1. Allow participants to experience the health benefits of the Tai Chi for Arthritis program in a safe, comfortable, learning environment.
2. These benefits may include: improved flexibility and muscle strength, calmer breathing, a deep sense of relaxation and well-being and improved balance.
3. Participants will learn and be able to demonstrate Warm Up and Cool Down exercises, tai chi walking, qigong exercises to enhance energy and two tai chi practice programs: the six Basic Movements and six Advanced Movements.
4. Students will learn a brief history, four principle styles, basic principles and current research in Tai Chi including the medical benefits of Tai Chi as reported in the literature.
5. Students will be provided with resources / references for improving their knowledge of Tai Chi, Arthritis, and opportunities for more in-depth study and deepening of their practice.
Tai Chi for Arthritis Course Instructional Methods
Classes will be experiential in a group learning situation. The instructor will encourage students to listen to their bodies and create an atmosphere where students find it easy to stay in their comfort zones. Instructor will teach and encourage visualization. The class will include warm up and cool down exercises, reinforcement of basic principles, learning part of the TCA form, and a review of previous learning. A step wise progressive method as instructed and mandated by the Arthritis Foundation will be followed, utilizing:
1. “Watch Me” Instructor shows complete movement to give overview, facing students).
2. “Follow Me” Instructor breaks the movement into small segments, doing first part of the movement with your back to the students. Repeat 3 – 4 times as students follow).
3. “Show Me” Instructor faces the students and asks them to do the movement while instructor watches, making sure they get the idea and to help students learn small parts of a skill and then build it up step by step.
Instructor will also utilize
1. Analysis of movement with specific verbal cues.
2. Description of qualities/analogies of movement