Are you looking for an activity to help you stay young in body and mind? Like me, maybe it is one of your New Year resolutions. Taoist Tai Chi is said to be specifically designed for health, balance, strength and circulation. It's good to know that the Taoist Tai Chi Society has been running classes in Brisbane for over twenty years. And the organisation is
celebrating 50 years worldwide in 2020.
Image from organiser's website
A FREE introductory Tai Chi class is being offered on Sunday 2 February from 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. It is being held at the Dance Studio in Helensvale Library and Cultural Centre, on the corner of Lindfield Road and Sir John Overall Drive in Helensvale. There will be demonstrations and instruction in the first few moves of Taoist Tai Chi. Also, tea and snacks will be provided. Regular weekly classes start the following week. Everyone is welcome to attend this open house.
For further details,
click here.
2. Sandgate Another FREE introductory Tai Chi class is being offered on Sunday 23 February 2020 from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm. This class is being held at the Sandgate Town Hall on the corner of Cliff and Seymour Streets, in Sandgate. There will be demonstrations and instruction in the first few moves of Taoist Tai Chi. Afternoon tea will be provided. Again, everyone will be made welcome. Regular weekly classes start the following week.
For further details,
click here.
Image courtesy of Taoist Tai Chi Society of Australia
Tai Chi involves deep stretching with a full range of motion and continuous turning of the spine. It exercises the whole physiology including muscular, skeletal, and circulatory systems, as well as tendons, joints, connective tissue and organs. Rather than depending on tension and the development of hard muscle tissue, these arts develop a body that is relaxed and strong at the deepest levels. The gentle internal movements are balanced throughout the body and have a calming effect on the mind. Tai Chi could be called a moving meditation.
Image from organiser's website
Michael Mosely of BBC's
Trust Me I'm a Doctor series recently teamed up with Birmingham University to test Tai Chi versus Zumba as exercise. As expected, the Zumba group were all fitter after the 12 weeks. Their blood vessels were more elastic and their blood pressure had dropped, while their blood results showed improvements too. Surprisingly however, was that the results from the Tai Chi group showed similar benefits, with improvements in blood biomarkers results, blood pressure and vessel flexibility. So give it a go. You might find you love it as much as I do and your body and mind will reap the benefits.
