T'ai Chi - Learn to "do" for your health

August 30, 2010

Several persons were discussing exercises and life-styles to promote good health. One individual stated, “I’ve done T’ai chi before.”

Rose Peterson, veteran T’ai Chi instructor from Merritt, NC, says that for sustained benefits, “One has not done T’ai Chi. For ongoing good health, one does T’ai chi.” Peterson will teach a T’ai Chi class at Pamlico Community College, Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:30 AM, beginning Tuesday, September 7.

According to Peterson, “Some benefits will present themselves quite rapidly, however, most of the long term benefits take many years to achieve. T’ai Chi then becomes a way of life and not just a practice period once a week.”

She added, “I have been doing T’ai Chi for 25 years and I’m still learning. Sometimes I feel as though I have not scratched the surface in the overall benefits of T’ai Chi. For some people, it takes time to sort out the benefits. T’ai chi will not cure arthritis, but – over time – it can help one live with it easier on a day to day basis.”

She does not promote T’ai Chi as the one and only miracle cure, but as one of many exercises and life styles which can be beneficial for better health. She said, “If you are doing T’ai Chi because you think it will help you, but you hate doing it, then you should try something else that will get you off the couch and up exercising.”

Acknowledging the last twenty years of studying, practicing and teaching T’ai Chi have resulted in frustrations, fears, and breakthroughs, both physically and emotionally, Peterson says the benefits have been worth it for her overall health. She notes, “This is not easy or fast. There is not much instant gratification. It requires dedication and practice and a willingness to trust yourself and your body.”

This class will be of particular interest to adults and seniors who need to make exercise a part of their daily routine without running marathons or climbing mountains, risking life or limb. T’ai Chi combines intense mental focus with deliberate, graceful movements that improve strength, agility and of particular importance, balance to help prevent falls. Scientists at the Oregon Research Institute have reported that T’ai Chi offers the greatest benefit to older men and women who are healthy but relatively inactive.

An article recently published in Boston reports that T’ai Chi can be of great benefit for those suffering from fibrosis. Doctors were reported to have said, “The slow, flowing movements of T’ai Chi are better for relieving pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia than conventional stretching exercises.” Dr. Gloria Yeh reported, “Aside from reductions in pain, patients doing T’ai Chi reported improvements in sleep, self-efficacy and exercise capacity.”

Peterson describes T’ai Chi as a way of life, an art and discipline with both physical and mental benefits. Having tried aerobics, jazzercize, yoga and other remedies to improve her general health and combat arthritis, she responded to an ad in an adult education booklet describing the benefits of T’ai Chi.

Peterson recalled, “My first instructor was Mildred Tso, originally from Beijing. After watching her for only a few minutes I knew I wanted to learn whatever it was she was doing. I was completely mesmerized by the beauty and flow of the movements and by her serene composure.”

About a year ago Peterson had major surgery. The doctors told her to prepare for a six day hospital stay. “I came home from the hospital in three days. While I am not at all promoting T’ai Chi as some supernatural miracle cure, I am confident that I was able to endure this shock to my body because of my overall good health. I attribute my overall health stamina in part to the fact that I ‘do’ T’ai Chi.”

Peterson teaches beginner and advanced students and is certified in international T’ai Chi for Arthritis. She has developed specially modified programs for the Senior Citizen Community. For more information about the course at Pamlico Community College, contact Myra Blue, 252-249-1851 × 3033, mblue@pamlicocc.edu.