Gabe Stark
Reporter

The Grundy County Health Department will offer a free beginner’s Tai Chi class starting Sept. 15, giving area residents an opportunity to learn the low-impact exercise as part of the department’s ongoing fall-prevention efforts.

Grundy County Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson, who is also a certified Tai Chi instructor, said the exercise uses deliberate movements to improve the skills people need to remain steady and mobile as they age.

“It’s slow, intentional movements that build balance, strength and stamina,” she said.

Gibson became involved with Tai Chi through a former Grundy County Falls Coalition, which focused on ways to reduce falls among older adults. Exercise was one of several prevention strategies discussed by the group, along with medication reviews, vision care and other steps.

The need for fall prevention is significant, say experts. More than one in four older adults report falling each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC specifically recommends exercises that strengthen the legs and improve balance, including Tai Chi.

Unlike exercises built around speed or high-impact movement, Tai Chi emphasizes slow, controlled motions and deliberate changes in body position. Gibson said participants learn to transfer their weight from one foot to another and become increasingly aware of where their body is positioned.

“It’s harder than it looks,” she said, adding the program can be modified as needed. Some movements can be performed from a seated position for people who have difficulty standing for extended periods. Those with significant balance problems or other medical concerns should consult their healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise program.

The department has offered Tai Chi for years. Gibson currently works with an advanced group of six people over age 65, some of whom have practiced for about eight years.

For those participants, she said, the benefit extends beyond exercise.

“There is absolutely a social component to why people enjoy the class,” she said, “people like to get up and do social things together.”

Gibson recalled one farmer she trained with who found that after practicing Tai Chi, everyday tasks such as getting in and out of his tractor became easier and his back bothered him less at the end of the day.

That gradual improvement in ordinary movement, Gibson said, is one of the goals of the program.

The beginner class will be 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Health Department annex building. There is no charge to participate.

For additional information, the Grundy County Health Department can be reached at 660-359-4196.