Harmony of mind, body and spirit is the key to a healthy person in the Taoist tradition, and practising Tai Chi is one way to get there.
In Chatham, the Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi of Sarnia offers classes for both beginners and those continuing in the art of Tai Chi at the Community of Christ Church on Faubert Drive.
This method was founded by Master Moy Lin Shin, a Taoist monk and Tai Chi master who dedicated his life to studying the Taoist methods of transformation and making them widely available to all who wanted to learn.
Phil Vallance, an instructor from Sarnia who comes to Chatham to teach, has been practising Tai Chi for six years, and spoke to people at an open house recently.
About 10 people came out to see club members go through the series of 180 moves that is the same for all clubs around the world.
Vallance said the benefits of Tai Chi could be felt sometimes after the very first class. Tai Chi improves your balance and posture, strength and flexibility and relaxation and concentration through slow and flowing movement, he said, bringing calmness and peace of mind.
“I’m often asked who is doing it the best, but it’s not who executing the moves the best, it’s who is getting the most out of it,” Vallance said. “It’s not like joining a class; it’s more like joining a club with a world-wide membership.”
The instructor said when he was on a cruise in Aruba, he was able to take advantage of a Tai Chi class that was exactly the same as the ones he takes at home.
Andre Thelosen, who has been a member for more than seven years, said he used to have back issues and Tai Chi has helped. He said another member had a stroke at 87 years of age this year, but had a remarkable recovery physically in two weeks – a recovery he credits to the health benefits of Tai Chi.
“It is beneficial to your health and so meditative,” Thelosen said. “I do yoga as well but this feels better for me and works better for me.”
Working with the elderly, he said he has seen the benefits and importance of keeping active and moving.
Classes in Chatham, both beginner and continuing classes, are held Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
To see the full series of movements, people interested can go and check out a class, go to www.taoist.org or call 519-344-0346.
