This October marks 10 years of meeting on the shores of Batemans Bay at Corrigans Beach to practice the gentle martial art of Tai Chi for Arthritis. Brian Wheeler who started the Corrigans Beach Tai Chi classes has brought together leaders and participants to celebrate
The class started after Brian Wheeler attended Tai Chi for Arthritis volunteer leader training with Southern NSW local Health District in 2007 and grew quickly to having classes three times per week. As Dawn Barter a current volunteer leader points out “at times under cover when it is raining or a bleak chill is blowing across the bay”. “Tai chi is a very relaxing and mindful exercise”. “Even though it is so calm, it is still very good exercise”. “The leaders are amazing” said Southern NSW Local Health District Health Promotion Officer, Marcella Levey. They are constantly greeting new people to their class and taking them from having never done Tai Chi before, to feeling confident in doing a 45 minute class”. “That is the beauty of Tai Chi; people get lost in the moment and relax while they improve their physical health and balance,” Jenny Scott who has been a leader for eight years agrees. Today Corrigans Beach Tai Chi for Arthritis leaders old and new will be coming together to celebrate a class together and share some morning tea, as they have for the last 10 years. Some leaders have come and gone and now enjoy just participating in the class but the gentle energy remains. Brian Wheeler was one of the first to start the Corrigan’s Beach class and has supported many new leaders. Today he is a participant of the class. Southern NSW Local Health District will be training leaders again in May 2018 and will officially celebrate the 10 years anniversary of the volunteers of the Southern NSW Local Health District Physical Activity Leaders Network during a formal dinner. At Corrigans beach Tai Chi after 10 years there will be a changing of the guard and new volunteer leaders will be trained. But today we celebrate doing their bit to stay Active and Healthy through Tai Chi for Arthritis across the Southern region. For more information, please contact the Eurobodalla Health Promotion Officer, Marcella Levey on 02 4474 1642.
