Tai chi moves help participants find balance

POST FALLS – Each Wednesday morning, an invisible sphere rests in the arms of tai chi students at the Post Falls Senior Center.

No canes or walkers are needed for balance as the senior students focus on the ball of energy between the palms of their hands. Watching their fluid movements, it’s hard to believe that the class consists of stroke survivors, pacemaker recipients and an assorted collection of hip and knee replacement parts.

The class motto is “Blessed are the meek,” but it’s hard to identify the docile in this vibrant crew. Sunny Fagan in her red hat and purple shirt is a regular participant and nicknamed “The Duchess of Fun.” But bad knees, arthritis and an unfortunate fall had her struggling.

“I don’t like to take pain pills, but for a while there I was dishing them up,” Fagan said. “Not since tai chi.”

She started with the class about two years ago, accompanied by her walker. She proceeded at her own pace and relied on the available chairs if she needed a rest.

“You only go at your own speed,” she said. “You don’t need to compete.”

Fagan travels without her walker these days and believes the slow-motion routines have improved her stance, muscle tone and asthma symptoms.

“Our dispositions have improved, too,” she said. “It keeps your mind active.”

Tai chi is an ancient martial art form that was originally developed for self-defense without weapons. It attracts crowds of followers in China’s parks and has been promoted as a therapy for health and longevity. The free, weekly class in Post Falls is led by volunteer instructor Bob Hughes, who makes no medical claims but does believe the meditative quality of tai chi offers an opportunity for spiritual growth.

“I don’t do it for health,” he said. “It’s just fun.”

At 66, Hughes is a youngster to many in his class, who range in age from 60 to 89. After 20 years in the Marine Corps, Hughes worked as a lawyer and teacher. He drove by the senior center for years, thinking he’d participate in the tai chi classes after he retired. Soon after he began, his instructor was injured and couldn’t teach. Hughes practiced yoga, meditation and tai chi for years, and although he claims he’s a mere beginner, he was the most qualified one available to take on the teaching role.

“You can use tai chi on many levels – art, defense, health, spiritual purposes,” Hughes said. “This is not everybody’s cup of tea. I invite lots of people to try it once and see.”

The students are enthusiastic in praise of their teacher. They trust Hughes to help find solutions to their various aches and pains. Fat books of anatomy, acupuncture and Chinese medicine accompany Hughes to class, along with videos on tai chi for arthritis. He claims no responsibility for his students’ healing and said that he consults his resource books at the insistence of his class.

“They egged me on,” he said. “I try to keep one step ahead of them. It’s a work in progress.”

Students claim their sinus infections respond to massage and they relieve joint pain by knowing the right pressure points. The seniors swear by the benefits of the class, but Hughes believes the placebo effect comes into play.

“The laughing, the camaraderie is part of it,” he said. “Tai chi is not going to prevent you from falling off the shed. It will build up your reserves so when the injury hits or you get a cold or you get depressed, you tap your reserves.”

Depression wasn’t the issue for Kathryn Robison, who plays vaudeville-style piano and accordion. Instead, good working feet were her problem after spending 17 years as a letter carrier. She had foot surgery and relied on tai chi to help recover her balance. She’ll turn 80 this August.

“I’m able to get around a lot better,” she said. “I don’t have to use my walker now.”

The Post Falls class provides a social outlet for Dorothy Lantis, who moved to Post Falls three years ago. She was tired of sitting at home, and besides needing new friends, she wanted to be able to put on her shoes without toppling over.

“I needed balance,” she said, “Now I can kick with one leg and balance with another. My goal was to be able to put my shoes on without holding on and I can do it.

“We don’t realize we’ve lost these things until we get them back.”

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found that tai chi can lower blood pressure and improve cardiac health. Other studies show improvements in balance, mood, muscle strength, immunity and sleep. Hughes’ students report they are taking longer walks and dancing more.

“I feel like I’ve been reborn,” Lantis said. “I feel like I’m marching on instead of going behind.”