Promoting Healthy Aging Through Tai Chi — Episode 158

As you may know, May was Older Americans Month, and NRPA
celebrated by sharing how older adult programs in parks and
recreation are making a big impact in communities across the
country. On today’s episode, we’re excited to explore one of the
most popular programs in NRPA’s Healthy Aging in Parks portfolio:
Tai Chi.


Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), NRPA has been working with park and recreation
agencies across the country for the last 11 years to increase the
availability of and participation in the CDC’s Arthritis
Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions, which are  Active
Living Every Day, Fit & Strong!, EnhanceFitness, Walk With
Ease and Tai Chi, which was added to our portfolio in 2022 and
has become the most sought-after program through NRPA’s grant
application process.


As part of NRPA’s Healthy Aging work, park and recreation
agencies across the country have trained more than 1,000
instructors, offering more than 2,000 of the evidence-based
interventions you mentioned to nearly 29,000 participants through
441 agencies. And while we’re focusing on Tai Chi today, it’s
important to highlight that impact across all of these
interventions, because it’s pretty incredible.


Our guests today know a little bit about Tai Chi and the benefits
it provides: Patricia Lawson, a master trainer at the Tai Chi for
Health Institute, Carol Briseno, a recreation coordinator at
Martin County Parks and Recreation, and Colleen Pittard, a
partnership manager at NRPA.


Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about this
impactful program. You’ll also learn:


Why Tai Chi is such a beneficial activity for physical and
mental health (and spiritual and social health) for older adults

How the community in Martin County has embraced its Tai Chi
program

How to navigate barriers to older adult programming

How findings from NRPA’s Supporting Older Adults through
Parks and Recreation report can help inform your programming
approach

And much more!



 


Related Links:


NRPA’s Healthy Aging in Parks Initiative

NRPA’s Supporting Older Adults through Parks and Recreation
Report

Tai Chi for Health Institute

Martin County Parks and Recreation Older Adult Programs