Perth Voice Interactive

TWICE a week Phyllis Barras, 95, gets along to Perth Tai Chi Academy classes at Bethanie on the Park retirement village.

The Voice managed to squeeze in a photo shoot between the Menora resident’s regular bridge games and golfing sessions.

The academy runs the sessions at the village to help older folks maintain balance to prevent falls and also stave off arthritis and it helps the heart and lungs (a quarter of falls among older people are from poor balance).

The martial art has been getting more popular with seniors these days and there’s been so much demand the falls prevention agency Stay on Your Feet is in the midst of training the next batch of instructors on teaching tai chi for arthritis.

Ms Barras reckons the stretches and poses have helped her golf too.

by DAVID BELL