New Tai Chi program aims to help seniors

The Northwestern Health Unit is looking to prevent injuries among seniors–and promote fitness for everyone–when it brings a taste of the Far East here with Tai Chi classes starting June 25.
“I really wanted to do this,” enthused organizer Dorothy Poperechny, who found out the program got a last-minute boost from Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. last Thursday afternoon.
That support–combined with a partnership with the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, local seniors’ coalition, United Native Friendship Centre, and Good Neighbours Council–has driven the program’s registration fee for seniors down from $40 to $10.50.
“Because we have a CCU and a day hopsital used by seniors, as well as rehab services, we contributed towards this,” said Laurie Bazinet, manager of ambulatory support services at La Verendrye hospital.
“It’s awesome,” noted Poperechny, who said she had been trying to get a Tai Chi program off the ground here for about a year-and-a-half.
Registration is now open at the Memorial Sports Centre. Cost for non-seniors is $40 ($48 for non-residents) and $18.50 for non-resident seniors.
Three sessions, under the instruction of Margaret Gartshore of Dryden, will be held each Monday at the Memorial Sports Centre from June 25-Aug. 27.
The seniors’ class will run from 3-4 p.m., with two open classes going from 5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.
Classes will not be held July 2 or Aug. 6.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese form of martial arts that concentrates on correct posture and breathing control. It consists of fluid, graceful, and balanced movements to create a harmony of body and mind, noted Poperechny.
While it’s useful to anyone, Properechny noted the drive to establish a course h ere was to prevent injuries from falls among seniors – part of the health unit’s mandate.
“There was a study which showed 200 seniors who entered a 15-week Tai Chi course…developed their balance to that of someone 3 to 10 years younger, ” said Poperechny.
Another study on the Tai Chi currently is being conducted at Lakehead University’s kinesiology department.
Tai Chi has been medically proven to improve arthritis, general fitness, blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and many other medical conditons, Poperechny added.
She also noted the popularity of Tai Chi in the region, and elsewhere, has grown since its fitness value was discovered in recent years in North America.
Thunder Bay, for instance, boasts a 200-plus following.