Once a martial art, it is now practised as an relaxation exercise. Sylvia Thompson sees how older people are getting in on t'ai chi
Walking, golf, swimming, yoga even. These are all physical activities keenly pursued by older people in this country. But, now a new form of exercise is gaining popularity in active retirement groups and day centres in south Dublin and Co Wicklow.
Initially set up as a research project to investigate ways to improve the physical and mental health of older people, classes in t'ai chi are now becoming a regular activity for the over 55s in Bray, Dún Laoghaire and Arklow. And the demand for classes is growing.
"We realised that falls and breaks to the wrists and hips were a massive problem for older people, and studies in Britain and the US found t'ai chi was good for preventing falls by improving balance and flexibility so we decided to do a pilot study," says Mr Jim Gorman who, together with Mr Andrew Dias, oversaw the t'ai chi research project in the East Coast Area Health Board last year.
The study found that not only did participants improve their balance and flexibility but they also thoroughly enjoyed the classes. "It was absolutely brilliant. It's fantastic to work with this part of the population because when older people start exercises, you see huge gains," Mr Gorman says.
The study, which was carried out by researchers in the Centre for Sports Science and Health at Dublin City University, also found that the incidence of falls in the t'ai chi group decreased by almost 50 per cent following the classes.
Mr Neil Drew, the t'ai chi instructor on the courses, explains how he developed a modified form of t'ai chi to suit the older people.
"It was a lot different than teaching younger adults as you have to take into consideration mobility problems and attention span. The most difficult aspect for me was to get the participants to remember the sequence of movements."
T'ai chi chuan (to give it its full name) is a slow, exacting series of movements accompanied by rhythmical breathing. It shares the same core principles of yoga and pilates in that there is a strong element of mental discipline which accompanies the physical exercises.
"You focus your mind on the detail and small nuances in the movement and become totally absorbed in it," Mr Drew explains.
Although it originated as a martial art in China, since the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the last century, t'ai chi has become more widely practised throughout the world as a low- impact exercise for relaxation and meditation purposes. It also continues to be practised as a martial art.
"The postures represent self-defence poses and can be used as a passive self-defence technique. Throughout the 1960s, t'ai chi became popularised as a health routine for the mind, body and spirt but its popularity as a martial art has also had a resurgence recently," Mr Drew adds.
The idea of doing a martial arts class was far from the minds of the participants in the t'ai chi classes at the Beaufort Day Centre in DúLaoghaire.
"The average age of the participants here was the mid-eighties. T'ai chi was something different and they loved it although there was a small group of younger women who thought it was rubbish and something to do with a Chinese sect," says Ms Veronica Carden, nurse manager at Beaufort Day Centre.
"Overall, it was great. There was an uplifting aspect to doing t'ai chi as well as a physical sense of achievement and, at the end of the course, the participants got a certificate from DCU which they were able to show to their family and friends," she continues.
There were, however, very few male participants in the Beaufort classes. "Men often feel that they shouldn't need services like this and that they are letting themselves down by coming in although that is changing now," says Ms Carden.
Ms Phyllis New, a co-ordinator for the Arklow Active Retirement Group, says t'ai chi was one of the first activities of the group which was formed last year.
"A lot of people have moved to Arklow in their retirement and there are a lot of lonely people so the social aspect of the classes was important too. We also do yoga and bowls and, at present, we are trying to get a walking group started up," she said.
Following their study, the DCU researchers recommended video and audio tapes of t'ai chi be made available so that people could practise at home. They also suggested t'ai chi could be practised outside during the summertime. So don't be surprised if you come across groups of older people doing t'ai chi in parks and on beaches along the east coast of Ireland this summer.