Better health, strength and fitness, improved heart and lung function and balance – the gentle movements of tai chi can amount to great benefits, for any age.
You can try the ancient Chinese martial art in Blenheim at Garden Marlborough’s STIHL Shop Garden Fete, at Pollard Park’s Churchill Glade on Sunday 8 November, with Marlborough tai chi instructor Maree Murray .
Her half-hour “taster” sessions – at 9.30am, 11am and 1.30pm – will be at the Churchill Private Hospital & Specialist Centre stall. They are free to attend.
“Comfortable clothes and footwear are all that is needed – plus a sense of humour and an open mind,” says Maree.
Maree was introduced to tai chi in her 20s, when a flatmate “raved about learning tai chi on the beaches of Opotiki”, but it was 30 years before she sought out tai chi again, mainly as a form of meditation.
Taught for five years by Liz Scott, Maree learned, and was certified in, a modified tai chi programme developed in Australia as part of a falls prevention programme.
Today, she still bases her tai chi on this approach, combined with her understanding of meditation.
“Tai chi is a mind body exercise – with slow, gentle movements that make it a form of exercise that can be undertaken by all ages and abilities.
“Yet it is deceptively powerful; our movements are slow smooth and controlled and we emphasise weight transference – at any one time our weight is either on one foot or the other.
“A wide range of muscle groups are used. General fitness is improved along with lung and heart function. There is an increase in muscular strength – internal and external – and our balance improves.”
Maree says tai chi teaches people to relax and increase mindfulness, through techniques like reconnecting with the sensations of the feet.
“As we become more aware of subtle sensations in the body the thinking mind settles down. We are training our mind to stay with our body in the present moment.”
Maree quotes a fellow meditation teacher when she says: “Tai chi is the most delicious way to practice the first foundation of mindfulness; the mindfulness of body.”
