T’ai Chi Chih Offers Joy Through Movement

Susan Larson-Waugh, Minnesota Sun Publications

“Joy through movement” is how 71-year-old Minnetonka resident Joe Apt describes T’ai Chi Chih, a class he’s taught for the past eight years, currently at the Senior Center in the Minnetonka Community Center.

Dedicated participants credit T’ai Chi Chih with improving their psychological and physical health. Some of the reported benefits include improved breathing, circulation, flexibility and vision; reduced blood pressure and strengthened bones. Apt is a text book example of the benefits. With a permanent back problem, multiple sclerosis and after triple bypass in 1988, he teaches between six and 15 classes a week. “I’d be in tough shape without doing this,” he said. “It helps your ability to heal, helps you cope with the problems which is half of the healing process.” T’ai Chi Chih, which translates to “Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate,” consists of 20 simple, repetitive non-strenuous movements. The Practice emphasizes a soft, flowing continuity of motion, said Apt, who uses soothing music, often with birds or running streams in the background, during the sessions. Apt said that although the goal is relaxation, stress relief and body balance; after performing all 20 moves, every muscle in the body is used. Apt said that leg muscles especially get very strong. Another positive aspect of T’ai Chi Chih is that it is something anyone can do, regardless of age or physical condition, said Apt. “You can do it anywhere at your own speed.”

Student Lenore Listiak, 70, has taken lessons from Apt for six years. She said that she began T’ai Chi Chih to strengthen her leg muscles after having her second knee replacement in 1992. “Of course by that time, I couldn’t exercise and my leg and thigh muscles were weak,” said Listiak.

Although she can only bend her knees a little bit past a 90-degree angle, Listiak said that isn’t a problem with T’ai Chi Chih. “Joe emphasizes that everybody does this to their degree of comfort,” she said. “Some people even do T’ai Chi Chih sitting down.” Listiak emphasizes that any movement is beneficial. She said the area in which T’ai Chi Chih has benefited her most, other than leg strengthening, is in improved balance. “I have found that just walking any place if I’m losing my balance, my mind seems to react much quicker to that,” she said.

One of Listiak’s visits to Arizona to visit her grandchildren revealed yet another benefit: “My three grandchildren ages 5 to 22 and I went hiking in the mountains. Even though I became winded because of my asthma, I was the only one not complaining about sore muscles the next day,” she said.

Listiak plans to become certified to teach T’ai Chi Chih in June. “I do quite a bit of volunteer work and I’d like to have my certification so I can help other people [enjoy the benefits],” she said.

Originally published in the Minnetonka Sun Sailor.