By Daily Press staff
Seniors seeking more range of motion may want to consider free Tai Chi classes. Limited space is available on a first-come basis in the free Tai Chi class now being taught by Master Ten-Chang Hou for older adults on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Center. Tai Chi Chuan is a physical practice developed in China in 960 C.E. to achieve harmony, good health and integrity of body motion.
Tai Chi originally consisted of eight hand movements and five different steps. Through the years, it has developed into more than 100 stances, each with its own individual application. Hou is a master of Yang-style Tai Chi, which is thought to improve health, build strength, and reduce tension and fatigue.
“We find the seniors attain a greater sense of well-being from this class,” says Gina Honore, the center’s manager of senior services. “Tai Chi improves cardiovascular fitness, prevents injuries from falls, and improves balance and coordination.”
St. Joseph Center provides emergency services, child care, case management, job training and senior services for more than 7,000 men, women and children each year on eight sites in Venice, Santa Monica and West Los Angeles. For more information, call Gina at (310) 396-6468, ext. 334.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 2, 2005. Read the original PDF.