Tai Chi lauded as addressing ills of mobility

Tai Chi lauded as addressing ills of mobility
Oct 31, 2007
By Elizabeth Ussher Groff
The Bee

More than twenty years ago Jann Jasperse learned that her mobility problems were rooted in rheumatoid arthritis. Then in the early 90s the diagnosis was changed to fibromyalgia.

Jann reports, By the time that diagnosis was made, I was walking with canes, falling down stairs and had trouble feeling my extremities. Six years ago, I became bedridden. Then I started acupuncture, and after a month I no longer needed canes. It took me a year to feel strong enough to start Tai Chi, but now Tai Chi continues to strengthen me, improves my balance and enhances the acupuncture.

Today, after practicing Tai Chi and continuing acupuncture, as well as making some dietary changes, losing 50 pounds, and working on stress management, Jasperse has been a teacher in Woodstock of Tai Chi for over three years.

An informational flier for Jasperses classes describes Tai Chi as a choreographed set of slow movements designed to build and balance your chi or energy to achieve mental, emotional, and physical health.

This fall Jasperse is teaching the Shen Lao style of Tai Chi on Wednesday mornings at All Saints Episcopal Church, at the corner of S.E. 41st Avenue and Woodstock Boulevard.

�Tai Chi is based on acupuncture,� says Jasperse. �The focus is to stimulate the acupuncture channels, or meridians, which affect internal organs.� She adds that practice of Tai Chi helps reduce stress, increase chi and blood circulation, and reduce body pain and stiffness.

The Shen Lao form, she explains, is short, gentle, and easy to remember. It takes only a small space to go through the whole form. The Parish Hall of the church where the classes take place can accommodate up to thirty people.

When asked why she teaches the classes, which are by donation only, at the Woodstock church, she responds, �Before I began practicing Tai Chi I was immobile. Part of the Shen Lao philosophy is to try to improve the world and to give back. Teaching Tai Chi is a way of giving back, and helping others to gain its health benefits.

�I like giving this to people. The idea is that once you learn the moves, you can continue to work on your own form forever,� she says. �I also greatly enjoy the variety of people who come to the classes.�

Classes are drop-in on Wednesdays, 10:15 to 11 am for beginners, and 11:15-noon for advanced. For more information, call Jann Jasperse at �The Way of Health Holistic Clinic�, 503/788-4165.

Copyright 2007 Pamplin Media Group