Peter Feng teaches a tai chi class at the Los Altos Senior Center. He practices a form of the traditional Chinese exercise that features slow, continuous movements, with the head always upright.

Peter Feng, a tai chi instructor at the Los Altos Senior Center, attests to the multiple benefits of this traditional, centuries-old Chinese form of exercise.

“It is a whole-body exercise. It rests your mind. You get rid of all your worries,” said Feng, currently teaching a class with 22 students. “This sort of exercise is a great

benefit for American seniors.”

There are several different styles of tai chi. Feng teaches a simplified form of the Yang style, which involves 24 movements. These all have names, such as “wild horse shakes its mane” (hold imaginary ball, step out and spread arms) and “white crane cools its wings”

(cross wrists, then open arms).

Considered among the most commonly practiced styles, Yang movements are slow and continuous, with hands loose and unclenched. The head is consistently upright.

Feng, who teaches the Los Altos class with May Ou, said he practices tai chi twice a day. “You feel very comfortable after 20-30 minutes,” he said. “Tai chi makes your joints flexible and limbers up your legs and arms. It keeps your body upright.”

He added the exercise is good for people suffering from high blood pressure, asthma and obesity.

“American seniors are very enthusiastic

in learning it,” Feng observed, and added even those with limited movement can

practice it. He pointed to one student confined to a chair who still practices hand movements.

Feng, a native of China who lives part time in Los Altos, said he started teaching in 1998 when he made a deal with a friend: He would teach his friend tai chi if his friend taught him how to play tennis.

“Now I play tennis,” he said with a laugh.

The current session of Feng’s tai chi classes ends in July. For more information on this and other senior center activities, call the center at 947-2797.