Tai Chi Available in Sallisaw

Tai chi classes are available in Sallisaw and are free!

Michelle Campbell of the Sequoyah County Health Department in Sallisaw offers the class free, and her next eight-week session is expected to start at the end of June.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “If you're looking for a way to reduce stress, consider tai chi (TIE-CHEE). Originally developed for self-defense, tai chi has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Often described as meditation in motion, tai chi promotes serenity through gentle, flowing movements.”

The Mayo Clinic notes tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

Tai chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.

Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is a low impact exercise, it may be especially suitable if you're an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.

You may also find tai chi appealing because it's inexpensive and requires no special equipment. You can do tai chi anywhere, including indoors or outside. And you can do tai chi alone or in a group class.

Campbell promotes tai chi and reports it boosts energy, fights depression, improves mental clarity, relieves pain, strengthens the lower body and lowers blood pressure.

She said the classes have eight forms to learn and the classes run for eight weeks. The classes are for anyone age 18 and older.

For more information contact Campbell at 918-775-6201, ext. 221.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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