To Life!
HEALTH
Fighting Arthritis
Joint-friendly tai chi classes
help seniors keep exercising.
S
low, graceful, gentle exercise
that increases flexibility,
strength, stamina, coordina-
tion and balance — tai chi has arrived
at the Peter and Dorothy Brown Adult
Day Care Center in West Bloomfield
and Southfield.
The peaceful, relaxing exercise prac-
tice is perfect for those with arthritis
and other body pains. Classes are
taught as group recreational exercise,
designed by the Arthritis Foundation
for people of varied ages and physi-
cal abilities who seek a joint-friendly
exercise routine.
The. seven-week program uses Sun-
style tai chi, one of the discipline's five
major recognized styles. This style is
particularly supportive of- joint health
because its steps are agile; its move-
ments are slow, and the level of exer- •
tion can be adjusted to each person's
condition. The program was devel-
oped by Dr. Paul Lam, an Australian
family physician who took up tai chi
years ago to help with his own arthri-
tis and is now a world leader in the
field of tai chi for health improvement.
Participants in an introduc-
tory tai chi class from the Arthritis
Foundation learn up to 12 basic move-
ments or "poses," plus special warm-
up, cool down and breathing exercises.
In continuing classes, movements are
gradually added to the sequence to
reach a total of 33. The resulting form.
offers benefits for both physical and
mental health.
"Even though our participants
experience some cognitive deficits,
they can still benefit from these exer-
cises," says Peter Ostrow, Brown Center
executive director.
The Brown Center tai chi program
is part of the L'Chaim Project, an ini-
tiative supported by the Jewish Fund
with $150,000 two-year grant that
ends in June. Its purpose is to provide
arthritis awareness and education to
the public, with a focus on reaching
out to the Jewish community.
"The name of the project, L'Chaim,
was specifically chosen because the
Arthritis Foundation believes that
everyone With arthritis can live well
with their condition," says Natalie
Rosenfield-McKee, project manager.
"By understanding arthritis and man-
aging its effects with helpful strategies
like joint-friendly exercise, people can
take charge of their lives."
The Jewish Fund was established
in December 1996 from the sale pro,
ceeds of Sinai Hospital to. the Detroit
Medical Center. Among the full range
of programs it supports through the
L'Chaim Project are education semi-
nars, the Arthritis Answers service,
the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help
Program and the Arthritis Foundation
Aquatic Program.
Other venues include the Jewish
Community Centers, Jewish
Apartments - and Services, temples and
synagogues.
An education program, including
a tai chi demonstration and helpful
tips on dealing with arthritis, will be
from 1-4 p.m. June 25 at Temple Beth
El. Seating is limited. For reservations,
call (800) 968-3030 and ask about the
L'Chaim Forum.1 1
Instructor Julie
Verriest, recre-
ation coordinator
and site supervi-
sor at the Peter
and Dorothy
Brown Adult Day
Care Center in
Southfield,
teaches tai chi.
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