Ancient Chinese Exercise Proves Beneficial for Today's Senior Adults
Suffolk, VA (PRWEB) February 27, 2014 -- Residents at Lake Prince Woods retirement community are benefitting from the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong, and persons 62 and older from public are welcome to attend.
Maiyah Olivas, Lake Prince Woods' instructor, became interested in martial arts while a teenager and progressed to a 3rd degree black belt. Later she wanted to learn exercise movements that her parents, then in their 80s, could benefit from and learned Qigong. A certified instructor, Olivas now teaches both children and adults.
"When practiced correctly, Qigong engages all the muscles, tendons, and ligaments from the top of the spine to the bottom of the feet," Olivas noted. Several studies have noted that persons who regularly practice Qigong movements reported less physical pain.
The practice also incorporates "meditation mindfulness", which Olivas said can be powerful.
The form of Qigong the Lake Prince Woods residents are currently focusing on helps to increase range of motion, and build tendon and ligament strength. "Muscle strength will diminish within two weeks if not used," Olivas explained, "but when ligament and tendon strength is built it stays. That's why senior adults are able to maintain the fluid movements of Qigong." She noted one of her instructors was in his 90s.
All exercise classes at Lake Prince Woods are offered to the public. These include Zumba Gold, chair exercise, yoga, Pilates, balance class, and stretch and tone.
For more information on Qigong and how to participate in any of the classes, contact Denise Brown, Resident Services Director, at dbrown(at)uchas(dot)org.
Susan Stone, United Church Homes and Services, http://www.uchas.org, +1 757-923-5511, [email protected]
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