Since stress is at the core of many health issues, St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center is sponsoring a free presentation on Tai Chi, which combines breathing, visualization and gentle movements to cleanse the body of tension and pressure.
 The Interactive Television (ITV) presentation is called “Tai Chi: A Gentle Yet Powerful Exercise” and is open to the public. It is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 at St. Rose in the basement-level St. Dominic Room.
 “Tai Chi’s powerful stress-management aspects have been shown to dramatically boost immune-system responses,” said Bill Douglas, presenter. “Medical research shows that most health issues are benefited from regular Tai Chi practice, and Harvard Health Publications called it ‘medication in motion.’
 “Tai Chi has been proven to increase brain size and is the best balance coordinator we know of,” Douglas continued. “It is also the lowest-impact exercise and is safe for those with arthritis; yet it burns nearly as many calories as surfing.”
 The gentle exercise has been shown to help with high blood pressure, heart disease, COPD, depression, anxiety, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and much more.
 “Tai Chi is the result of several thousand years of health research in China,” Douglas noted. “We can teach the body to move in the most effortless and powerful ways.
 “It is an excellent program for caregivers too,” Douglas elaborated. “It not only helps lower stress, anxiety and depression, it gives physical benefits to help caregivers complete their tasks with less chance of injury.”
 Those who attend the ITV presentation will be introduced to the Sitting Qigong meditative practice, Moving Qigong’s gentle movement meditative techniques and a Tai Chi short form.
 “Just come to the presentation to breathe, loosen and play,” Douglas encouraged. “You will feel wonderful when you leave.”
 Douglas is the author of the best-selling Tai Chi book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tai Chi and Qigong,” and was the 2009 inductee into the Internal Arts Hall of Fame in New York. He has been a Tai Chi source for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest and other media.
 In addition, he has been commissioned to create Tai Chi tutorials for Prevention Magazine, and was a source in its articles about the immune- system and brain-size benefits of the exercise.
 St. Rose, in cooperation with the Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA), offers these free monthly presentations that pertain not only to cancer but many other chronic illnesses as well. St. Rose is an MCA member.