East meets West in Concord Kung Fu School’s Wellness Program
Wicked Local Concord
Posted Aug 03, 2011 @ 03:59 PM
Sherry Seaver, Kathleen Chick, and Lois Whitney all of Concord, practice a chi kung exercise at Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord's Integrated Wellness class.
Concord —
“Last summer a friend talked me into trying out this class which I knew absolutely nothing about,” says Kathleen Chick, 70, of Concord. “Initially, I said I would give it a try just to make my friend happy. I am not one who enjoys aerobics or any physical exercise that resembles work! However, after my eight-week ‘try,’ I enrolled in the following session, and now one year later, I look forward to the twice-weekly classes. I am truly surprised by how much better I feel when I leave class.”
Certainly when most people think of martial arts classes it is visions of young, super-athletes flipping through the air, brandishing exotic weapons or uniformed children lined up in formation, drilling punches and kicks which most often come to mind. The idea that martial arts schools are only open to the young and/or super fit — those who aspire to be the next Jackie Chan or Jet Li — is a perception that continues to prevail with more than a little help from the media.
However, while preserving their high level of athletic requirements for those who are willing and able, the more traditional schools have never lost sight of their foundation of personal development. Theirs is a holistic approach to health and lifestyle, with the understanding that the martial arts have something valuable and available to everyone no matter what age or ability level.
At the Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord martial arts school, though you will surely find the young and athletic and all the extraordinary weapons, you will also find everyday people including a number of individuals “of a certain age” who are making great strides in improving their health and well being. Traditional eastern arts meet the best in modern health and fitness theory in the school’s Integrated Wellness Program.
“Integrated Wellness is an excellent choice for those who are seeking the most efficient, safe, and productive way to meet their health and fitness goals,” says Director, Sifu Andrea Sheffield.
How it works
A fully holistic approach to training, this class focuses on the integration of physical movement, relaxed, focused concentration, and deep breathing. The program includes a combination of group and individual instruction in elements of the ancient practices of Ch’i Kung and T’ai Chi combined with the latest in ability-modified core and strength conditioning.
“Students have experienced significant increases in strength, balance and stabilization, flexibility, and stress reduction,” says Sheffield. “Due to the specific combination of exercises along with the personalized modifications, the format we have created provides a well balanced program for individuals of any age and fitness level.”
Currently students in this class range in age from 48 to 83. Many come to the program with a variety of health challenges from high risk for osteoporosis to joint problems to cancer and recovery from surgery.
“I’ve never been able to do push ups and I have a bad rotator cuff,” says Sherry Seaver, 67 of Concord. “But now I am feeling strong doing three full sets of push ups every class. (Our instructor) has an amazing ability to understand each student’s strengths and challenges including past injuries and physical limitations. She uses her knowledge and experience to create modifications for each of us and continually changes the routines and increases the challenges as soon as any exercise becomes too easy.”
Lois Whitney, 64, of Concord, is also pleased with her progress. “Learning to focus on my breathing has helped me to become more relaxed,” she says. “The Chi Kung exercises are easy to learn and provide a welcome relief from the frenzied lives we tend to lead. My weak wrist is much stronger and I no longer have chronic low back pain. I love that fact that everyone in class has been able to improve their mobility and increase their strength.”
The program consists of a twice-weekly class which meets for one hour. The first half of the class focuses entirely on the ancient restorative practice of Chi Kung which promotes relaxation, revitalization, and healing. The second half of the class consists of individually modified stabilization and core strengthening exercises.
I have seen tremendous increases in my fitness level over the course of a year, and experienced significant improvements even within the first few months,” says Seaver. “The Chi Kung practice for the first half of class is calming yet energizing and surprisingly, it also leads to strength building for many parts of the body and helps improve our balance, which is so important as we get older.”
