Weekly Tai Chi

Eastport Arts Center’s latest wellness offering is Tai Chi with Valerie Michael. Weekly sessions will be offered on Sundays, 1-2 pm, beginning March 2. Students of all levels of experience are welcome to join the sessions, which will present Yang style Tai Chi: a 37-movement Chen Man Ching form.

The circular, flowing motions of Tai Chi help relax body and mind and are a form of moving meditation. The practice provides moderate aerobic training equal to levels obtained by walking at a moderate pace. The integrated movements result in less strain and greater power with less effort and better balance. The slowness of the Tai Chi movements, in combination with the slightly flexed stances and placement of weight on one leg at a time for sustained periods, leads to significant lower extremity strength training and increased loading on the skeleton, which promotes strong bones. In addition, slow, continuous, relaxed and…