Tai chi teacher Jade He leading the first Tai Chi in the Park class on Tuesday
This week Sport Waikato supported the first class of Tai Chi in the Park, led by local volunteer, Jade He of HEALTHACU.
“The weather was amazing and the spring leaves on the trees created a wonderful feeling of peacefulness,” said Rebecca Foy from Sport Waikato. “There were 10 people attending and all were new to the practice. The session demonstrated the wonderful benefits for mental health, balance and wellbeing.”
Jade He is an acupuncturist who studied traditional Chinese medicine at Chan Xi University, and has practiced the art of tai chi since beginning at age 16 while at university and spent over 25 years in XiAn. During that time, she used traditional Chinese medicine theory to guide her tai chi practice and acupuncture treatment.
Jade offers the therapeutic Tai Chi in the Park classes free of charge, held at Victoria Square opposite the Sport Waikato office on Dick Street, every non-raining Tuesday from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Originating as a form of combat over 1,500 years ago, today tai chi is generally practiced as a gentle, low-impact form of exercise which uses a series of movements to develop strength, mobility and flexibility. The opposite of strenuous exercise, tai chi tackles tension and stress while improving body awareness. It’s great for people with joint problems because it can help strengthen connective tissue and improve circulation, as well as improving balance and posture.
Tai chi has been shown to be particularly good for older adults, and studies have shown that regular practise of tai chi reduces falls in the elderly by up to 45%.
To find out more contact Jade on 021 0292 8629, email jade@healthacu.co.nz, or simply turn up at on Tuesday morning to see what it’s all about. All classes are free of charge.
