|
|
|
|
By Lauri McKean "I'm 48 and have rheumatoid arthritis. I started the class for the ROM Dance part, thinking that would be all I could do. But I discovered that I could also do the Tai Chi. Done together, I feel physical and emotional benefits that last all day and into the week." Tai Chi is an ancient mind/body exercise which enhances flexibility, strength, balance and coordination. Its principles train natural postural alignment and reinforce proper body mechanics. Medical researchers are beginning to verify its positive effects on cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, physical balance, the immune system and emotional health. Tai Chi is practiced mindfully with special attention paid to breathing and relaxation in motion. These are the principles which are integrated into the ROM Dance Program. While there has been a growing interest in tai chi as a health exercise, it has been difficult to make it accessible to beginners and usable by medical researchers and providers. To address these problems, Tricia Yu, co-founder of the ROM Dance, has created the Tai Chi Fundamentals Program for individuals with a wide variety of abilities. This program not only incorporates tai chi's profound mind/body principles and movements from the traditional tai chi short form, but also includes exercises that reinforce practice of the basic movement patterns. The Fundamentals Form progresses from basic to more complex patterns of functional movement. It also targets critical elements from the traditional tai chi form which enhance balance, coordination, strength and endurance. Tricia has divided the form into three sections, each of which may be practiced individually as a complete and challenging program, depending on the abilities of the participant. The entire form takes about five minutes to perform. The Movement Patterns (also called Basic Moves) are a series of exercises designed to reinforce important functional movement patterns repeated in the tai chi form and can be practiced as a separate exercise program. The program materials consist of two different videos and a manual. Tai Chi Fundamentals: Simplified Exercises for Beginners is designed for home use as a learning tool and for daily guided practice. It is for anyone new to tai chi and is appropriate for seniors and those with painful or limiting conditions. It provides a systematic and easy approach for mastering tai chi basics by teaching the Fundamentals Form and the Movement Patterns. Tai Chi Fundamentals: Training for Health Care Professionals and Instructors includes all elements of the above video. Additionally, Jill Johnson, MS, PT, GCS analyzes the movements, their clinical applications, and functional benefits. This video is accompanied by a manual which expands the discussion on clinical and therapeutic applications and describes modifications from the traditional Yang Style Form. It also includes further information and references useful to both health care professionals and experienced Tai Chi practitioners. Tricia Yu has taught the Tai Chi Fundamentals Program for over 2 years in an ongoing class at the Tai Chi Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Participants range in age from 35-85 and include those with varying conditions including arthritis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and orthopedic injuries. A typical class begins with the ROM Dance (Sunlight version), progresses to simple stretching and the Basic Movement Patterns, and then concludes with instruction in the Tai Chi Fundamentals Form. The response to the class has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of the students have been repeating the class for years, reporting that its benefits stay with them throughout each week they attend. Although there has been no systematic research done on the Fundamentals Form or the combination of the form and the ROM Dance, there are a multitude of individual testimonials. One sixty-two year-old woman stated: "It is amazing that the ROM Dance is so complete an exercise of the mind and body and in a poetic and quiet way. The poem is lovely, conjuring nice visual imagery. By the end of the Dance I feel calm, whole and happy. Afterwards, I notice the benefits to my body. The ROM Dance sets the mood and warm-up for the tai chi section. The breathing and balance requirements of the (Fundamentals) form bring me inner calm and joy. I love it!" Some members of the class progressed to new levels. For example, a number of students who started practicing the Fundamentals Form have gone on to study the traditional Yang Style Short Form which is longer and more physically demanding. Others have had similar experiences to the following woman, "I'm 48 and have rheumatoid arthritis. I started the class for the ROM Dance part, thinking that would be all I could do. But I discovered that I could also do the tai chi. Done together, I feel physical and emotional benefits that last all day and into the week. I feel mentally more alert, calm, and in my body which is a lovely feeling for someone with chronic pain. I don't understand why or how the two are so powerful together, but they are." The Tai Chi Fundamentals curriculum is a fabulous resource whether it is used on its own or paired with the ROM Dance. As a traditional mind/body exercise it provides many benefits which are complimentary to conventional Western therapies.
|
