Tai chi, when taught correctly, can be an excellent activity for people with arthritis.
This spring the Kenai Senior Center will be offering a Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention Instructor Training Workshop, facilitated by Master Trainer Linda Ebeling on Mar. 24 and 25. The class will also be offered in Fairbanks in April.
Designed by Dr. Paul Lam in conjunction with a team of medical experts and tai chi masters, Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) uses the Sun style of tai chi, making the program easy to learn, safe and effective.
The State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services supports the increase in the number of evidence-based falls prevention classes across the state, as research indicates that participation in weekly, community-based tai chi classes can reduce falls in older adults, suggesting that TCA is an effective and sustainable public health intervention falls prevention. In order to provide classes throughout the state, certified TCA instructors are needed.
The workshop is designed for tai chi teachers or advanced students, occupational or physical therapists, health professionals (RN, MD, ATC, DC, etc.), certified exercise instructors or fitness trainers and other individuals with similar health and fitness backgrounds.
After partaking in the workshop, participants will be able to demonstrate the TCA form and its warm-up and cool-down, describe practical ways to integrate tai chi principles into existing interventions, exercises and activities, differentiate ways to safely modify tai chi movements for an individual's capabilities and limitations and more.
To obtain TCA certification, participants are required to watch the TCA DVD and practice the first six movements prior to the workshop, obtain a valid CPR certificate from an accredited course before teaching, pass the workshop post-test and achieve 32 hours of practicing the forms other than attending the workshop through 16 hours of supervision under a TCA-certified instructor and 16 hours of practice with the TCA DVD.
A movement and fitness instructor for over 16 years, Master Trainer Linda Ebeling also has a teaching background in Secondary Education. She is currently a Master Trainer for Tai Chi for Health, a Reiki level 2 practitioner and one of the few certified instructors of Radiant Lotus Qigong in the US.
The Kenai workshop is Mar. 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. Cost of training is $100 and includes TCA DVD, the book Teaching Tai Chi Effectively, TCA certificate, discount for Tai Chi Productions items and refreshments at morning and afternoon breaks. Travel scholarships are available to students who live 45 miles away from the workshop. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/y7xujep8 or contact Dana Paperman, Program Manager, at ssc@seward.net or 224-5604 for a registration form, scholarship forms or general inquiries. Deadline to sign up for Kenai training is March 5.
Training also will be held in Fairbanks on April 14 and 15. Signup deadline for the Fairbanks session is April 2.
