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February 18, 2012

Senior Focus: Tai chi

By Kathleen Gest, Local columnist ----

You may have seen people in parks or on the beach moving in slow, gentle and rhythmic motion and wondered, "What are they doing?" Most often they are practicing the ancient art of tai chi.

Today, tai chi has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional Chinese schools or families, Chen (the original), Yang, Hao, Wu and Sun.

Tai chi is sometimes described as "meditation in motion" — connecting the mind and body.

You can experience the benefits of Yang tai chi by joining a new class taught by James Adkins from White Tiger Martial Arts. The class starts March 9 at the Traverse City location of the Senior Center Network.

Adkins has practiced martial arts for 36 years and has been studying Shaolin Kung Fu for 28 years. He has also studied tai chi for 28 years, learning the internal forms of tai chi, rather than just the movements themselves. He is acknowledged as a certified instructor of tai chi.

"A lot of people who study tai chi today get only into the form itself," Adkins says. "They may get a video, or a book or go to a three-week class in trying to learn tai chi, but all they will learn is the motion. Within the motion, there are several different applications — the self-defense application, the moving mediation application, the actual chi flow application and the life source application."

Although there are the typical health benefits of tai chi, such as increased circulation, learning to breathe properly, increased balance, mobility and strength, it is really just a drop in the bucket of what's underneath.

"The mental benefits in practicing tai chi are going to be different for everyone, but generally clarity of mind — you can use it as a meditation tool," Adkins said.

In each 12-week session, participants should be able to get through the 24 tai chi steps Adkins will be teaching. Even though there are also 48-, 108- and 118-step sessions in Yang tai chi, the 24-step session is condensed for competition and for simplicity.

"Tai chi is taught very slow and it is simple to learn in movement," Adkins said. "It is the introspection and the philosophical process that goes with the growth of the art that makes tai chi stand apart from other forms of martial arts."

The tai chi class will be held on Fridays from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.; cost is $3. For reservations call 922-4911 or email ehovie@tcseniorcenter.com.

Coming this summer — two classes of yoga, one for men and another for both sexes. Watch for the Senior Center Network announcement.

Kathleen Bellaw Gest is a local freelance writer. For more about the Traverse City Senior Center, go to www.tcseniorcenter.com.

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