Michael Davis has taught martial arts for 32 years, but never quite like this.
Every Thursday at 4 p.m., Davis leads about 10-12 residents of Asheville Terrace Apartments through an hour-long tai chi class. His students do their best to mimic the moves that Davis shows them, even when they’re doing it from a wheelchair.
“Each and every one of these people has a unique talent,” Davis says. “They don’t all do the same thing the same way, but they do it in their way, which makes it right.”
Sometimes called “meditation in motion,” tai chi (pronounced “tie-chee”) is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes slow, flowing movements. Rather than strength or brute force, Davis explains, tai chi emphasizes, “coordination, balance, peace of mind, awareness — and that satisfaction that you’re no longer at the bottom of the totem pole.”
Look for a full article about Davis and his class in the wellness section in next week’s Mountain Xpress.
