Tai Chi for health & wellbeing
Well, that was a nice response I received after finishing a Chair Chi session for an aged care centre today.
One elderly lady, who has limited English, and of an Italian background, applauded and shouted ‘Bravo, Bravo’.
It felt good to be able to help her feel energised, as well as the other residents who attended my session. I feel if I can make a small difference in their lives then it is well worth running these sessions.
I was on my way home yesterday after delivering my second Chair Chi workshop for an aged care centre and decided to pop into my local cafe to have a cappuccino. And it was very relaxing.
Usually I head home after two workshops, rest for a while, do half an hour of my own Tai Chi training and then I go into my office to work on our business. But this time, as I drove home, I glanced to my left and there was the cafe; the cappuccino chi was too strong and I was ‘forced’ to pull over and go inside.
I was going through my notes on the Chair Chi sessions I’ve run for residents in aged care centres here in Melbourne (outer eastern suburbs) and discovered some interesting statistics.
I’m currently working on new workshops for residents, a staff development program and a conference/meetings presentation which hopefully will add to the statistics above and to the enjoyment of working in the aged care sector.
She joined our Chair Chi exercise session circle after it started and said, ‘I’ll just watch’, sat down, crossed her feet, folded her arms and just stared at me.
All I said was, ‘you are welcome to join in’ and continued on teaching the other aged care residents.
I cracked a joke, which I sometimes do, and she cracked a smile with the other residents. After she smiled she started to make a small effort to participate which was encouraging.
I had another pleasant experience at an aged care centre after I finished running a Chair Chi session recently.
One of the residents in a wheel chair waited patiently while I was talking to someone else. I noticed she waved away some one who tried to talk to her so I politely finished my conversation and turned to her and said, ‘Hi’.