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A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday July 25, 2001 Shirley Davidge (left) works out in the same class with instructor Charlie Bonifacio (below) and fel low classmate Ian Grieves (above). Photos by Brent Foster Tai Chi and hard work can work their own miracles By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While Tai Chi can't guarantee mira cles, participants in a local special needs program -- from stroke victims to seniors -- say they have experienced some remarkable successes. "It's not magic, but the impact on their quality of life is profound," says instructor and Taoist Tai Chi Society, Oakville Branch, vice-president Charlie Bonifacio. "It's simple, but you have to do the work." Anyone who has suffered chronic pain, for example, knows full well that even the slightest improvement is regarded as a major victory. According to Bonifacio, a man in his class recovering from a stroke can now sit up straighter and even has the confi dence to pick up his cane. "It becomes monumental," said Bonifacio, who takes pride in this kind of progress and the fact that his students are not treated as invalids. Taoist Tai Chi places an emphasis on an extra degree of stretching in each of its movements to promote health improvement. With diligent practice, these motions reduce tension and improve circulation while increasing strength and flexibility. Once proper circulation is restored and tension within the muscles, liga ments and tendons is relieved, Tai Chi optimizes the entire body's physiology. This has proven to have an exciting therapeutic value for a wide range of health problems, from headaches and high blood pressure to back pain, breathing difficulties and digestive dis orders. Unlike traditional Western medi cine, which tends to treat only the body -- and that in just pieces -- Tai Chi's "meditation in motion" focuses on the harmonious relationship between mind and the entire body. The Oakville Branch started its spe cial needs program last July (Thursdays Charlie Bonifacio at noon) after Bonifacio attended an intense training session at the Taoist Tai Chi Society's Health Recovery Centre. What he learned were ways to help others -- even if they have to sit -- including paraplegics, amputees and those suffering fibromyalgia. Pam Arnold, o f the Oakville Strokers program, visited the special needs class in order to see first-hand how its benefits might apply to those in her care. What she discovered was well worth pursuing. "I think it keeps you flexible and improves memory and balance," she said. "It's very healthy for you, without in any way being jarring to the body. It's ideal for those who've had strokes." On a personal note, Arnold -- who encourages younger people to get a head start on good health by trying Tai Chi -- said the discipline has helped the arthritis pain in her knee. When Shirley Davidge -- who also swims with the Strokers and takes Yoga -- started attending the Tai Chi special needs class, she thought she would probably only stick with it for a couple of weeks. That was last fall, but since then she has had so much fun and seen improve ment in her balance that she stayed with it. "I used to fall a lot more," said Davidge, who swears that focusing on Tai Chi's 108 movements helps her memory as well. In a nutshell, says instructor Lutz Fehst, the nature of Tai Chi, and the special needs program in particular, is such that it affords people the opportu nity to improve mobility and flexibility -- like the woman who arm was "out of commission" from a stroke. "She was very receptive to the gen tle but persistent stretching," he adds. The Oakville Branch is located at 141 Jones St. in Bronte. Call 825-0514. Although the special needs program is new in Oakville, Tai Chi instructors are known for being active volunteer ing in nursing homes and hospitals and have lent their services to such organi zations as the Parkinson's Foundation, the Cerebral Palsy Association and oth ers. Public service, such as fundraising for the United Way, is also a hallmark. Boy in the bubble safe. Get inside the car the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave its highest safety rating on the 65 km /h frontal offset crash test, and you might not want to go back outside. And since the price is less than you think, it'll be a really affordable place to hang out for a while. Special Incentives Available on all new 2001 Beetles until the en d of July Areyou getting enough ? ating fiv e to ten servings o f vegetables and f r u it per day as part o f a h ealth y diet can help red u ce y o u r risk of ca n c e r, h eart disease and strok e. For more in form ation , Drivers wanted! ( § > v is it w w w .5 to l0 a d a y .c o m or c a ll the C a n a d i a n C a n c e r S o c i e t y at 1 -8 88-939-3333 CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY CANADIENNE DU CANCER O akville Volksw agen 557 Kerr Street, Oakville (905) 844-3285 socitre HEART AN D STROKE FOUNDATION FONDATION DES MALADIES DU COEUR