Tim Prescott has been studying the martial arts for over thirty years and has been teaching Tai Chi Chuan for fifteen years to people of all ages and levels of fitness. Tim
has trained under several great coaches in this country and abroad and has even
competed in China where he won bronze and silver medals for empty hand and sword
forms of Tai Chi. In addition to his martial arts experience Tim is a qualified martial arts
coach and also holds a post graduate certificate in education. Tim has taught classes
for drug and injury rehabilitation and currently teaches at Barnstaple Hospital as part of
their staff wellbeing program. Tim is available to consult on the needs of your clients and
can develop a syllabus tailored to those needs.
This is what others say about Tai Chi.
Information taken from the NHS website
All you need to know about tai chi, including the health benefits, the different styles
of tai chi and getting started.
What is tai chi?
Tai chi, also called tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and
gentle movements. Originally developed as a martial art in 13th-century China, tai chi is
today practised around the world as a health-promoting exercise.
What are the health benefits of tai chi?
While there's scope for more rigorous studies on tai chi's health benefits, studies have
shown that tai chi can help people aged 65 and over to reduce stress, improve balance
and general mobility, and increase muscle strength in the legs.
Can tai chi help prevent having falls?
Some research suggests tai chi can reduce the risk of falls among older adults who are at
increased risk. However, more research is needed.
Can tai chi help with arthritis?
There is some evidence that tai chi can improve mobility in the ankle, hip and knee in
people with rheumatoid arthritis (RH). However, it is still not known if tai chi can reduce
pain in people with RH or improve their quality of life.
Am I too old for tai chi?
No, tai chi is commonly performed as a low-impact form of exercise, which means it won’t
put much pressure on your bones and joints and most people should be able to do it.
Is tai chi suitable for me?
Get advice from your GP before starting tai chi if you have any health concerns or an
existing health condition. You may need to take certain precautions if you’re pregnant,
have a hernia, back pain or severe osteoporosis.
Don't I need to be fit to do tai chi?
No, tai chi is for everyone. It is ideal for inactive older people wanting to raise their activity
levels gently and gradually. Also, many of the tai chi movements can even be adapted to
people with a disability, including wheelchair users.
Can I injure myself doing tai chi?
Tai chi is essentially a gentle activity unlikely to cause injury if done correctly. The
exercises involve lots of flowing, easy movements that don’t stress the joints or muscles.
Tips on getting started
It’s a good idea to watch a class or attend a free taster session before signing up for a
course. If you have a medical condition, any health concerns or haven’t exercised for a
long time, speak to your GP before you start tai chi.
Are there different styles of tai chi?
Yes, such as yang, chen and wu. Some teachers often practise a combination of styles.
The main differences between the different tai chi styles are in the speed of movement and
the way the body holds the postures.
What’s the basic technique?
Tai chi is characterised by its slow, graceful, continuous movements that are gentle on the
joints and muscles. Done correctly, you'll find that the tai chi poses flow smoothly from one
into another. Many movements are completed with bent knees in a squat-like position.
Article From the Daily Telegraph.Privacy and coDatinOffers
Tai Chi named as perfect exercise for the
elderly
Practising the ancient martial art of Tai Chi is so beneficial to
elderly people’s health that it should be “the preferred mode of
training”, according to scientists.
Researchers found that older people who regularly performed the traditional
Chinese “mind and body” technique were less likely to suffer high blood
pressure and were physically stronger.
They concluded that the improvement of heart function combined with
increased muscular power meant that the martial art should be considered
the preferred technique for elderly people to maintain good health.
Tai Chi, which has grown in popularity throughout the world, is typified by
slow, deliberate repetitive movements and is based on co-ordination and
relaxation rather than muscular tension. It is believed that focusing the mind
solely on the movements helps to bring about a state of mental calm and
clarity.
In the Hong Kong study, pulse measurements showed that Tai Chi specifically
improved expansion and contraction of the arteries — known as arterial
compliance, an important indicator of heart health — and increased knee
muscle strength. A number of earlier studies have shown that strength
training alone has been accompanied by a decline in arterial compliance.
The findings were published online in the European Journal of Preventive
Cardiology.
The study involved 65 elderly subjects from Hong Kong, 29 recruited from
local Tai Chi clubs who had each practised the technique for at least 90
minutes a week for three years, and 36 controls with no such experience.
Initial results showed that the Tai Chi subjects were superior in almost all
medical observations, including blood pressure, vascular resistance and
pulse pressure. Measurements also showed that both large and small artery
compliance was 40-44 per cent higher in the Tai Chi group.
Additional analysis showed that the Tai Chi subjects had greater average
muscle strength.
The effect of Tai Chi training in lowering blood pressure has been
documented previously. Dr William Tsang from the The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, who led the research, said: “However
this is the first study to investigate the possible effects of Tai Chi on arterial
compliance by comparing older Tai Chi practitioners with non-practitioners
similar in age and activity level.
“The improvement in arterial compliance could have resulted from a
combination of aerobic training, stretching, mental concentration and calm
meditation during Tai Chi movement,” he said.
Dr Tsang said the added appeal of Tai Chi was that it could be practised any
time and anywhere without the constraints of equipment or a gymnasium.
Please contact our coaches on 07889 798231 or 07933 875144
or visit our website WWW.eightwaves.co.uk
email enquiries to info@eightwaves.co.uk