How tai chi heals the body and mind

Once dependent on a slew of medications and his puffer, Dennis O’Brien struggled with neck and spinal arthritis for years.

He now manages his condition with just paracetamol – and credits tai chi as the cause of this transformation.

‘It’s a gentle form of exercise that can help with, among other things, lung conditions, high blood pressure and depression while developing core strength and flexibility,’ Dennis says.

‘We call it moving meditation, as it requires deep and rhythmic breathing that allows oxygen to permeate all the organs, which promotes longevity.

‘After a tai chi session, you feel charged with energy – not the energy of someone finishing a gym class, but a sense of wellbeing and alertness.’

Dennis describes the ancient art form as a sequence of slow, almost meditative poses that flow like a ‘calligrapher’s brush with the air as the canvas’. He currently teaches 6 classes a week in parklands around the City of Logan.

‘We wish to breathe the freshest air as possible during our practice – we thank Logan City Council for providing us with clean spaces to perform our art,’ Dennis says.

‘One of my favourite spots is Spring Mountain Reserve. Logan Village is also being transformed and should be an excellent venue.’

It’s because of these green spaces that Dennis has been able to transform not only his own life, but the lives of many others.

‘I see firsthand how it benefits many of my students, no matter the age. There is strong evidence that it helps us live longer by providing that vitality we need in our lives,’ Dennis says.

For more information, head over to the Logan Tai Chi website. These classes are subsidised for City of Logan residents as part of the Logan City Council Active and Healthy program – check out other free and low-cost Logan events and programs here.

By June Ho