OLDER NEW ZEALANDERS EMBRACE TAI CHI
By Chrys Ayley
As New Zealand Tai Chi practitioners stepped out to celebrate World Tai Chi Day recently the ACC announced that over 30,000 people nationwide have completed its modified Tai Chi courses, including a fair share of people in the Wellington region. Since 1998 ACC has funded Tai Chi classes that have been modified to suit older people who are vulnerable to injuring themselves in a slip, trip or fall. Tai Chi is an art form, a method of self defence, exercise and relaxation technique that involves a series of gentle movements performed in what appears to be slow motion. The Lower Hutt area, which includes Petone and Eastbourne, has around 21 participants attending classes every month and the Northern Suburbs have around 15 people attending a month. Henry Luk Tai Chi instructor at Moera Community Hall and Woburn says the benefits of regularly attending the classes are clearly visible but the key to success is consistency. Participants attend twice a week for 20 weeks with the aim of improving their balance, strength and health and a by product is the social aspect and being able to share concerns, he said. People have fun, relax and enjoy themselves and learn tai Chi at their own pace. Irene Bullock of Moera said she had been attending for a year and was a bit sceptical at first but it has helped her balance and back problems although it took a while to learn, she said. To qualify for ACC course funding, participants must be aged 65 years and over (55 years and over if Maori or Pacific people), live in the community and have had a fall in the previous year, or be deemed at risk of falling by a registered health professional. Courses in the Lower Hutt area: Moera Hall on Monday 3.30-4.30 and Friday 2-3pm. St Marks Parish, Woburn Road Monday and Friday 10-12am, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-1pm. Courses in the Northern Suburbs: Wadestown Community Centre on Wednesday and Friday from 3.30-4.30pm. Newlands Community Centre Monday and Wednesday 11am-12pm. Contact Anthony Busch on (. Photo caption: Betty Hutton has been attending Tai Chi classes at for two years and says it is good for balance and helps keep her mobile.
