Shanghai Native Teaches Tai Chi Class in Clayton

Like many across the U.S., University City resident Zuleyma Tang-Martinez practices the martial-art of tai chi for health reasons.

“I thought this would be relaxing,” Tang-Martinez said. “This is often referred to as moving meditation. I also thought this would be very good exercise. It’s surprising to some, but all of the movements look gentle, but your muscles have to be tight the entire time.”

Tang-Martinez took up tai chi to help fight high blood pressure. She receives instruction at The Center of Clayton, which offers a class—called Tai Chi Chen—that is suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners, according to documentation provided by the Center.

The University City resident has practiced tai chi for more than three years.

“The meditation aspect for me has been very important,” she said. “If I just want to relax and meditate, I go through the tai chi movements in my head, and it helps me to relax.”

Tang-Martinez credits tai chi for helping her in her fight against high blood pressure. The Center's Tai-Chi classes meet once a week, and each session lasts for 75 minutes.

Tai chi developed in ancient China, according to the website of the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. The art started as a means for self-defense but later was used for health purposes. The practice of tai chi involves performing a variety of moves that include the body and breathing.

While accounts of tai chi’s origin vary, a popular legend holds that Taoist teacher Chang San-Feng developed the exercises by imitating the movements of animals, the website states. Tai chi is common in modern China, where people often practice in parks before going to work.

Those who choose to learn or practice tai chi at The Center of Clayton will be taught by an instructor who grew up in the culture where the art originated. Ming Zhu, who is from Shanghai, started practicing tai chi when she was 6, information provided by the Center states.

In 1999, she earned her certification in tai chi from the Chinese government as a professional licensed instructor. Zhu immigrated to St. Louis in 2002 and began teaching tai chi locally.

“This is a part of Chinese culture,” she said. It "also helps with balance.”

Her classes teach students 45 different moves. Mary Ann Sunderland, a resident of Ladue, is taking Zhu’s class. She started practicing more than six years ago with her husband, Thomas Wehrle. He took up the exercises because of balance problems and practiced tai chi until he was 84.

“This is something that helps with my anxiety,” Sunderland said. “I’m also not very coordinated, and it helps with that. This also gives me some quality exercise.”

Preliminary research suggests that may offer benefits beyond stress reduction, the Mayo Clinic's website states. Benefits it lists include:

• improved balance and muscle strength
• reduction of falls in older adults
• improved sleep quality
• lowered blood pressure
• improved cardiovascular fitness in older adults
• relief of chronic pain
• increased energy
• endurance and agility
• improved overall feeling of well-being