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The Wilton Senior Center has a new tai chi instructor — 40-year-old Stamford resident Joe Alampi.
Mr. Alampi, who began teaching tai chi at the Wilton Senior Center about a month ago, has been practicing the martial art for six years and teaching it for two years.
Tai chi involves a series of gentle and graceful movements, coupled with respiration coordination and deep concentration.
“The Wilton Senior Center has offered tai chi since the summer of 2006. It started with instructor Li Zhang,” said Liz Doty, the center director.
“Since 2006, we’ve had three different teachers, due to advanced study school schedules, moving or having to take another job elsewhere, but Li is the one who got us started.”
Although memorization, balancing and following along can be challenging at times, Mr. Alampi said, seniors can benefit from tai chi in a number of ways.
“Tai chi helps with balance and it helps lower blood pressure,” said Mr. Alampi, who is also a personal trainer certified by NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). “It can also help with any general stresses they may have.”
Personally, Mr. Alampi said, tai chi helps him focus, relax and sleep at night.
In addition to the Wilton Senior Center, Mr. Alampi teaches at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich and Stamford Hospital’s Tully Health Center, which is where he first learned tai chi.
Mr. Alampi said his tai chi classes at the Wilton Senior Center typically get up to 20 attendees, but he hopes to see the number grow.
There is a $3 fee for Mr. Alampi’s hour-long tai chi class each Wednesday, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Alampi may be reached by phone at 203-504-4678 or by email at joseph.alampi@gmail.com.
For questions regarding tai chi or any other classes at the Wilton Senior Center, call 203-834-6240.
Here's a video from Mr. Alampi's Feb. 25 class:
http://youtu.be/CLib1iBAHUg
Senior center welcomes new tai chi instructor
