Teaching Tai Chi/Chi Kung to the Elderly

[Judge Pen]

Recently I started volunteering to teach tai chi (24 posture) and basic chi kung to a elder church group that my secretary belongs to. So far so good. I've found that I have to grossly modify the form to account for the varying physical capabilities of the members. Some of them can only move their arms while sitting in chairs. Anyone else have experience in this that you can share? I'm looking for ideas to help teach them. My goal is to just get them breathing and moving in a non-impact way to improve over-all health.

[David Jamieson]

good for you man!

lord knows the average western elderly folk could use a little exercise to hold back the ravages of time.

[MasterKiller]

Is your secretary hot?

[norther practitioner]

My only suggestion is to have fun with it. I helped someone do this once, they kept getting frustrated because some didn't get the movements, they were hoping to make taiji hippies out of hippy hating old people.

[PangQuan]

Make sure to not kill any of them. That would totally suck.

[wdl]

We had one guy up in Rogersville that had had a stroke. He had very limited use of his right arm. In four-five months time he didn't make it that far. If he missed a week or so he'd have to remember how to spread the horses mane, etc. without getting his hands mixed up. It was about three months before he went on from learning basic postures to trying to put them together into the 24 form. He worked real hard even though he got tired. His wife did it with him, she didn't have any limitations physically. The biggest thing I took from watching was that actually learning the 24 form can be too much physically and mentally for some elderly people. I guess "Can't teach an old dog news tricks" applies occasionally. On the flipside there have been a few others that were sharp as a tack and picked it up and flew with it. Seems to be a real person by person thing.

-Will

[wdl]

My only suggestion is to have fun with it. I helped someone do this once, they kept getting frustrated because some didn't get the movements, they were hoping to make taiji hippies out of hippy hating old people.


Yeah, the frustration is hard to watch. The guy I was talking about that had had the stroke was a former NYC policeman. He brought pictures and stuff in from way back when of him and his buddies. The frustration he dealt with being physically limited compared to what he was in the prime of his life was very apparent.

He brought his old night stick in once. They had several department routines like forms they did with them. Interesting stories of heads that stick had thumped. lol


-Will

[MasterKiller]

Maybe! But I still think running 3 miles a day will be better than Taiji for them. Helping promote Taiji? Definite not! The more old people get involve in Taiji, the more that people think CMA is for health only and nothing more. These are people who can barely stand up straight and walk to the bathroom unassisted, for the most part. They would never make it down the block, let alone 3 miles.

For people who have had no physical activity for years, Taiji provides them with a practical means to increase joint mobility and muscle strength. Just because it didn't cure a woman's cancer doesn't mean regular physical activity cannot improve the quality of life of these people and help ease some of their physical aches and pains.

[wdl]

But I still think running 3 miles a day will be better than Taiji for them.

Sorry, but.....

ROFLMAO!

If they get winded walking to the kitchen and even that's painful, running three miles would be like climbing mount everest to a midget. MK it's right, it's more about making their lives functionally better than anything else.

-Will

[Judge Pen]

I had a group of old folks and one of them had cancer and hope she could recover from Taiji exercise. All her friends tried to cheer her up and prolong her life with Taiji. She still died 6 months later. Taiji did not save her from death.

Most of the old folks don’t care about Taiji application. Even you have explained to them that you just want them to know the application so it can be a guide line to their moves, they still think that you expect them to fight. Health benefit to them? Maybe! But I still think running 3 miles a day will be better than Taiji for them. Helping promote Taiji? Definite not! The more old people get involve in Taiji, the more that people think CMA is for health only and nothing more.

WTF?

Tai Chi will not stop death from cancer. It may give them something to focus on other than death and improve the quality of time they have left. Quality of life is important and some excercise is better than none.

I'm not teaching application; this class is health/excercise related. Some of these people can't walk across the room without the assistance of others so you expect me to recommend that they run 3 miles a day? Wow, that's obtuse.

CMA for health and nothing more? No, but the health benefits are there nonetheless. they are not interested in fighting (why would they be at this age?) If they ask why a move is done I can show it to them, but I'm just trying to get them to participate and move a little.

I start with chi kung, some basic Tai Chi warm-up excercises, lead them through a couple of postures the best that they can (most of them cannot keep any of the core tai chi principles, but they do what they can) and end with more chi kung.

