Margaret and Mildred try Tai Chi.

Margaret Lydall and Mildred Robson were both in for a few surprises the first time they took part in Tai Chi.

“It was just so relaxing,” says Margaret. “I was expecting fast moving aerobics but not a bit of it. At the end of that first class I felt refreshed, both physically and mentally.”

“Though at the start there were a few creakings,” Mildred adds. “In fact at first I thought it was the floorboards but it wasn’t - it was our old knees!”

Age Concern North Tyneside’s Tai Chi course has been running for a very successful 13 years, the classes held at Christ Church in North Shields. Margaret, 72, and Mildred, 75, both of Spring Terrace in North Shields have been attending the course since it began.

Daily Tai Chi exercises have become part of life for a lot of people but little do many realise that they are practicing a martial arts discipline that, in its modern form, began in 1820s China. Two families, Chen and Yang, began teaching the discipline to their friends and its popularity rapidly spread. 

White robed, barefoot masters and peasants alike, standing on hot, chalky white village roads, practicing their slow, elegant, focused art of Tai Chi under the shade of pomegranate trees, became a common sight.
The Pomegranate tree was considered by the ancients to be the Tree of Life and for the Chinese, Tai Chi was, and still is, the discipline of life and health and wholeness. There are in fact five main styles of Tai Chi, each one named after the Chinese family from which it came. 
These schools of Tai Chi are Chen (陳氏); Yang (楊氏); the Wu or Wu/Hao style of Wu Yu-hsiang (武氏); the Wu style of Wu Ch’uan-yu and Wu Chien-ch’uan (吳氏) and the Sun style (孫氏).
Steve Jessop, a teacher in Martial Arts, takes the Age Concern North Tyneside Class. He makes sure that the lessons are very much tailored to the individual needs of the pupils, as Margaret Lydall explains.

“Most of the people in class have varying degrees of arthritis and other conditions so Steve is very careful about the exercises we do.

“For example, I have a bad back and Steve has built up a series of movements for me and they have been tremendously beneficial. I can’t describe how much better my spine is now. 

“When I think back 13 years to when I started Tai Chi, I was in such pain such a lot of the time and now my back is much better. Steve has taught me, using Tai Chi, how to exercise my back safely and enjoyably.

“And the beauty of it is, you don’t need any special gear for Tai Chi, the costs are minimal. We just wear comfy shoes or socks – along with the rest of our clothes I hasten to add! Some people do their exercises in bare feet and that’s fine too. There are few rules and regulations, it’s very easy going.”

“Steve has a great sense of humour,” Mildred agrees. “There’s a nice atmosphere in class. Each lesson is different because Steve introduces something new each week so we never get bored. The various Tai Chi exercises vary greatly, from just a few movements to a great many. We firstly learnt a basic eight step exercise and then 16 steps and then 37. On average, our Tai Chi exercises involve between 13 and 22 movements and they are slow and rhythmic, relaxed and calming. ”

The classes, held on Wednesday mornings, 10.30–12.00, are attended by an average of 18 people and new members are always welcome. 

People can enquire about the Tai Chi course at Age Concern North Tyneside’s office at Bradbury Centre, Saville Street, North Shields, or come along to class and try the free taster session.

“We’ve become quite good at Tai Chi,” Mildred says. “Sometimes Age Concern hold open sessions where people can come and watch – and on more than occasion we’ve been given a round of applause!”

The Chinese believe that Tai Chi aids health and wellbeing and both Margaret and Mildred testify to its benefits.

With Margaret nodding in agreement, Mildred says, “Oh Tai Chi is great. Physically, it helps with the joints and strengthens the legs, its good for the spine; in fact it’s beneficial for just about every part of the body. It improves co-ordination and balance. The exercises are equally good for mental and emotional health. At the end of each lesson I feel calm but also mentally sharp. My concentration is much better but at the same time I’m more relaxed.”

“And there’s a good social side to the course. Both Margaret and I have made a lot of friends. The Tai Chi classes are somewhere to go and mix and enjoy people’s company and at Christmas we have a buffet lunch at one of our homes!”

Many of the pupils have benefited physically and Age Concern also run seated Tai Chi courses for people who cannot stand for the whole session. Says Mildred, “Even if you’re sitting down, you can still do exercises, such as moving your feet, legs, hands and arms, your shoulders and neck. I think Tai Chi can help everyone. A number of doctors now recommend Tai Chi to patients.”

“In fact,” adds Margaret. “It should be on the NHS!”