the body. It is the science of cultivating the body's internal energy. Qigong is practised for health maintenance purposes, as a therapeutic intervention, as a medical profession, a spiritual path and/or component of Chinese martial arts.
How does Qigong practice promote health?
The goal of qigong is to correct bio-energetic imbalances and blockages in the body that accumulate throughout our lifetime. These include poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, surgery, toxic influences, suppression of emotions, and aging. Medical qigong therapy and qigong self-treatment, both enable the body to return to its natural state of health and harmony. Pain and stress may be relieved and hormones regulated. Deep-seated emotions, which are considered a major root cause of illness within Chinese medicine, may be purged and released. This strengthens the body and regulates the internal organs, the nervous system and the immune system.
Cardiovascular benefits of qigong include lower heart rates, stabilized heart activity, minimal cholesterol levels and stable blood pressure. Additionally, a person has better blood flow, is able to burn more fat and hence they are able to attain physical fitness. Qi-Gong also has respiratory benefits, which include a slower respiratory rate. This improves the body by decreasing one’s blood pressure, consequently decreasing the risks of developing hypertension. The practice also perks up gaseous exchange in the body. This in turn ensures that the body emits carbon dioxide and inhales oxygen in good proportions. The oxygen is then transported throughout the body through the blood. People with either Asthma or Bronchitis can accrue numerous benefits from this.
