BRUSH PRAIRIE RESIDENT Jill Ross started practicing tai chi in 2010 after having a spinal fusion surgery in 2008. She enjoyed tai chi so much that in 2012 she participated in training to become certified for the Sun Style Tai Chi for Arthritis program. Since then, she has become certified to teach several different tai chi classes.
JILL ROSS TEACHES one of her tai chi classes at Glenwood Place Senior Living, 5500 NE 82nd Ave., Vancouver, on Mondays and Thursdays, 4-5 p.m.
After having a spinal fusion surgery in 2008, 52-year-old Brush Prairie resident Jill Ross had a difficult time finding an exercise she could do. She began practicing tai chi in 2010.
“I had been doing pool therapy, but needed something land based,” Ross said. “When I found tai chi, it was a perfect fit. The slow movements exercised all of my muscles and joints without overstressing anything. I felt both relaxed and energized at the end of the very first session.”
Ross enjoyed practicing tai chi so much that in 2012 she participated in training to become certified for the Sun Style Tai Chi for Arthritis program. Since then, she has become certified to teach Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance (a Yang style designed to help seniors) and Tai Chi for Energy (which combines both the Chen and Sun styles). Ross also teaches an intermediate level Sun style for more advanced students and is learning the Yang style 24 form to add to her repertoire.
Ross said tai chi is an excellent exercise for seniors and said that even though the Tai Chi for Arthritis program and the Tai Chi for Better Balance are designed for specific issues, they are good for both issues.
“Tai chi is good for arthritis because the slow gentle movements exercise all the joints,” Ross said. “Dr. Paul Lam, a practicing physician in Australia and tai chi master, developed the program along with the Arthritis Foundation. He began practicing tai chi after being diagnosed with arthritis as a young man.”
The Tai Chi for Better Balance program was designed and tested by a team of researchers at the Oregon Research Institute to improve balance and physical function in an effort to reduce falls among seniors.
Aside from helping arthritis and balance, Ross said tai chi has been shown to reduce stress, reduce pain, lower blood pressure and help with people dealing with Parkinson’s, diabetes, fibromyalgia, stroke and more.
“I have friends and students with all of these challenges,” Ross said. “In addition, some have bad knees or shoulders or other joints. One friend, and fellow instructor, could barely walk and with time and practice is doing great.”
One of Ross’ students who has Parkinson’s recently wrote her a letter detailing the improvement she has seen while taking one of Ross’ tai chi classes. The letter explained that before attending these classes, the student’s balance was so poor that she was afraid she would fall in the shower, and she didn’t walk for exercise for fear of falling on the sidewalk. When she walked, her left arm simply hung without moving. However, the tai chi class, in conjunction with the Parkinson’s exercise class and pole walking, have all made a huge difference for her.
“During my last neurology appointment the doctor was very pleased with my walking because both arms swung like they should and I did not walk with a shuffle as do so many Parkinson’s patients, but rather with a normal gait and bounce,” the student wrote. “I think the tai chi class and the exercise classes reinforce each other through different approaches. The balance and walking improvements I experienced as a direct result of these classes have given me back the freedom to enjoy walking again. Tai chi and the exercise classes really do work.”
The one-hour tai chi classes that Ross instructs meet once or twice a week and are designed to be relaxing and enjoyable. Each class session includes warm-up exercises, lesson and practice movements and cool-down exercises. No previous tai chi experience is necessary and the moves can be done sitting or standing. No special clothes or shoes are required, but loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes are recommended. Ross said class sizes vary; she has had more than 50 people attend and as few as two.
Ross offers her tai chi classes at several different locations: Cascade Athletic Club, 16096 SE 15th St., Vancouver, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Glenwood Place Senior Living, 5500 NE 82nd Ave., Vancouver, Mondays and Thursdays, 4-5 p.m.; Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver, Tuesdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m.; The Quarry Senior Living, 415 SE 177th Ave., Vancouver, Tuesdays, 2:45-3:45 p.m.; Battle Ground Baptist Church, 1110 NW 6th Ave., Battle Ground, Mondays, 9:30-11 a.m.; and Clark College Community Education, Columbia Tech Center, 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, Saturdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
For the class that she offers at Battle Ground Baptist Church, Ross is a SilverSneakers FLEX Program instructor. The FLEX Program is designed to attract members who typically don’t visit a gym or fitness center or need more variety, ease of access or a different customer experience. The program aims to engage members by leveraging SilverSneakers classes and activities such as tai chi, yoga and walking groups at venues throughout the community. FLEX is also offered through several Medicare health plans at no additional cost to patients.
People not involved with SilverSneakers can still attend any of Ross’ classes, she is only a FLEX instructor at Battle Ground Baptist Church. The regular cost for Ross’ tai chi classes depend on the facility.
Ross has lived in the Brush Prairie area since 1998 and has two grown daughters, one of whom is working on a master’s degree in child and family counseling and the other is a CPA with a large accounting firm. Ross said some of her other interests include singing and reading mysteries.
Anyone interested in participating in a tai chi class with Ross can contact her at (360) 909-2604. For more information on SilverSneakers, visit www.silversneakers.com.