[sean_stonehart]

I had a group of old folks and one of them had cancer and hope she could recover from Taiji exercise. All her friends tried to cheer her up and prolong her life with Taiji. She still died 6 months later. Taiji did not save her from death.

Most of the old folks don’t care about Taiji application. Even you have explained to them that you just want them to know the application so it can be a guide line to their moves, they still think that you expect them to fight. Health benefit to them? Maybe! But I still think running 3 miles a day will be better than Taiji for them. Helping promote Taiji? Definite not! The more old people get involve in Taiji, the more that people think CMA is for health only and nothing more.

I will never teach the complete Taiji form to old people. Instead I would asked them to do "brush knee" 20 times, then "diagonal fly" 20 times, and then "grasp the sparrow's tail" 20 times, ...

As long as you don't teach them the complete Taiji form, they will never be able to teach others in the future and create a next generation of "fake Taiji fighters".


Ummm... dude... he's teaching an elderly person this for exercise who can't run 3 miles a day... :rolleyes:

Don't be a tool... engage brain before taking your mouth out of nuetral...

[Judge Pen]

As long as you don't teach them the complete Taiji form, they will never be able to teach others in the future and create a next generation of "fake Taiji fighters".

You are really missing the point here. :rolleyes: These people aren't going to be aroung another generation.

[wdl]

As long as you don't teach them the complete Taiji form, they will never be able to teach others in the future and create a next generation of "fake Taiji human".

haha, either I missed that one or you edited and added.

Your completely delusional. These are people that are in the last years of their lives and your worried about them creating a next generation of fake taiji practitioners? Wow. Go meet so elderly people and help them for awhile. You need a better understanding of their daily lives. It will also motivate you to WORK harder while your young in order to extend you quality of life longer before you die.

-Will

[Judge Pen]

Wow, I didn't expect anyone would react that way! :D

[wdl]

Wow, I didn't expect anyone would react that way! :D


haha I think YouKnowWho just wants to implement population control.

Dear Misses,

Understanding that your husband has congestive heart failure we feel it's in his best interest to run three miles a day. The exercise will energize his heart and increase his circulation. Three miles a day will keep me, the doctor away.


Dr. YouKnowWho


-Will

[SaMantis]

Tai Chi will not stop death from cancer. It may give them something to focus on other than death and improve the quality of time they have left. Quality of life is important and some excercise is better than none.Exactly -- at this stage, that's the most important thing.

My sister-in-law's mom was a very unpleasant person in a lot of respects ... having advanced emphysema and throat cancer amplified her bad attitude. She knew I practiced Tai Chi though, and asked me to find a class for her. So I drove her to the local senior center twice a week for group lessons, for a few months. She barely learned any arm movements, never learned the footwork because she was too weak to stand up. Plus her oxygen tank got in the way. The instructor had her focus on breathing, mostly. But she looked forward to it -- she had social interaction with the group, plus a bit of exercise. If she had a mood other than "bad" (something closer to "meh"), it was during this period.

Didn't save her life, though. Emphysema & cancer in a 72 year old is pretty much unstoppable. But, she didn't ask for tai chi to save her life, she just wanted to improve what she had.

At any rate, good on ya, Judge Pen.

[Mr Punch]

They're a bit old for semen retention... but maybe bladder retention may be helpful...! :eek: :D



Shallow stances and lots of encouragement, but most importantly, let them know that there's no shame in having to sit out for a bit if they need to.

And BTW, I think You Know Who is already in his dotage... well, he's certainly senile anyway. :p

[wdl]

If you don't teach Taiji application then you may have to take some uncessary responsibility for the future. Too serious? Maybe!

A group of "fake Taiji masters" will be produced this way in the future and it will all link back to you. You may know very well about Taiji application but since you had never taught to those people, People in the future may think that you don't know Taiji application and you won't have any chance to defense for yourself (say 200 years from now).


ROFL, your digging your hole deeper. He'd be teaching application IF they A. wanted it, B. where able to walk across the room without taking a break every few minutes.

Your a callous moron, if I'm in that kind of shape when I'm elderly I hope there is someone caring enough to try and help me have a better quality of life like JP is doing.

-Will

[Judge Pen]

If you don't teach Taiji application then you may have to take some uncessary responsibility for the future. Too serious? Maybe!

