TAI CHI CHIH

Donna Jungbluth, PTAAccredited Tai Chi Chih Teacher

TAI CHI CHIH‘IT’S A MATTER OF BALANCE’

Overview of Tai Chi Chih practice

History of Development of the practice

Health benefits and research studies

How to use Tai Chi Chih in a Health Care Setting

WHAT IS TAI CHI CHIH?

A moving meditation – not a martial art

Also known as “Joy Thru Movement”

Can be done in standing or sitting with the same benefits

19 movements and 1 pose

HISTORY OF TAI CHI CHIH

Originated in 1974 by Justin Stone

Chi Gong style of Tai Chi, focusing on health and longevity

Based on the idea of balance between body, mind and spirit to achieve well-being

Practiced throughout the world and taught by accredited teachers

“Softness and continuity are the Essence of Tai Chi Chih” Justin Stone

Parkinson’s Disease 195 patients with mild to

moderate Parkinson’s disease assigned to one of three exercise groups: Tai Chi, resistance training, or stretching. Patients attended class twice a week for 24 weeks.

After six months, the patients in the Tai Chi group showed the greatest amount of improvement in balance and stability. New England Journal of

Medicine. February 9, 2012. Volume 366(6), pages 511-9.

Tai Chi Helps After Stroke 74 subjects received Tai

Chi training and 62 subjects were in a control group doing general exercise.

12 weeks of short-form Tai Chi produced specific standing balance improvements in people with chronic stroke that outlasted training for 6 weeks.

Stephanie S. Y. Au-Yeung, PhD, Christina W. Y. Hui-Chan, PhD, and Jervis C. S. Tang, MSW Short-form Tai Chi improves standing balance of people with chronic stroke.

Tai Chi Chih Reduces Depression

73 participants agreed to 10 weeks of adjunct use of either: TCC for 2 hours per week Health education (HE) for

2 hours per week.

The TCC group demonstrated greater improvements in the outcome measures used and a decline in inflammatory marker compared to the control group.

Complementary use of Tai Chi Chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011 Oct;19(10):839-50.

Tai Chi and Fall Prevention 702 people participated

in this study that used primarily a Tai Chi program.

The findings indicated that participating in weekly community based Tai Chi classes can reduce falls in relatively healthy, community-dwelling older people. Alexander Voukelatos, MA (Psychol)

et al "A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial" Journal of American Geriatric Society, August 2007. 55:1185–1191, 2007

TREATMENT SESSION IDEAS

Set the environment: Quiet, calm space

Start with gentle stretching of all muscle groups (Chi Gong).

Teach the movements in sitting before standing position.

Emphasis is on softness/continuity and moving from the body center (t’an tien)

Set reasonable goals: Don’t overwhelm the learner.

GETTING STARTED

• Therapeutic exercises and modalities should be used to reduce pain and increase ROM before starting Tai Chi Chih.

• Administer standardized tests, such as TUG, BERG and Dynamic Gait Index before beginning the practice and repeat after six one hour sessions.

LET’S BEGIN

3 Movements of practice:

Around the Platter

Push Pull

Working the Pulley

MOVING FORWARD

• Practice regularly, attend classes and workshops.

• Learn to perform all of the movements as if moving softly through hard air.

Source: Tai Chi Chih, by Justin Stone

Web Site: TaiChiChih.org

Contact: DonnaJungbluth@Comcast.net

Phone:

“You can’t appease the hunger by reading the menu…” Chinese saying