Margaret Lewis got things going for seniors at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, starting the first Tai Chi class, knitting group and square dancing classes about 15 or 20 years ago.
“It all started with Margaret Lewis,” says Donna MacDonald.
MacDonald, who was one of the original group practicing Tai Chi before it became popular has been doing this every week for 13 years. She says Margaret Lewis, who will be 81 this summer, isn’t at the center anymore, but her legacy, this group of faithful practitioners of Tai Chi (and knitters, and dancers) remains.
MacDonald retired after 33 years at Verizon and now works part-time, but she always makes time for Tai Chi, where she enjoys the inclusive camaraderie.
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Mount Vernon Recreation Center at 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria
Other activities for seniors at the center include Knitting Club, and a social night on Fridays at 6:30, where those over 55 can come to hear speakers, play games, and meet others. For seniors who aren’t able to walk, there are classes of Chair Tai Chi in other centers. See http://Alexandriava…">Alexandriava.gov/Aging for a full list of programs for seniors in the area.
Robert Tsukayama, who worked for 40 years for the State Department and lived all over the world, has been coming for 6 or 7 years. Indicative of the relaxed atmosphere and social aspect of the class, the conversation turns to Vietnam, where he served just before the U.S. pulled out, and he recounts a story about the famous “LBJ” (Long Binh Jail) where U.S. Army soldiers spent many a day for misdemeanors committed while serving in South Vietnam. Carol Norman, who was with the National Education Association before retirement, said she now makes Tai Chi part of her daily routine: instead of getting out of bed and going straight for coffee and email, she puts it all off until she establishes her focus and gets integrated with Tai Chi. She talks about Tai Chi as though it’s an old friend: “It’s not the Tango, it’s not cheerleading, it’s the whole body: think … Swan. When you are there, you can’t think of anything but the moves.”
But they all agree one of the best parts of the class is getting together and talking about anything and everything, and they laugh easily and often. They usually sit and “let the words come” to clear the room for meditative movement. All of them are retired now, all of them once lived by lists and sat at desks. Now, at least once a week on Thursday afternoons at 2:30, they reach gracefully into the air for “Chi.” The class is free, and they are always happy to see new faces.