Category: Chair Tai Chi

Chair Tai Chi in Beaumont Texas with Gail Pickens-Barger

Wednesdays is your day for Seated Chair Tai Chi with Gail Pickens-Barger. This popular format is based on her training with MoonWillow Tai Chi with Allison Deputy.

When Gail was feeling the effects of her Afib acting up in 2022-2023, she wanted to find a gentle exercise modality that would still give her the great benefits of flexibility, stability and a sense of calmness.

After a bit of investigation, Gail found Allison on a local library event in the state of Illinois. This was a once a week online option on Zoom where you could register through the library to take this class.

After taking classes on a pretty consistent basis, Gail started adding some of the Tai Chi movements to her adaptive yoga classes at Lakeside center in Beaumont Texas.

Allison offers training in this modality, and Gail took the Chair Tai Chi training in August/September of 2023. Part of one’s training is to perform a teach back class, to demonstrate proper form, and sequences of the movements.

Developed by Allison Deputy over a 25-year period, Chair Tai Chi is now actively used in assisted living and health care/rehabilitation centers across suburban Chicago.

This program is a blend of Yang Style Tai Chi forms (singled out for adaptability in a seated position), Shaolin muscle and sinew exercises, qigong (“chee-kung”) detoxing techniques, hand/finger/eye exercises, as well as healing visualization.

Chair Tai Chi Benefits:

• chronic pain reduction
• improved flexibility
• range of motion
• posture
• blood pressure
• sleep
• digestion
• immunity
• relieves stress
• anxiety
• aids in overall well-being

Chair Tai Chi is a unique therapeutic modality to offer in any senior or healthcare facility.

When?
Teaching Wednesdays at 11 AM at Lakeside Center 150 Magnolia Avenue Beaumont, Texas. Next to the Event Centre, and you will also see all the lovely Beaumont Festival Murals as you enter into the facility. On the back side of the Lakeside Center you will see the Event Center Lake and children’s playground area.

Allison Deputy will be teaching another series of classes in September/October online. I’ll be taking the refresher option as my students are really enjoying this class! Always learning!

Gaile P-B.