I had seen people learned Taiji for health (because that person had some personal health problem) only and then turn around and teach a large group of students and spread Taiji like this (that person even form a Taiji association not too long ago in US). A group of "fake Taiji masters" will be produced this way in the future and it will all link back to you. You may know very well about Taiji application but since you had never taught to those people, People in the future may think that you don't know Taiji application and you won't have any chance to defense for yourself (say 200 years from now).


Dude return to the mothership. Or better, Hogwart's School of wizardry.

1. 200 years from now people could throw darts at my remains. I could care less.
2. THESE PEOPLE ARE OLD. They won't be around that much longer.
3. I bet you belong to one of those conspiracy groups that's out looking to prove how the government is in league with space aliens. I'm not worried about this elderly church group starting a fake tai chi 24 group and certifying others as tai chi masters. :rolleyes: Paranoid, aren't you?

I can see it now: Headline 2205. Tai Chi group discovered as fraudulent! Alleged Tai Chi master has arse kicked by mugger because their late great grand-master Judge Pen, undertook to teach an elderly church group tai chi and chi gung for their health and quality of life. One octogenarian passed on the teaching of Judge Pen and formed the Tai Chi/Chi Gung fighting association and began certifying famous grandmasters through out Tennessee and ultimately the world. Unfortunately, with this recent turn of events all certificates of tai chi masters stemming from this group are being revoked. There are riots in the streets. Judge Pen is rolling over in his grave.

Man, lighten up. I'm volunteering to help some people out here. I'm not giving them false impressions or hopes as to what this will accomplish. I'm not worried about them teaching 24 to others (there's enough books out there with the entire form explained anyway.) Heck, Kung Fu magazine had a series of articles that went through this form posture by posture.

TTT--any suggestions on how to more effectively teach the elderly?

[sean_stonehart]

If you don't teach Taiji application then you may have to take some uncessary responsibility for the future. Too serious? Maybe!

I had seen people learned Taiji for health (because that person had some personal health problem) only and then turn around and teach a large group of students and spread Taiji like this (that person even form a Taiji association not too long ago in US). A group of "fake Taiji masters" will be produced this way in the future and it will all link back to you. You may know very well about Taiji application but since you had never taught to those people, People in the future may think that you don't know Taiji application and you won't have any chance to defense for yourself (say 200 years from now).

Thing like this had already happend around us. Should we be serious? It's all up to any individual whether you want your name to be linked to those group of "fake Taiji human being" or not.

Too late... when I said don't be a tool, I should've said "Don't be a bigger tool"...

You're helpless... drink the Kool-aid next time.

[wdl]

Dude return to the mothership.

He can't that's the problem. I blew up his mothership with some goodies I found laying around Oak Ridge.

-Will

[norther practitioner]

:rolleyes:
.

Get over yourself...

[wdl]

Who knows, if one of them won any Taiji tournament, people may start to call that person Taiji master and the "health only of Taiji style" will start from that "founder".

ROFL, your killing me here dude. How many times were you dropped on your head as a child on the mothership?

Sean: I hope he's been on Cialis to get his bigger tool. Maybe he'll get one of those raging 4 hour erections and have to seek medical attention. I hope the ER doctor puts him on a treadmill cranks it up to 12MPH and tell him he'll turn it off once he gets to three miles to cure the problem.

-Will

[Judge Pen]

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that Tai Chi 24 was super-secret. If anyof them get into the physical condition to win a tai chi tournament, then I'll do a back-flip I'll be so happy. That would be a miracle and a true testement to the benefits of tai chi.

Teaching the form gives them something to look forward to. A sense of accomplishment.

[SaMantis]

Who knows, if one of them won any Taiji tournament, people may start to call that person Taiji master and the "health only Taiji style" will start from that "founder" and it will all link back to you.

What tournament? The "Depends" Classic?

[sean_stonehart]

Sean: I hope he's been on Cialis to get his bigger tool. Maybe he'll get one of those raging 4 hour erections and have to seek medical attention. I hope the ER doctor puts him on a treadmill cranks it up to 12MPH and tell him he'll turn it off once he gets to three miles to cure the problem.

-Will

heheheh.... He's a tool-boy ... effectively on my ignore list now...

[David Jamieson]

The beijing 24 is hardly secret. It's probably the most popular style of taichi in practice today. literally millions of people do this way of taichi.

