Video Clips – Tai Chi Exercises

I have discovered something marvellous. This morning I had a sore throat, felt slightly feverish and was out of sorts because I hadn't slept very well. Then I went to a session of Alexander technique, mixed with Tai Chi. (At Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living). I came away feeling absolutely marvellous. I still have a sore throat and a bit of a high temperature - but my sense of wellbeing is so great that it really doesn't seem to matter. Thank you Ian Deavin and Judy Hammond for a great Sunday morning! - Julie Furnivall

 

- "It had helped me to focus on my body and mind and taught me how to relax more and not focus on everyday problems."

- "I don’t need to hold onto the bannister rail now when I go up or down stairs."

- "I feel more agile."

- "Better movement in lower back."

- "I am more aware of my posture – by doing the exercises it has helped with my backaches. My knees are also much improved….I have suffered pain for several years."

- "I feel more relaxed here."

- "I find it much easier to bend and move about."

- "I am more aware of how my body works and I can do things the correct movement way."

- "Excellent lesson tonight Ian, some seriously impressive stance and posture work" - Liberty Louise

- "I feel better in myself that I was able to do Tai Chi."

- "I am more aware of the correct way to bend, sit and stand and have learned how to control balance."

- "I’d suffered with sciatica for over 10 years and working at a desk bent over a computer screen really didn’t help. I had to have expensive back manipulation and decompression once a month, just to reduce the pain enough for me to function. Tai Chi was suggested to me as something that may help, so I thought “give it a try, what’s the worst that could happen”. By the end of the first month my back pain diminished, and I’ve never needed any treatment since starting.

It worked for me, but I didn’t stop then because I thought, “what else can this do for me?”. I look at Tai Chi as an insurance policy for health and wellbeing as I get older. Don’t believe for one moment that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, or course you can, as an old dog myself I can vouch for that. I’ve been learning Tai Chi for over 4 years and every lesson opens a new door to understanding how I function now, and gives me the tools to become better.

The classes are structured but with no pressure on you and you learn at your own speed. Every teacher I’ve met, including my fellow students, who I also learn from, have been friendly and supportive.  People at the classes are not judgemental on how well you perform, because we are all still learning. Every lesson has left me feeling good and given me something to think about for the next week.

The best bit is that you can do Tai Chi whenever you want, where ever you want. When I’m standing in queues, I’m training. Waiting for my wife while shopping, I’m training. Sitting at the desk, I’m training. Taking the dog for a walk, yes I’m still training. Now it’s a part of my life, and in a good way. My posture is much better, I’m steadier on my feet and feel healthy and well-balanced as a person.

If you feel old and want to feel younger, groan getting up or sitting down, or take longer to straighten your back, or you can’t remember the last time you stood upright, or you think that you’re too old to learn anything new, give Tai Chi a go, you will not regret it. There are over 250 million people doing some form of Tai Chi, so give it a try to feel what they feel" - Steve Milsom

- "Knowing when my posture is bad it reminds me to straighten up, relaxation which can be done at home and also feeling better in my body."