The Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center will be offering a few new programs this fall, including Tai Chi for arthritis.
The program will be offered Fridays at 1 p.m. for 12 weeks beginning Sept. 1 and concluding Nov. 17. The program will be offered free of charge and is open to the community, but reservations are needed by Friday, Aug. 25.
Machele Pelkey said the opportunity for the class came about because of a speaker from Heritage Agency on Aging at the LBC last winter.
“They were visiting about their programs and offerings and mentioned the Tai Chi, which is also hosted at areas like libraries in Cedar Rapids and Marion and felt like a great fit of offerings for the center,” Pelkey said.
Pelkey said, while it is focused on people who may be elderly, it is open to anyone who wants to learn tai chi for that 12 weeks in the program. They just have to commit to the class for 12 weeks.
Bryan Bruner will be the instructor for the class.
Bruner said a major part of his work with Heritage Agency on Aging is to help prevent falls and provide fall prevention education for aging adults.
“I have been teaching Tai Chi for arthritis for over four and a half years,” Bruner said. “I am a believer in tai chi because I have arthritis myself from football injuries and it has greatly relieved my lower back symptoms. I look forward to introducing Tai Chi to the community and its many benefits including flexibility, mobility and balance.”
Tai Chi is an exercise that originated in ancient China. The exercise is easy to learn and delivers many health benefits. Tai Chi can improve muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, immunity and quality of life and relieve pain.
Bruner said that those who participate in the tai chi for arthritis program have the added benefit of reducing recurring falls by nearly 70 percent.
The season will also see the speaker series returning, with the first session slated for Thursday, Sept. 7, with mayor Tom Wieseler presenting.
“While most of our speakers will be held Thursday at 1 p.m., there are a few that are going to be presented on Tuesday mornings instead,” Pelkey said. “We’ve also been working on incorporating some more hands on activities as part of that series.”
There’s also plans for an open house at the LBC to highlight the facility and other programs offered.
The game day events will also be held every Monday at 10:30 a.m.
The Science Café from the University of Iowa is also going to be holding a number of their sessions at the LBC this fall. Dates and topics for that series will be coming soon.