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Gathered at Tai Chi Chair demonstration presented by Ron Driesbach are residents of Carroll Place that included in no particular order: Mary Lou Drinkwine, Barbara Slough, Linda Thornton, Rose Guibault. According to studies, Tai Chi in-a-chair has helped lessen tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and anxiety levels while lowering blood pressure.

On Thursday, May 27, 2010, Carroll Place, a Mercy Medical assisted living community, hosted a Tai Chi Chair demonstration presented by Ron Driesbach for its residents. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art often practiced for health reasons. Tai Chi in-a-chair studies have found this activity is appropriate for people with standing and/or balance issues and has helped lessen tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and anxiety levels while lowering blood pressure. It also has helped with lower back pain and stiffness according to APA Journal of Psychosomatic Research and the Journal of Bodywork and Movement therapies.

Ron Driesbach, age 75, is a retired Naval officer and public school teacher. He studied Mandarin Chinese in the Navy and as part of that instruction was exposed to the Chinese culture. He began the study of Yang style Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) in 1990 and has been practicing and teaching this centuries-old form of exercise for the past 20 years. Ron teaches classes in styles of Tai Chi in Fairhope and Foley to students of all ages. He incorporates qigong in his instruction. Qigong is literally translated as "exercise of the breath" and has become an adjunct to traditional Chinese medicine. He is a believer in the benefits of Tai Chi and qigong as part of a wellness program for all seniors.

Driesbach explains each movement and the Chinese word for the movement.
More than 22 residents enthusiastically participated and enjoyed this new form of exercise. “Tai Chi is such a very graceful type of exercise and the Asian music that accompanied the class, added to its aesthetics. The deep breathing gave us a burst of energy to start our day,” explained Bea Crane, a Carroll Place resident.

Carroll Place, one of Mercy Medical’s assisted living communities, is located in Fairhope at 50 Spring Run Road. For more information, please call 251-928-5555 or go online at mercymedical.com/CarrollPlace.