Roger Thompson shares the Health Benefits of Tai Chi at the Timbers

Roger Thompson will discuss the health benefits of Tai Chi at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.

Tai Chi is a Chinese tradition that is practiced in the United States as a graceful form of exercise involving a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.

Because it is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, it is safe for all ages and fitness levels. Tai Chi is a gentle way to not only help reduce stress and anxiety but also to help improve flexibility and balance.

“Tai Chi allows the body to stay healthy and even repair itself,” Thompson said. “It is particularly helpful for seniors, because it helps extend one’s range of motion both physically and mentally.”

Thompson, a resident of Joliet, has been practicing Tai Chi for over 18 years and teaching it for over eight years. He regularly teaches classes at the Timbers, believing that seniors can learn to dissipate stress and be more relaxed in their everyday lives.

The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669.