It's certainly appropriate for people of all ages and circumstances and the benefits are in the simple exercise.

YKW, you gotta chill on all the taboo talk, that's old school thinking dude. Martial arts are for everybody now. It is wise to restrict the transmission from those with ill intent, but it is unwise to withhold alltogether. The one who with holds from you is only seeking to control you. But I agree that one should walk before running. This doesn't mean that one should bar others from knowing what lies ahead. forewarned is forarmed and all that and restrictive teachers tend to take their stuff to teh grave with them simply because they are intolerable as human beings. Ergo they do a great disservice to the art that was given to them. So fug em, they can keep it. lol

[Judge Pen]

:p The risk that the people I am teaching will take the form that I teach and pass it on is so nominal it's absurd. Plus, how can I take your suggesstions seriously when you have already made some really obtuse and, frankly, silly comments?

I'm teaching them 24 the way it was taught to me (absent the fighting applications/drills, pad work and sticky hands.) I'm not teaching them a martial art; it's an excercise to improve mobility, balance, joint health, muscle control and lucng function for people that really need the help. I'm forced to grossly modify the form because of the obvious health conditions of many of the students (some are seated the entire time; others are in a walker). This is a class I am volunteering for (i.e. 0 compensation other than a pot-luck dinner).

[MasterKiller]

So is your secretary hot or not?

[Judge Pen]

So is your secretary hot or not?

No, not unless you are into red-heads with children older than you.

[MasterKiller]

M.i.l.f. ?

[Judge Pen]

Apparently what I have suggested is not what you want to hear. Since I did not charge you for any service fee, please just ignore my "free" comment and that will be OK with me. No need to force yourself to agree something that you don't want to.

Actually, I'm seriously considering your advice to make them run 3 miles. I could use a little personal liability from the wrongful death litigation that would arise from that pearl of wisdom. How much is that advice worth?

[Judge Pen]

M.i.l.f. ?
No. Most certainly not.

[GeneChing]

All martial arts start 'for health only'. Health is the most important. It far outweighs fighting applications. You can't be a martial arts master without a healthy body as a foundation. If you've ever taught beginners, you know that the first step is to get them into decent shape. Any combat applications come later. And mastery comes much later. That being said, very few people ever become masters. Most of us slog through our practice and acheive some level of competence. Speaking for myself, mastery seems so far away from me that I don't even think of it as a goal state anymore.

Tai Chi/qigong for health only is one of the greatest contributions of our practice to humanity. We're all getting older. We all have to take care of the elderly - our parents, our friends - to see help see them through their autumn years. Being able to share the health aspects of our practice is wonderful. They will never reach the highest levels of martial arts, nor even some of the lowest levels, but they will be better persons for it. And so will we, when we share.

I saw the senior tai chi class where the teacher had broken down the basic yang moves into 'calls' not unlike in a square dance. He'd get the music going and call out the moves and the students would all dance about. It was great. They were all so enthusiastic and joyful while getting some exercise. The teacher was really charismatic - he was no master, but he did have some skill. More important, he used his tai chi to heal instead of to harm. That's real tai chi when you can do that.

[Judge Pen]

I saw the senior tai chi class where the teacher had broken down the basic yang moves into 'calls' not unlike in a square dance. He'd get the music going and call out the moves and the students would all dance about. It was great. They were all so enthusiastic and joyful while getting some exercise. The teacher was really charismatic - he was no master, but he did have some skill. More important, he used his tai chi to heal instead of to harm. That's real tai chi when you can do that.

That's a wonderful idea. I'd like to see how that fit together.

[Reggie1]

JP--don't get mad at YouKnowWho because he figured out your plot. We all know that you are trying to get together an army of elderly taiji warriors to go teach bad taiji to the world. Once they've done that you can bust out your real taiji skills and take over. :p

[David Jamieson]

raise your hands now drop them down
hold a ball and turn around
part horses mane return to ball
part horses mane, watch don't fall

single whip and play pi pei
white crane spreads wings
now brush that knee!

repulse that monkey 1,2,3
drop that needle into the sea

hey ho!

hey ho

hey ho

lets go!

Tai chi
1,2,3
Tai chi

for you and me!

and so on :D

[red5angel]

if you're not teachng the elderly to fight 100% all the time you're just masterbating.

