1. TAI CHI CHIH Donna Jungbluth, PTA Accredited Tai Chi Chih Teacher

2. TAI CHI CHIH ITS A MATTER OF BALANCE Overview of Tai Chi Chih practice History of Development of the practice Health benefits and research studies How to use Tai Chi Chih in a Health Care Setting

3. WHAT IS TAI CHI CHIH? A moving meditation – not a martial art Also known as Joy Thru Movement Can be done in standing or sitting with the same benefits 19 movements and 1 pose

4. HISTORY OF TAI CHI CHIH Originated in 1974 by Justin Stone Chi Gong style of Tai Chi, focusing on health and longevity Based on the idea of balance between body, mind and spirit to achieve well-being Practiced throughout the world and taught by accredited teachers Softness and continuity are the Essence of Tai Chi Chih Justin Stone

5. Parkinsons Disease 195 patients with mild to moderate Parkinsons disease assigned to one of three exercise groups: Tai Chi, resistance training, or stretching. Patients attended class twice a week for 24 weeks. After six months, the patients in the Tai Chi group showed the greatest amount of improvement in balance and stability. New England Journal of Medicine. February 9, 2012. Volume 366(6), pages 511-9.

6. Tai Chi Helps After Stroke 74 subjects received Tai Chi training and 62 subjects were in a control group doing general exercise. 12 weeks of short-form Tai Chi produced specific standing balance improvements in people with chronic stroke that outlasted training for 6 weeks. Stephanie S. Y. Au-Yeung, PhD, Christina W. Y. Hui-Chan, PhD, and Jervis C. S. Tang, MSW Short-form Tai Chi improves standing balance of people with chronic stroke.

7. Tai Chi Chih Reduces Depression 73 participants agreed to 10 weeks of adjunct use of either: TCC for 2 hours per week Health education (HE) for 2 hours per week. The TCC group demonstrated greater improvements in the outcome measures used and a decline in inflammatory marker compared to the control group. Complementary use of Tai Chi Chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011 Oct;19(10):839-50.

8. Tai Chi and Fall Prevention 702 people participated in this study that used primarily a Tai Chi program. The findings indicated that participating in weekly community based Tai Chi classes can reduce falls in relatively healthy, community-dwelling older people. Alexander Voukelatos, MA (Psychol) et al "A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial" Journal of American Geriatric Society, August 2007. 55:1185– 1191, 2007

9. TREATMENT SESSION IDEAS Set the environment: Quiet, calm space Start with gentle stretching of all muscle groups (Chi Gong). Teach the movements in sitting before standing position. Emphasis is on softness/continuity and moving from the body center (tan tien) Set reasonable goals: Dont overwhelm the learner.

10. GETTING STARTED Therapeutic exercises and modalities should be used to reduce pain and increase ROM before starting Tai Chi Chih. Administer standardized tests, such as TUG, BERG and Dynamic Gait Index before beginning the practice and repeat after six one hour sessions.

11. LETS BEGIN 3 Movements of practice: Around the Platter Push Pull Working the Pulley

12. MOVING FORWARD Practice regularly, attend classes and workshops. Learn to perform all of the movements as if moving softly through hard air. Source: Tai Chi Chih, by Justin Stone Web Site: TaiChiChih.org Contact: DonnaJungbluth@Comcast.net Phone: You cant appease the hunger by reading the menu… Chinese saying