Parkinson's group starts Tai Chi class at Sussex Family YMCA

The Sussex County Parkinson's Education and Support Group recently started a Tai Chi class for people with movement disorders at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach. The class meets weekly from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. Anyone with any form of movement disorder is welcome to join the class. There is no charge for the use of the facilities, but a collection is taken up to help the Parkinson's Support Group defray the cost of the instructors. Tai Chi has been shown to be an excellent way for people with Parkinson's to improve their balance.

The class was an outcome of a visit by members of the YMCA staff to the Jan. 7 meeting of the Parkinson's Support Group.  Terry Rasberry, executive director; Lauri Weeks, aquatic director; and Daniel Meloy, fitness director, attended the meeting and presented an overview of the YMCA's many programs.

The Tai Chi trainers are from the Silver Lotus Training Institute in Lewes. They are Susan Hamadock, senior trainer; and Martrise Jones and Joyce Houston, assistants.