Seniors enhance mind, body in library’s Tai Chi
Most consider the library as a place to enhance the mind only, but Tuesday afternoon seniors worked the mind and body in a beginner Tai Chi course.
Rob Pagonis, chief instructor of Rothrock’s Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Butler Township, led community members through the basics of the practice in the Butler Area Public Library’s basement, 218 N. McKean St.
Tai Chi is a 3,000-year-old, slow-motion exercise invented in China for older individuals, according to Pagonis.
About 20 community members registered for the one-time introduction course. Dianne McCauley, adult program coordinator at the library, said this is the first time Tai Chi has been held at the library.
“We have a larger adult population, and thought it might be beneficial,” she said. “It’s good for stretching, it’s not a high-impact exercise. We wanted to see if they could get benefits out of it and help out the community.”
Pagonis led participants through the five aspects of a Tai Chi class — warm-ups, breathing, rooting, massage and postures. The group tried the moves and received feedback from Pagonis as part of the experience.
“We’re relaxing the muscles to get the most of the movement. Everything we do is circular motions, it helps blood flow,” he said. “We start with 24 postures and focus on the mind controlling the body.”
He added that the postures act as a form of self-defense when sped up, and that the breathing technique used in Tai Chi has benefits outside of class.
“Chigon breathing, through the stomach and out the stomach, is going to help you coordinate breathing with what you’re doing in everyday life,” he said.
Following the demonstration, Elaine Benec, of Butler, said she definitely wanted to try a full class.
“I feel more relaxed and more informed, it’s a good feeling,” she said.
Jeff Olen, of Butler, said he’d like to explore the practice in depth.
“I feel good actually,” he said. “I’ve been active as a soccer coach but have never done Tai Chi before. I’d be interested in pursuing it.”
The peaceful, slow lengthening exercises demonstrated were to introduce seniors to a new way of movement, Pagonis said.
“People get older and they don’t exercise,” he said. “People in China are (100 years old). It’s easy to lose muscle, once you gain it, it’s easy to lose. With this, you will build your strength up, you don’t have to be Superman.”
