June 12, 2009

Four Corners Health Department and the State Injury Prevention Program were very pleased to bring Suman Barkhas, certified Tai Chi instructor from the Oregon Heart and Vascular Institute, to York for the first of four state-wide training sessions.  “Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance” training was held on June 10th and 11th at the Holiday Inn in York.  Tai Chi is a non-traditional form of exercise that is gaining research attention and popularity due to its health benefits for all age groups and all fitness levels.  Benefits of Tai Chi include improved flexibility and balance.  Tai Chi has also been shown to reduce the risk of falls and fear of falling, particularly in the older adult population. 

Twenty- three participants from five different health departments attended this two-day training session.  They will work with the State Injury Prevention Program and their local health departments over the next few months to organize and implement Tai Chi classes for their communities.  There were six “graduates” of this course from the Four Corners District – Mary Lou Meister and Mary Nan Dixon from Butler County, Avis Blase from Polk County, and Chris Payne, Josie Crowdell and Carmen McKenny from York County. Four Corners Health Department plans to use these local instructors to bring Tai Chi to all four of the counties in the Four Corners District in the near future.