'A moment of calm to guide your day': Tai-chi classes offered to key workers in Limerick

COVID-19 is thankfully now firmly in the rear view mirror, the final restrictions lifted more than four years ago.

But a Limerick woman has not forgotten the tremendous work done by emergency workers during the pandemic - and indeed still do to this day.

Lucy O’Sullivan is set to work alongside local businesses to fundraise in order to provide free tai chi classes to frontline workers like nurses, doctors, teachers, doctors, cleaners, paramedics and firefighters.

The Corbally woman, who describes herself as an “evangelist” when it comes to the martial art, said: “This is a pet project of mine. The amount of people who had to go to work under very frightening circumstances - our society would have collapsed without them. I want to see if I can do something to say ‘thank you’ to them.”

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Known in China as ‘taijiquan’, tai chi is a martial art created more than 350 years ago.

It combines deep breathing, movements and exercises, with the hope this increases and balances energy flow.

Doing tai chi is seen by respected health bodies as helping people improve their balance, reduce their falls, and manage any muscular issues they may have.

From left to right, limbering up: Corbally woman Lucy O'Sullivan, class organiser, Joe Ahern, Farranshone, Cecilia Neher, North Circular Road, Niall O Floinn, tai chi instructor, Cash Madden, city centre, Joe Ryan, Westbury and Máire Keary, Dooradoyle (Picture: Adrian Butler)

Lucy has appointed Clonmel man Niall O Floinn, who has practiced tai chi for 32 years, to start classes in Limerick, each Monday morning in St John’s Pavilion at William Street in the city centre.

“It’s like a bridge exercise where it is gentle enough where even if you had something like fibromyalgia or Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis or bad arthritis, you could start. It reduces inflammation and common pain. People who have a fear of falling or are inactive find they can participate. It’s a great way to get their cardiovascular system working,” explains Niall, who also works with the Irish Heart Foundation to provide classes.

In parallel with classes for emergency service workers, he is offering sessions each Monday at 11am in the city centre.

“It’s one hour over a 10 week term. There is no physical fitness required to start tai chi. But there are huge benefits. A lot of people are curious to try it out,” he said.

One of those taking part is Ballysimon Road man Ger Fitzgibbon.

He said: “I’m doing it for health and fitness, and to stretch my limbs. To basically try and make myself fit for old age! I think it’s fantastic. It’s another way for people to get out and about, get to know each other and get in exercise to allow them to get healthy.”

For Lucy, tai chi gave her connection during the lonely period of Covid-19.

It was something to look forward to when restrictions eased slightly, and she was able to take part in socially distanced, reduced-size classes before numbers gradually grew again as life returned to normal.

“There were 22 people who died in my surrounding area. Parents of friends. It was a really, really frightening time. There seemed to be no end to it,” she said.

“We were able to do our tai chi classes in town when restrictions had lifted. Without them, I would have gone completely round the bend. It gave me focus during the week. It took your mind off the fright going on in the world.”

She says tai chi is good for people who perhaps might feel uncomfortable doing other exercises.

“I couldn’t go to a gym. I’m not a gym person. I’m not great in swimming pools. But I can come into a studio like this. We are so fortunate to have St John’s Pavilion, and Mary Immaculate College where we are doing other classes. They are incredible rooms, beautiful wooden floors,” Lucy added.

“I feel like an evangelist really, but I wouldn’t promote this only I know the difference it has made to me. It’s fantastic. You don’t have to have any level of fitness to do this, whereas I think if you go to a gym, people might be self-conscious. Or if you get into a pool, you might think, ‘oh God, I don’t want people to see me in a pair of swimming togs. But you’ll go into this room with track-suit bottoms and a normal T-shirt, and start throwing shapes!”

In the first place, Lucy travelled out of Limerick to attend tai chi classes with Niall.

She could not find anything in her home city, which is why she worked to bring the Galway-based coach to Shannonside.

She said: “I love Limerick city with a passion. I don’t want to live anywhere else, only Limerick. When you look up tai chi, you saw classes in centres like Ennis, Clonmel and Killkenny. I thought - well, Limerick should have one as well.”

In the modern world, where we are constantly on the go, and have sensory overload in a lot of cases, Lucy believes tai chi classes can take the edge off things, providing a moment of calm in the day.

“We have incredibly unhealthy lifestyles now. We are not made to sit for eight hours a day. We are not made to sit in a car and get stressed out of our brains. What happens is, I think people start to rely on artificial stimulants, like nicotine, caffeine and maybe harder stuff. You can get away with it for a bit in your 20s, but by God, by the time you’re in your mid-30s and 40s, your body starts to show signs of neglect.”

Lucy said she has had people come to her unable to stand up, or indeed lie down and sleep at night.

“People really are struggling. Tai chi has helped me. If it can do that to me, it can surely help other people.”

For information on the tai chi classes in Limerick, visit the website www.chentaichiireland.com or call 087 0524085.