Upcoming Events

Friday, September 6, 2013. Another beautiful day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to enjoy T'ai Chi with new friends during the bi-annual Senior Safari Day! Master Jim Holz (and assisted by senior student, Chuck Ernst) provided free instruction in Chi Kung exercises and Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan - the slow and relaxing exercise known for its ability to lower blood pressure, increase flexibility and improve balance. To learn this exercise and achieve these benefits for your body, try a class for beginners, (or enroll in a class just for Seniors) at Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan School located in Parma.

On Monday, August 5, Crooked River T’ai Chi Center was invited for a return event to demonstrate the well-known benefits of T’ai Chi practice for health and wellness. Using well publicized research showing that the practice of Tai Chi can lower blood pressure (using one of many studies: a review of 26 studies in English or Chinese published in Preventive Cardiology [Spring, 2008] in 85% of trials, tai chi lowered blood pressure – with improvements ranging from 3 to 32 mm Hg in systolic pressure and from 2 to 18 mm Hg in diastolic pressure) guests attending each of the 5 wellness demonstrations were invited to participate in our own unofficial test.

Providing blood pressure readings for Crooked River Tai Chi, Judy Paukovits, RN, recorded each guest’s blood pressure reading before each of five classes began. Guest then joined Master Holz in performing the slow and relaxing movements of T’ai Chi and Chi Kung movements (breathing exercises). At the end of classes, students had their blood pressure readings recorded a final time. At the conclusion of all classes, more than 70% of the students saw a drop in their blood pressure readings! Most notable was Pam Poveroni Conrad of Cleveland who started the class at 133/54 and experienced a drop in numbers to an impressive 113/54!!! In addition, 84.6% of the class participants experienced a drop in their pulse rate as well.

On Monday, June 10, Master Jim Holz and students of Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center will provide self-defense demonstrations utilizing Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan in addition to using ordinary items such as walking canes and umbrellas at the new ThistleDown Racino in Warrensville Heights. ThistleDown Racino and The Horseshoe Casino, are owned by Rock Ohio Caesars (Caesars Enertaiment, Las Vegas) and is sponsoring this event as a special promotion. The public is invited to attend one, or all five, 45 minute demonstrations beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. Give-aways and a chance to win 8 free T'ai Chi Ch'uan classes will be offered as part of this fun promotional event.

Congratulations to Claudia Rice of Maple Heights for winning the drawing for Eight, Free T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classes at Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan school in Parma!

Our thanks to John and Darlene Talbert (our friends and students at Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center) for assisting us with our class demonstrations and guest participation segments at this event! Thanks also, and our special White Knight Award, to David Shymske (ace mechanic and owner of Shymake's Auto Center in Parma) for coming in to work early and making an emergency repair on our vehicle's leaking gas line to get us to the event on time!

On Friday, May 31, Master Jim Holz of Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center returns to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in his third year participating in the Zoo's bi-annual Senior Safari event. Seniors (age 55 and better) recieve free admission to the Zoo and Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center will again provide free instruction in the art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan with demonstrations of the popular Yang Style, 60 movement short form; Sword Form; and various Chi Kung exercises. Demonstration times are 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. A huge thank you to our friend and student, Chuck Ernst, for helping us with the demonstrations again this year!

Joining Notheast Ohio for the Annual Shopping Rite of Spring, Crooked River T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center participated in the April, 2013 WVIZ/PBS Televised Auction. Offering a donation of over $1,000 worth of classes and items on the Feature Board, we played a small role in helping to raise an impressive $480,727 for the station this year!