[David Jamieson]

masturbating the elderly is not recommended.

[red5angel]

masturbating the elderly is not recommended.

I don't want to know how you know that.

[GeneChing]

masturbating the elderly is not recommended. OMG. Better not grow old then. Actually, you're little spoof of the square dance tai chi three posts up ain't far off the mark. Only instead of 'hey ho' it was 'dosey do'. OK, seriously now, that guy's class was a heck of a lot better than group musical internal forms competition... :rolleyes:

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i must crush the elderly.

[Judge Pen]

The difference between dancing and MA is that dancing has no guideline but MA does. If you move both of your hands horizontally from right to left and with your "right palm down and left palm up" then if would not make sense in MA even it look as pretty as "right palm up and left palm down".

Teaching application to elders may waste your time but it would help them to remember the internal meaning and respect CMA even they can't care less about Oriental culture.

I don't know how to dance. I do know Tai Chi 24. Besdies Tai Chi has different physical principles than dancing. These are apparent through breath, posture, rooting, cooridination of body etc that are unique to Tai Chi. They can learn this, and get the unique health benefits to this, without knowing the joint lock applications of single whip or the various throws from Repulse the Monkey. I'll mention the application to them once they are comfortable with the core movement and principles. Even then, I'm not going to demonstrate it on anyone. They are too aold and fragile for that type of training. Can you not graps the concept that this is a specialized class for a specialized need? Or should we still run 3 miles to warm up? :rolleyes:

I volunteer to teach a class, and you accuse me of being lazy and not wanting to "waste my time" by teaching applications. Your rationale really amazes me.

[red5angel]

you guys should try an art that is both fighting AND dancing :P

[wdl]

I have seen several old guys in their 70th or even 80th are still run everyday in my neighborhood. My father in law was still doing his garden work at his age of 95. Didn't know your group of old folks are so out of shape.


Your so dense U238 appears to be a gas to me now.

-Will

[GLW]

First off, with an older crowd, even 24 posture may be a stretch. I have had a number of students ages from 14 to 80. It seems that after about 65 or so, unless they are really mentally active, you have to be sure NOT to overload them.

You have it easier if the class is ALL seniors. (Mine is a mix and many times the older ones take a lot of encouragement so they don't quit).

Also, you absolutely MUST know of their physical limitations on a person by person basis. Some modifications are for everyone, some only for one or two people.

Then, I personally never cared much for the new 8 posture and 16 posture forms. They were created for the duan system to build beginner levels. they are precursors to 24. For me, they always seemed too easy. But, for an older crowd, they would be a good tool. They are much less intimidating.

You can get materials on both. If you already know 24, all you really have to learn is the sequence since they are both built from simplifying and shortening 24.

As for Qi Gong...while it is easy to teach a still Qi Gong method...non-moing meditation type or thing or even Post....I would not do that.

Older people tend to have vertigo problems. Standing post can be bad for them with balance. It can also lead to them stiffening up due to arthritis.

I would suggest something like 18 Liangong or 20 Posture Qi Gong. They are moving methods, they work the body a bit, and they can be modified to some extent for people sitting (as in the wheelchair and walker crowd).

Another altrnative is to take 24, remove some of the repetitions, take out the lower snake body, simplify or remove the kicks, and voila! you have your own simplified simplified routine...you can then make sure that everything is done equally on both sides as well.

[David Jamieson]

OMG. Better not grow old then. Actually, you're little spoof of the square dance tai chi three posts up ain't far off the mark. Only instead of 'hey ho' it was 'dosey do'. OK, seriously now, that guy's class was a heck of a lot better than group musical internal forms competition... :rolleyes:

the more i think about it, the more i think it's a great idea.

you know, like lyrics to a kungfu set.

set it to the right rythym you could actually get people doing taichi better!

only problem being, it would be a very very slow shuffle kind of thing, almost dirge like in quality...hmmm

[Royal Dragon]

When I taught Taiji to seniors, I started with the 8 postures. It was a shrt form as follows: Ward off, Roll Back, Press, Push, Pull Down, Split, Elbow, hipps.

In a 12 week course, I taught it first on one side, then on the other side, pluss we did warmups and some basic simple drills.

Generally by week 7 or so we began to just warm up, and drill both sides of the 8 posture set. They followed along behind me, and I only did corrections after I got 20 minutes of doing the set myself.

