Tai Chi sessions helping Ealing heart patients to recover

Zibi: helping people find their feet again through Tai Chi <i>(Image: NHS)</i>
Zibi: helping people find their feet again through Tai Chi (Image: NHS)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

 

EALING charity Heartlink has been thinking of creative ways to encourage people living with heart failure to exercise more.

A martial arts instructor might not seem the obvious choice, but Kung Fu expert Zibi Panasewicz has been running Tai Chi classes for people finding their feet again.

Zibi said: “I was a big Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan fan as a teenager and used to get up to all kinds of crazy stuff trying to copy their moves.

“Jackie was a great one for running up a wall and somersaulting backwards on to his feet. I remember thinking ‘I can do that’ until I ended up on the floor in a dazed heap.

“My instructor always insisted I practise Tai Chi as well as Kung Fu and I can see the benefits of that now I am older.”

Participants move through a flowing sequence of graceful moves with an emphasis on movement, balance and breathing.

Zibi added: “People get different things from Tai Chi, but it is great for balance, flexibility and relieving stress.”

For details about classes, contact www.taichi4u.uk

 

 

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos