T’ai chi classes enter third year

SHAWVILLE — T’ai chi classes have started up again at the Shawville Lions Hall.

This is the third year that the slow-moving Chinese martial art, which is popular as a form of low-impact exercise, has been taught in Shawville.

Classes began Tuesday evening, Oct. 7 and continue weekly. They cost $50 for a set of eight classes, which are offered several times a year.

About 25 to 30 students normally take the class, says Louise Ahern, who handles the organization and registration.

Instructor Tim Gordon, who says he’s been teaching t’ai chi for eight or nine years, is impressed with the students here, most of whom have been regulars since the beginning.

“(It’s a) large, enthusiastic crowd. I love coming here to teach,” says Gordon, who lives in Burnstown, Ont., south of Renfrew.

For the first time, Gordon is offering an intermediate class for those regulars who, after several series of classes, have gotten enough experience under their belts.

On the first night of classes, Gordon ran the students, newcomers and regulars alike — including an Equity reporter with no small amount of trepidation — through some of the more basic moves. After that, he took the regulars through a series of 108 moves for the intermediate course.

One newcomer expressed amazement that she would be able to remember them all.

Norbert Senf, who lives in Greermount, has been taking the classes since the beginning. He signed up out of curiosity and a desire to stay active.

“I sort of knew what t’ai chi was, but I wasn’t really familiar with it,” he says.

But after a few classes, Senf really took to it.

“I liked it a lot,” he says. “I’m getting older, and I’m starting to feel my boddy. It’s a really good way to stay loose, do some stretching.”

Senf enjoys the support they get from doing it as a group, and the confidence that comes with repetition and practice.

Gordon suggests another reason for the classes’ appeal.

“I think it’s a cultural adventure. It’s kind of a unique thing to be doing,” he says.

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