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08.a2 Tai Chi Course Staff Report Date of Meeting: February 21, 2023 To: Mayor and City Council From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant Re: PRC Recommendation to offer a Tai Chi course Issue: Resident Bill Jabas requests to offer an 8-week Tai Chi course over a 10- week period, beginning May 3, 2023, in the Community Center. Background: Jabas presented a Tai Chi Course proposal last month to the Parks and Recreation Committee. Jabas submitted an updated proposal at the February 6th PRC meeting after feedback from committee members and staff. Jabas proposes the following: • 8-week course • 1 hour class time • Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., beginning May 3rd with no class on May 10th or June 14th • Class meets in the Community Center • No special equipment needed • Offered to adults only • 6 minimum participants, 15 maximum participants • No new students after 2nd class • City to process all registrations and collection of fees • City publicize the course (social media and press release) • $45 fee to participants, with 80/20 to Instructor/City, payable to the instructor as a single payment at the end of the class • Participants sign a Health Condition Waiver, provided by Instructor • Instructor provides proof of liability insurance Fiscal Impact: Provide the space in the Community Center. Options: 1. Offer a Tai Chi Course in the Community Center as proposed by Jabas. 2. Do not offer a Tai Chi Course in the Community Center as proposed by Jabas. Recommendation: Option #1, as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee Proposal for a 1 hour, 8 week, Tai Chi Class to be held at the Scandia Community Center. Day and time – based on the current 2023 City of Scandia calendar it appears Wednesday evening or Saturday morning are the ideal times. Wednesday evening – 6:30 to 7:30. Saturday morning – 9:30 to 10:30. Class title – Tai Chi for Health, AKA Tai Chi for Health and Fall Prevention, AKA Tai Chi for Arthritis. Tai Chi for Health is part of the Sun (pronounced soon) style of Tai Chi. Instructors personal qualifications - I am a certified instructor and am certified to teach the above mentioned Tai Chi, levels One and two. I was certified by Tai Chi Master Trainer Linda Ebeling who is a Master Trainer with the Tai Chi for Health Institute out of Sidney, Australia. Linda has her own Tai Chi school located in Inver Grove Heights. I was a Tai Chi practitioner for approximately 7 years prior to my recent certification as an instructor. Note: I have documents to verify my qualifications if necessary. The class will be an 8 week experience covering Tai Chi for Health 1. Participants will learn to execute all of the various movements of Tai Chi for Health 1 as well as the 6 principles that are incorporated into this form of Tai Chi. Each week we will focus on one or two of the movements and toward the end of the series we’ll also focus on breathing/movement coordination. Class fee - $45 per person with an 80/20 split between the City of Scandia and the Instructor. Question (?) – Will payment, for the class, be online and arranged by Scandia Parks and Recreation? Maximum participants = 15 Minimum = 6 Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing as well as comfortable shoes. No admission to the class after the second week. Occasional ‘drop in’ attendance will not be allowed. Health Condition Waiver – Note: participants will be asked to sign a health condition and liability waiver. Note: I will have my own personal Liability insurance. What is Tai Chi? A gentle Martial Art, moving meditation, because of the numerous health benefits it has sometimes been called moving medication. Benefits of regularly practicing Tai Chi – improves strength, improves balance, can improve mental focus, has been known to reduce the impact of chronic pain, can improve self confidence and so much more. Who recommends Tai Chi practice - medical doctors, physical therapists, rheumatologists, etc. A recent statement from the American Heart Association suggests that activities such as yoga and tai-chi may be beneficial for patients with heart failure. According to Peter M. Wayne, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director for the Osher Center of Integrative Medicine, Tai Chi produces "more vigor and energy, greater flexibility, balance and mobility, and an improved sense of well-being."