The Observer: SilverSneakers is unlocking well-being through Tai Chi

I’m hooked on Tai Chi. I’ve been taking classes with a variety of instructors for several months now. I am finding it addictive (in a good way). It’s slow. It’s deliberate. It looks easy — but it isn’t.

The practice is classified as a martial art, although the Sun style I am studying is way too slo-mo to be useful for self-defense. At the same time, it is surprisingly effective for increasing energy, building strength and improving balance while also calming the mind.

I’m focusing here on Tai Chi, but that’s not the only thing I want readers to take away from this column. I also want to draw attention to the platform that offers instruction in Tai Chi as well as in a variety of other exercises for older people. If you are eligible, you can enroll in any of these programs for free (or, more accurately, at no additional cost). I don’t intend for this column to be an advertisement, though it does constitute a kind of personal endorsement.

The place where I do my Tai Chi practice is my home. I have no equipment other than my internet connection. I have never met any of the instructors who have been my guides to Tai Chi. We Zoom every weekday for thirty or forty-five minutes. The program I’m talking about is called SilverSneakers, and as the name implies, it is designed for older people who want to improve their well-being [https://tools.silversneakers.com/]. I have been surprised how few people seem aware of it. Basically, no one I’ve mentioned it to had ever heard of it before.

SilverSneakers classes are also offered face-to-face in thousands of fitness centers across the country. There are gyms in the Seacoast area where eligible members can work out and engage in live instruction. Portsmouth, Wells and Dover are the locations nearest to York.

Founded in 1992, SilverSneakers offers a range of fitness programs: yoga, aerobics, pilates, cardio conditioning, walking, strength training, etc. The whole thing is available through Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and other retirement plans. You just have to apply to join. The options are numerous and available throughout the day.

The Observer: Caps, gowns, and new beginnings - Congratulations to the Class of 2024

Most days there are dozens of online classes available to members between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Some last just 15 minutes (e.g., Gentle Stretch Express), while others are half an hour (e.g., Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention) or 45 minutes long (e.g., Cardio Mix). The roster of trainers lists some 30 different fitness instructors who live around the country.

The two different Tai Chi classes I routinely take (MWF for 45 minutes and TuTh for 30 minutes) are offered by instructors who teach from their homes. I imagine they all do. The classes feel small because all any student can see is the instructor, so the experience feels like one-on-one coaching.

This is an illusion. In fact, each of these classes enrolls over 600 students. I never see them, of course, and they never see me, but the style of the teachers makes the experience feel personal and familiar. In many ways, the online instruction is perfect for teaching Tai Chi. You practice alone, so there is no pressure to compare yourself with others.

The Observer: York Hospital is a community resource

It’s a busy world for everyone and for seniors, the challenges of getting to the gym in all weather conditions and keeping disciplined about the practice can be difficult. The pace of Tai Chi naturally slows things down. An additional benefit is the way the practice attunes you to the natural world.

The Greek Philosopher Zeno (490 - 430 BCE), observed that "The goal of life is living in agreement with Nature.” Tai Chi is very much in sync with this idea. Many Tai Chi forms are adopted from the animal world (e.g., white stork spreads wings, parting wild horse’s mane, grasp the bird’s tail and repulse the monkey) or from observations of the natural world (e..g., move hands like clouds, push up the heavens, embrace the moon and push the mountain). These forms flow together seamlessly in Tai Chi in ways that enhance the natural connection.

If you are an older person looking for ways to stay fit, to address stability concerns, to find stillness, and get in touch with nature, SilverSneakers and Tai Chi might have just the answer for you.

Ron McAllister is a sociologist and writer who lives in York.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Observer: SilverSneakers is unlocking well-being through Tai Chi