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Ancient art tai chi finds fan club
Rod Ferguson is a flexible sort of guy. Performing tai chi
with a metal-bladed silk fan, he springs then crouches so low he is
almost doing the splits.
His audience of mostly elderly women jumps as he tosses and
catches the fan and then thrusts outwards, causing it to unfurl with
a loud THWOK.
It reinforces the fact that this is martial art and fans like
this can be a deadly weapon.
But the 30 ladies and two men in the St Michael's church hall
at Ashgrove, on Brisbane's inner west, won't be learning the fan
moves any time soon.
Ferguson is teaching them to stay on their feet and avoid the
falls dreaded by elderly citizens.
The class performs slow and simple "shibashi" routines as
part of a falls prevention program conducted by the Australian
Academy of Tai Chi and sponsored by the Brisbane City Council.
Ferguson, 51, leads them through moves with names such as
"painting a rainbow" and "separating the clouds". Both involve
raising arms above the shoulders. Later in the set, the class
tackles "stepping and bouncing a ball", routines which involve
standing on one leg.
Several members aren't up to standing and perform the arm
movements from chairs on the side of the hall.
It is easy to see why Ferguson is a popular instructor. He
has a patient and kindly smile as he explains why tai chi can stop
elderly people from tumbling.
"Keep a low centre of balance," he says.
"Sitting down low develops your core strength.
"Tai chi calms the mind and nervous system and helps reduce
the fear of falling."
The teacher has been involved with tai chi for 32 years and
recalls how his interest in this ancient practice was sparked when a
Chinese troupe visited his workplace back in the 1970s when he was a
rail carriage painter in Sydney.
One performer was a kid who went on to become Jet Li, the
celebrated actor and martial arts exponent. Around the same time,
Ferguson heard Gary Khor, a grand master and founder of the AATC, on
the radio.
He became a full-time tai chi instructor in 1978 and has been
in Brisbane since 1984.
People who love tai chi will talk for hours about how it is
incredibly good for the body and mind. Ferguson is chuffed that
scientific research is now backing this up.
The prestigious Harvard Medical School reported in May that
tai chi, which is sometimes described as "meditation in motion",
might well be called "medication in motion".
Ferguson is recognised as a world leader in adapting tai chi
for community campaigns such as the BCC's Active and Healthy
Lifestyle program
He spoke on the subject at an International Tai Chi Symposium
in the US city of Nashville last month. It brought together Chinese
grand masters and researchers from Harvard, the Mayo Clinic and the
US National Institute of Health.
Members of the Ashgrove class are keen to talk about how the
exercises have helped them live better lives.
Jan Lidstone, 70, of Enoggera, belongs to the "dicky knee
club", with one knee joint replaced four years ago and the other
five months back.
"The main thing is up here," she says, pointing to her head.
"Tai chi helps you be calm and get your balance."
When asked if she will continue with tai chi, she says:
"Absolutely, I have a lot more confidence now."
Lidstone does admit that her husband was a little surprised
when she started doing the martial arts moves in front of the TV.
"It was a case of 'the old girl has lost it'," she laughs.
Gail Davies, 62, of Boondall, says tai chi helped her recover
after a fall at a shopping centre which left her with an impact
fracture of the upper humus.
"It's wonderful because we can complete the exercises at our
level," she adds.
"The core stability and the weight transfer work is very
helpful."
A new falls prevention class, sponsored by Queensland Health
and the BCC, is being conducted at Gibson Park, Stafford, on
Thursdays from 9.30am. For details, ring 3358 1955 or check the
website: www.livingchi.com.au
By David Costello
August 03, 2009 12:00am
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