Tai chi at CEOC's food pantry!

Today, we hosted a tai chi class for pantry patrons who had arrived early to wait for the food pantry. This kicked off what will be a bi-weekly offering (weather permitting) for neighbors as they wait in line for the pantry. In our shady back yard, Ellen DeGenova guided us through gentle movement and mindfulness to de-stress and unwind before the pantry opened. It was a huge hit! And we even had our staff providing interpretation in Amharic and Haitian Creole.

We are living in stressful times, and community members need opportunities to de-stress and move their bodies in ways that feel peaceful and good to them. Tai chi can improve balance, flexibility, and strength, all of which are important components of physical activity. It is also a mindful activity and can teach people about mindful and meditative breathing which has very positive effects on stress reduction. Because tai chi is a gentle form of exercise, its suitable for a wide variety of populations and is an exercise format that can be practiced at home or outside with no equipment.

We got a lot of positive feedback from the community members who participated and we're excited to make this a recurring offering during the summer!