Tai Chi for Seniors: 86 and proud of it!Tai Chi Chuan health benefit for seniors features our 86-year-old student Mrs Jean Washfold. Assistant Instructor Kheng Lau recently interviewed one of Golden Lion Academy’s veteran golden oldies.
How it all began At the tender age of 71, Jean was given a membership with the Golden Lion as a birthday present from her daughter, Jeanette and son-in-law, Tim, who were both students at the Golden Lion at the time. After overcoming her initial reaction of surprise and selfdoubt, she decided to take on the challenge. After all, she had just acquired a new car that would enable her to drive from Glen Iris to Rowville for her Monday morning class. She was also going through a ‘recovery’ phase after having nursed her mother for many years. As her membership approached the end of its 3-month period, not surprisingly, Jean found herself truly ‘addicted’! When the Monday morning class at Rowville ceased a few years later, she was determined to pursue her interest by joining the Wednesday morning class in Berwick, a distance that would take her evenfurther away from home. The rest, as they say, is history. What kept her going Jean enjoys good health and attributes this to the many benefits of TC. The close friendship with her classmates and the continual ‘coffees and lunches’ that follow after the lesson have become her ‘focal point of the week’. Her achievements Jean has learnt several routines more than once. These include the 24, 42 and 48 barehands, the 16 and 32 sword and the Dao Yin Qigong. Her advice to potential and current students It is never too late to start. Persevere with the lessons as TC is different from other exercise classes. It takes time to understand what one is doing. It is obvious that Jean knows how to pace herself. She is proof that regular class attendance and practice are the key points to gaining the maximum benefits for TC - Tai Ji Quan. If you would like to attend regular classes, please call us on our central telephone number 9796-1066 for class times and fees or email us through our contact-us form. Kheng Lau Back to Tai Chi Reports, Events, certification, Tournaments, News Return to Tai Chi Home Page
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