Tai Chi Has Many Benefits for Senior Citizens

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Gulfport Recreation Center, Marge Grudzinski leads a group of locals in Tai Chi classes. Since the group meets twice a week on weekday mornings, it's not for many as most are working.

So it's not unusual for Grudzinski to welcome several seniors each session.

"It's not martial arts!" Grudzinski is quick to point out for the novice. No, Tai Chi is more a discipline. But for senior citizens, Tai Chi is a blessing. For seniors, taking Tai Chi classes can extend one's life and make life much more pleasurable.

"There are many things it does for seniors," Grudzinski said. "It helps for balance and circulation of the heart and the lymph system as well as bone density."

It also helps those who need to build up strength. Grudzinski likes to cite examples of some seniors who first joined her classes that had trouble walking without a cane or couldn't stand for a long period of time. After a few weeks, the same pupils were seen walking without assistance from her hour-long class.

Just so she is not considered a taskmaster, Grudzinski noted she has breaks in the class.

"Some of these people no longer use a cane," Grudzinski said.

But it's not just physical well-being that makes Grudzinski's class popular for seniors; it's also chicken soup for the soul. She claims that camaraderie is an equal component for her senior pupils.

"Oh, listen, some come in sometimes a bit tired but when they leave they make sure they go out to lunch together and they also look out for one another. It's kind of nice."

Grudzinski’s classes aren’t just made up of seniors, some in their 90s. During the summer when students are available she has teenagers as participants.