Charity prescribes Tai Chi
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 onto his feet. I remember thinking ‘I can do that’ until I ended up on the floor in a dazed heap.
“My instructor always insisted that I practice Tai Chi as well as Kung Fu and I can see the benefits of that now that I am older.”
Practitioners 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. I enjoy teaching and Tai Chi is something everyone can benefit from.”