Led by Tai Chi instructor Shifu Dee Ogilvy, about 100 Springfield residents celebrated World Tai Chi Day April 29 with an open practice at the Springfield Art Museum’s auditorium.
According to Ogilvy, Tai Chi is a remarkably potent workout for people of all ages and physical fitness levels.
“Tai Chi concentrates on strengthening the central nervous system, and on harmonizing muscles and blood flow to the heart, which in turn allows a greater amount of oxygen to be available for consumption. This circulation is beneficial to the heart as it prevents many diseases of the heart and the viscera and inflexibility of the cardiac muscle,” she said.
Ogilvy teaches traditional 108 Yang Form Tai Chi, which centers on calmness, tranquility of mind and the improvement of health and persona.
“Yang style is characterized by a closely knit series of relaxed and composed flowing movements that combine strength with resilience and vigor with gentleness,” Ogilvy said.
A highly trained instructor, Ogilvy will resume teaching free Tai Chi classes July 11 Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. at Mount Carmel Methodist Church, 1001 N. National, in addition to the private classes she offers through her business, White Metal Rabbit Taijiquan. She is taking the month of June off to spend with her granddaughter. She will add a third location, the Springfield Art Museum, 9-10 a.m. on Fridays, starting Sept. 8.
“I live in Zone 1; my grandparents and great-grandparents lived in the same neighborhood I now live in,” Ogilvy, a Midtown resident, said. “When I was a child living in New York, I loved to come to Springfield to visit and knew this would be my home someday. When my husband retired, we moved to Springfield so I could teach Tai Chi. I soon realized that many people were missing out on the joy of Tai Chi simply because they could not afford to take a class. With the help of Maria Johnston from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, we came up with a plan to offer FREE quality Tai Chi to everyone. Please come visit a class anytime. Beginners are always welcome.”
About Tai Chi
“Tai Chi is about untangling life’s problems,” Ogilvy said. “Tai Chi lets you practice relaxing around the challenges you face, thus letting you work with and on your challenges.”
According to Ogilvy, Tai Chi movements are circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched, unlike the other forms of exercising.
“Moreover, Tai Chi can be easily adapted for anyone regardless of his or her athletic aptitude, skill, fitness level and/or health needs. No equipment is needed for the exercise,” Ogilvy.
According to Ogilvy, studies at major medical centers show Tai Chi to be more effective than standard physical therapy at improving balance and muscular flexibility, improved lower body and leg strength reducing arthritis pain (especially in knees.)
Other benefits include reducing bone loss in women with osteoporosis; lowering blood pressure; promoting faster recovery from cancer, stroke and heart attack; slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease; and reducing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tai Chi also increases communication and enables one to deal with others more effectively. Regular “players” of Tai Chi begin to develop an emotional, mental and spiritual clarity and confidence. Relaxation, calmness, stress reduction and a feeling of well-being are among the first noticeable differences in a Tai Chi student. Older adults who practice Tai Chi regain lost brain elasticity and improve cognitive skills, enhancing mental capacity and concentration.
For more information, contact Shifu Dee Ogilvy at benz.zen@gmail.com or visit https://springfieldtaichi.wordpress.com/.