THEN, at the last class I demoed the 37 move form, and started teaching them so they would see they have just scratched the surface, and would come back next session. It usually toook 2 sessions to teach them the full 37 move form. Once they got it, and cold smoothy perform the set, they usually quit. I have a 108 move Taiji form from the Chao style. I think next time I start teaching, I'm going to teach that set too, just to keep them around a few sessions longer.

[JohnnyMnemonic]

Hard to get a straight answer to your question huh? Using the elderly as a source of joking? Someone does not visit their grandmother or grandfather very much.

If I was you, I would not worry about making sure they get it right. Just get them to do the movements at all, or so it looks OK. You will save your own sanity. What is most important in my opinion is that they are all working together in the class doing the movements together. It is the syncing up and the rythym you want them to get more than correct movements.

I agree with the guy who said "that is a poor health group of elderly". ;)

I attended a Tai Chi class for elderly people once. It was taught as a community thing by a guy who had pay classes. I could attend the elderly Tai Chi class for free because the city paid for it. It was very educational.

There were people up to 70 or 75 in the class that walked around and talked to people and did all the forms. They did the full Tai Chi form. We also did the butterfly sword routine I think it is called. The wooden sword routine? These elderly people were something else.

If the people didn't get the form, the teacher didn't care. It didn't matter. The old people were all together, all doing the form, all talking and enjoying themselves. The people that wanted to do good did good. The ones that wanted socializing got to socialize.

I finally left the class after one of the old people talked to me. She was giving me some pointers on what I should be doing right. She was like 65 or something. She showed me what Tai Chi is supposed to be like and I got so scared I practically ran away. I felt kind of bad because they lady was trying to be polite and helpful. I can right this minute remember the situation. She says to me "watch this", and as she demonstrated I thought "OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!! AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! !

Still makes my insides twist with discomfort. ;)

[joedoe]

So she slipped the tongue in eh? :D

[SPJ]

In response to the first post.

Good work.

To teach senior citizens to do Tai Chi ercise and breathing exercise.

In the April 2005 issue of IKF page 48, and May 2005 page 52, there is an article on Yang Tai Ji in 8 postures. They are good for beginners. One may start one posture at time. Eventually 8 postures strung together in any order of sequence.

1. start or commencing form.
2. Repulse the monkey.
3. Brush knee and twist step.
4. Part wild horse's mane.
5. Cloud hands. 2 X left and right.
6. Golden rooster stands on one leg.
7. Heel kick.
8. Grasp the bird's tail.

6 and 7 posture are optional depends on their physical ability.

Alternatively, in 6, just move one foot up a bit. Not reaching the other knee high.

In 7, you may rotate around your hip and do a low swing kick outward and not reaching the waist high.

Both to the left and to the right may be practiced.

This composite 8 was rolled out by China Wushu Institute. It is shorter than 24 forms. It is the most popular or 'hot" Tai Chi forms in China at the present time. They call it 8 steps or Ba Bu Yang Tai Ji.


:)

[Judge Pen]

My class is all seniors. Late 50s to late 80s. Some just sit and move their hands. Others may be able to do the form with some sembelence of tai chi. I don't know 8 or 16 step, but I might look into that. Right now they are "parting horses mane." I do the opening posture and make them repreat the "part the mane" over and over with the emphasis on the slow and controled transition of weight in the step. If I even get to the kicks and snake postures I'll modify them (likeSPJ mentioned.). (Heck, my knee is still that I can't go all the way down on one of the snake postures myself).

As for the Qi gong, It's really basic "breath of the day you were born" breathing. Focusing on filling the lower lung first etc. Breath in, hold, breath out etc. They can stand or sit. Nothing too taxing. Just stretch and expand the lungs and ribs ets with good controlled breathing. It's not like I'm taking them through 5 animal frolic or anything.

As for training both sides, the postures of the form do that on it's own (with the excption of "single whip" which is only done with the left hand in 24 posture.

YKW: I finally see where are miscommunication is. To be clear: MY GROUP IS NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. THEY CAN'T RUN. I KNOW ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND CAN RUN (LIKE YOU KNOW TOO) BUT THESE PEOPLE AREN'T IN THAT PHYSICAL CONDITION AND PROBABLY WON'T BE.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I appreciate all of the contructive comments on how to approach the class. I've only taught two so far, so the calss can go in a zillion different directions and I've gotten some great ideas and suggestions.

