Balance Concerns Span Broad Age Groups and Fitness Levels
When Al Marvin retired from working in the semi-conductor industry in 2010, he quickly became bored. As an enthusiastic participant in endurance sports like cycling, triathlons and other pursuits, he attracted the interest of a friend who suggested he teach fitness classes. That made sense, so he got certified in personal training and group fitness classes and started teaching. In 2013, he was hired by Denver Parks & Recreation to teach Silver Sneakers, group exercise, tai chi and cycling. He would ask people in his classes: “What’s the main thing you want to get out of this class?” The answer from young and old said basically the same thing: “My balance isn’t great.”
That piqued his interest in using tai chi to remedy that problem. The Oregon Institute in Portland, OR was using tai chi to address balance issues. He went to Oregon to train and became one of their first instructors.
At first he helped a woman in Arvada train instructors. Then he started looking for opportunities to teach tai chi. He was immersed in studying the Yang style of tai chi for himself, but as he taught more classes at Denver Parks and Recreation, and South Suburban, incorporating some tai chi into his better balance classes, he was approached by a member of one of his classes, Judith Wilson. She has Parkinson’s and was on the board of Parkinson’s Pointe when it started five years ago. She thought he could use his better balance classes and adapt them to people with Parkinson’s.
He started teaching tai chi for Parkinson’s Pointe. “At first, Parkinson’s patients were apprehensive about tai chi. It seemed strange. But once they got into it, they saw how it helped their stability and ability to focus. Tai chi combines mind discipline with movement, improving breathing and ability to move more fluidly.”
Not only is Al able to adapt his tai chi classes to the limitations of Parkinson’s, he offers encouragement and humor, to engage people and help create community, while improving function. We’re glad he’s here!
