Jan Crenshaw became fascinated with tai chi while in the Aloha State.
“When we were in Hawaii years ago, I saw elderly people doing these moves that I, as a 28-year-old, couldn’t do,” she said.
Some time later, the ancient exercise came up again.
“I was helping a friend’s brother in conversational English. He was Chinese. I asked him what exercises he does, and he said tai chi,” the Bowling Green woman said. “I had done a little reading through the years. I was extremely interested.”
Developed in China, tai chi uses gentle movements, controlled breathing and mental concentration. Sam Smith, who teaches tai chi classes through Greenview Regional Hospital’s H2U program and at The Medical Center Health and Wellness Center at Greenwood Mall, said he has a total of 20 students between the two locations.
“The majority of my students (through the hospital programs) are seniors. They all have better balance. They learn how to line their body up and how to move properly,” he said. “It has mental benefits. It has been shown to alleviate depression. Some people say they lose weight.”
Crenshaw, who takes classes through H2U, has done tai chi for seven years. She said the classes have been good for her.
“Within a week or so I found it easier to go up and down steps. It’s a really good way to begin the day,” she said. “I have high blood pressure, and (tai chi) is a good way to help people calm down and help with movement, relaxation and high blood pressure.”
Jessie Starkey, who is starting her fifth year with the H2U class, agreed and has noticed other benefits, too.
“It’s a way to relax completely. If you get into the movements and do them as best as you can, you’re so into the movement that all your cares and worries and concerns disappear. That’s very healthy for your mind,” the Bowling Green woman said. “The exercises or the movements also help in your physical situation. It helps balance, get your circulation going, strengthens and helps our breathing.”
Starkey found out about the classes from friends.
“I’ve always been interested in Asian exercises. A couple of my friends are in the tai chi class and told me how much they liked it, so I did it and I’m hooked,” she said, laughing. “Most of us are seniors, so Sam emphasizes that seniors need to keep moving. We do things that help their balance because many seniors fall from lack of balance.”
Tai chi helped Starkey during a hard time in her life.
“When I started, I was a caregiver for two parents. That’s very stressful,” she said. “I was looking for some way to relive stress.”
Crenshaw and Starkey said the classes have an additional benefit.
“The class has become friends. We’re all friends,” Starkey said. “Most of us have been together for at least four years. That’s just really special. We check if somebody’s not there for a while or are ill or having a problem.”
Smith is a patient and encouraging teacher, even when they don’t do every movement correctly all the time, Crenshaw said.
“I have learned all 104 movements of the long form,” she said. “I can’t do all of them.”
There is always something new to learn in tai chi, Crenshaw said.
“It’s kind of like learning to play the piano,” she said. “You’re never going to get it all down, but the process sure is fun.”
— For more information about H2U’s tai chi classes, call 783-9592. For more information about the Health and Wellness Center’s tai chi classes, call 745-0942.