[oasis]

as folks stated, a shorter form is probably called for in this situation. once u know a given form, it's easy to just curtail it by cutting out certain movements as well as repetitions. haven't you ever just felt like doing 'freestyle' taiji and just do a number of movements spontaneously? :D
anyway, here's (http://www.taiji.de/taiji/head5e_13/index.htm) the video for the taiji 8 spj mentioned. here it's listed at 10 movements though. i guess they're counting 'closing form' and something else.

another option is to do what my teacher has us do when working on basics. in conjunction with teaching them a basic form to get them practicing a coordinated sequence, take certain movements and have them drill through them a few times. for example, part the wild horse's main 3x, then repulse monkey 3x,the heel kicks several times, then perhaps clouding hands several times. lol, i'm realizing the 8 movement form is essentially a brief version of that...

good job making the effort to help people with their health :)

[GLW]

While Qi Gong of any form is going to be good, in the population you are hittig, you have already said that some can't do a lot due to physical problems...as in they are sitting and such.

So, it would be a good transition to use the still Qi Gong breathing methods as a startup and then add moving Qi Gong to it.

For example, Dr. Wu Chengde formulated a 13 posture Taiji Qi Gong set. It takes postures from several styles of Taijiquan and uses them in a repetitive Qi Gong method that can be easily adjusted to fit time and ability - he actually created it to fit in qith his medical students at the Shanghai College of TCM and Longhua hospital as well as for the med students to use with rehabilitating patients.

So, one posture can be the Step back and Whirl arms (more or les from Yang style and 24 Posture). If the student can move in balance, they do Step back and raise arms (Some might call it Repulse Monkey as well) and do right and left sides in place. For those that can't, they stay seated and do the arm movements - either way, it is combined with proper breathing.

The hard parts of teaching seniors :

You have to deal with a wide variety of health - from really bad to good - in one class

You have to deal with a wide range of mental ability (some can remember and some suffer from CRS (Can't remember S***) So patience is a must)

Encouragement and discouragement is a major issue. You have to provide encouragement and dela with their often unrealistic expectations and the discouragement that results from same.

The quick ones can fit into any Taijiquan class. The slow ones will try your patience - and end up annoying the quick ones...but BOTH have a right to be in class and get benefits.

I would also recommend a team teaching approach. if you have a teaching partner, you can have one person lead the main class and the other deal with individuals. If it turns out that most of the class is slow, then the main part of class is at that pace and the person dealing with individuals is dealing with the quicker ones..or vice versa.

The main things to keep in mind - At 70, Taijiquan as a martial art...get real - ain't gonna happen. ALL people can benefit from Taijiquan as a healthy form of exercise...and WATCH OUT FOR BAD KNEES.

[GeneChing]

A 93-year old Vernon woman taught her final Tai Chi class before retiring (https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/347487/A-93-year-old-Vernon-woman-taught-her-final-Tai-Chi-class-before-retiring)
Teaching Tai Chi at 93
Victoria Femia - Oct 4, 2021 / 4:00 am
https://www.castanet.net/content/2021/10/screen_shot_2021-10-03_at_10.48.03_am_p3554622.jpg
Photo: Doug Geiger
Maryanne Thomas
At 93-years old Maryanne Thomas led her final Tai Chi class and officially retired.

The Vernon resident has been teaching Tai Chi for 32 years and has been an instructor in a rented space at Knox Presbyterian church for the last 18 years.

“The final class (Sept. 28) included 10 students who have been steadfast with Maryanne for the last 18 years through life’s ups, downs and challenges,” said Thomas’ son-in-law, Doug Geiger.

“Adding to the celebration were many who arrived at the end of class to give thanks and show their appreciation because this dynamic group of now seniors are more than a class.”

Thomas said teaching her final class was an emotional one.

“I’ve been at this for so long, with the same people that were in my class, we’ve known each other for a long time,” said Thomas.

“They’re my family.”

At 93-years old, Thomas credits Tai Chi for keeping her active and motivated.

“It’s very helpful as far as your balance, you improve with each move,” said Thomas.

“I really enjoyed it, it makes me feel good to see people improve too.”

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