Tai chi is an ancient practice that can have big benefits later in life by slowing certain signs of aging.
William Tucker, tai chi instructor with Gravity and Grace Tai Chi and Ba Gua, said tai chi can improve one’s mental and physical state, which is particularly beneficial to the elderly.
“Tai chi is a form of exercise that’s gentle on the body, but at the same time it has its roots in Chinese internal martial arts,” he said. “The movements, if you speed them up, you can see punches and kicks, but it’s done slowly and it’s very good for the health.”
The movements can be extremely challenging or relatively easy, depending on the level of intensity and modification, making it suitable for every age.
“The great thing about it is once you know tai chi, you can do it your whole life, so it can be a really excellent way of maintaining your health throughout your life,” Tucker said.
He’s been doing tai chi for roughly 30 years as his main form of exercise and says it provides many health benefits.
Mentally, tai chi works to keep the mind alert through memorizing movements and coordinating the body.
“You’re focusing your awareness throughout the body, from the tips of the fingers to the tips of the toes and in a subtle way, coordinating all of the movement you are doing in your body with your breath,” he said. “Without it feeling complicated, there’s a lot of complex coordination going on in the body that’s very good for keeping the mind alert.”
The physical benefits include increased strength, particularly in the lower body, which will contribute to increased stability.
Stability is important for aging individuals, as it is vital for fall prevention.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there are more than 180,000 falls causing injury each year to individuals over 65.
“A lot of the issues with falling can be decreased by just being alert and being aware of where your body is and your posture,” Tucker said, adding individuals doing tai chi will become more aware of these factors.
Tucker began training in tai chi when he was 20 years old while studying abroad.
“I was doing a little bit of martial arts training and I read about tai chi and it sounded very interesting,” he said. “After two years, I felt like I was really just beginning with tai chi, so I decided to stay longer and study intensely.”
He spent 15 years in Taiwan and China, both areas that promote tai chi as a way to maintain health and the practice is endorsed by the government, Tucker said.
This popularity hasn’t yet reached St. Albert, and he isn’t quite sure why.
“With the population of active elders, which St. Albert is known for, it’s surprisingly not so well known,” he said, adding it is becoming more common in cities like Vancouver and Toronto.
In efforts to spread the message about tai chi, Tucker presented information and showed demonstrations to a group of individuals last week at The Enjoy Centre as part of World Tai Chi Day, which was celebrated in 65 countries worldwide.
