Clinton Recreation and Parks Department staff are closing in on teaching a Tai Chi class at the Bellamy Center. Although it is currently not offered, Jonathan Allen, director of the Recreation and Parks Department, said plans are in the works to make it a reality.
Open for all ages, the Tai Chi class looks to draw in anyone looking to learn a form of martial arts, and will be taught by Tracy Davis and Angela Faircloth. Faircloth has had experience teaching a similar program at the Center for Health and Wellness in Clinton, Allen noted.
The class is a joint effort with Mid-Carolina Health Services and will be open to all ages, though it is particularly good for senior citizens.
The popularity of a yoga class at the Recreation Department, which has drawn a growing number of people eager to participate in that form of exercise, sparked the idea for the Tai Chi offering. With the success of that class, Allen said he thinks Tai Chi can bring in even more people, particularly since a martial arts class is generally hard to find.
“We feel like a Tai Chi class will complement the yoga class really well.” Allen stressed.
“What we are here to do, as a department, in the city and in our community, is to increase health,” he continued, “so anyone that is looking at increasing their exercise level and becoming healthier, that is our ideal customer.”
Age does not make a difference when it comes to this class, and staff at the Recreation Department would be thrilled to have the community’s support, the rec director attested.
“We want them to come on out and learn Tai Chi,” he said.
Allen believes that he and the rest of his crew are prepared to put in the time it takes to get the classes up and running and garner enough support to continue those classes.
“The yoga class started with around five people, and it continually grew.” Allen said.
He is hoping the Tai Chi class receives the same constant growth seen with the yoga class, up to 25 people in only a matter of time.
Allen pointed out that he is not interested in making a profit off the upcoming class, but is more concerned about people exercising and becoming healthier.
“This is more of a health-based-program, with my concern more about helping the community get healthier and creating healthier lifestyles than making any sort of profit,” he stressed.