Table 2.

Participants’ Experience of the Tai Chi Program

Facilitators and Barriers to Practice
Facilitators/location:
“I don’t have a car so it would be very difficult for me to get to, you know, some place like that. So to me it’s like a marvelous thing and I, you know what more could you ask for.”  “I think that’s unbelievable and that it is in the building (residence).”
Barriers/cost:
“I was looking into different kinds of programs…to see if they had a Silver Sneaker Program. And of course, my main problem with all of it was the cost.”
Perceived physical benefits
Balance:
“I think from a practical point of view, it really helps like balancing on the subway flooring.”  “Some of us take medication that affects our balance so, that’s a super plus.”  “It helped me a lot with balance.”  “And I’ve found that my balance has increased tremendously … my legs are stronger and are more able to take the inequities (uneven sidewalk).”  “I found it a good exercise, helps with my balance.”  “Three months ago, I noticed a difference, in terms of positivity in my balance definitely.”  “I found my balance was better. My stamina—getting up and out of chairs—moving around…. Felt stronger.”
Fear of falling:
“If you compare with the last year I [Unclear] small garden outside, I was afraid they want to go on the surface, not solid. Now I just do everything smooth and nice and somehow I walk.”  “Yeah I enjoy the balance, So with this Tai Chi I find I don’t have that off balance too much… so that’s one of the best things for me that I was not afraid I’d fall.”  “I’d just like to say that the one big benefit is I am more agile or more secure as my balance is better.”  “They showed us how to walk, …, when I see uneven block or some snow or something, immediately I begin to walk this [demonstrates] and I am safe. And I learned it because of safety.”
Flexibility:
“You feel are more flexible.”  “Flexible, stronger.”
Energy:
“Once you start doing all the movements and stuff like that, it’s like you wake up, your body feels generated to go on, and then you can do something else outside.”  “It gives you that boom.”
Perceived Psychological Benefits
Positive psychological well-being:
“Calm, maybe, yeah. Happy, you know.” [after beginning meditation]  “It teaches you, you know, just relax and go with the flow and, you know, let it trickle down. And, you know, and I just enjoy it’s really—It’s very helpful, it really is, it makes you feel so much better right. I’m so happy that we got it here.”  “I think it gives me, let’s put it that way, more of a positive outlook that something can be done. Rather than just saying, “Oh, gosh I’m getting old and this is falling off, and that’s falling down. This is wrinkling up.” It’s an idea that well, yeah this is happening, but I can do something about it. There’s hope. There’s something there that can be done to counteract that.”  “When they ask me how it is, I say, “I feel great” or “I feel terrific.”
Stress, depressive symptoms reduction, and emotion regulation:
“I find that during the sessions, especially the Fridays it’s stress less—it doesn’t seem to be stress at all. The minute I go leave class, I would like the class to be longer.”  “I try to keep my temper and anger, as little as possible because I have high blood pressure also. So I have to watch myself getting angry and getting upset and having to go to the doctor and he would tell me, ‘Well your pressure’s high, what’s going on, blah blah blah’, or with any kind of depression and stuff. Now (with the Tai Chi), I don’t feel that way. Before, I use to feel like I’m holding myself very tightly, but now I don’t feel that way as much anymore. It helps everything possible in my life that I can think about and I’m glad for that.”  “I noticed when since I’ve been doing the Tai Chi I used to yell at my husband all the time [Unclear] and now I just won’t say anything, I’ll just sort of pass … at home it’s not as stressful. So it’s a lot better.”  “For me Tai Chi is more for relaxed mind and relaxed muscle, so it makes me feel comfortable.”  “Probably a little bit more tolerant (negative emotion).”
Mindfulness:
“I think you are calmer and you try to react to the people like if some people really irk you but you don’t get as pissed off as we say. No it sort of like calms you down … I mean so if you interact with people differently because, you know, want to make them feel more calm too.”  “Doing the Tai Chi it seems to take that mind away, you know, eat this, eat that, eat this, you know.”[doesn’t crave sugar as like previously]  “Yeah it’s a letting go process. It’s a letting go of anything, the negativity in life. It’s like it’s not worth it anymore, you know.”
Cognition:
“It’s great for you, mental thinking because you have to remember the movements and what not.”  “It makes you think. And remember. You have to remember.”  “I feel that my mind has changed considerably just by this process.”  “I used to feel like lightheaded, I’d be going one way and then my head is going, my thoughts going that way and but my body is going that way.”
Perceived Improvements in Social Support
“I have fun. We have fun. I think we have fun. There’s always a little laugh and a little something funny that makes you laugh, you know? So the class is fine with me, it’s fine. I just hope it doesn’t end.”  “You make that commitment and it’s very important to me to keep that commitment to the group.”  “With the other people in the group, you feel if you don’t show up, you’re letting them down.”  “And the thing is, if somebody’s sick, you wanna see if they’re okay and if you can do something for them. Because it’s like we try to take care of one another. And I think that’s really... We’ve just formed a bond with all of us and it’s wonderful.”
Self-Efficacy
“There is, for me, a definite feeling of well-being that I didn’t have before. Confidence in holding my ... My body parts are holding together without any strain. And I think that that is important for older people, it gives you confidence in moving. Otherwise you tend to tense up.”  “Elderly people tend to be kind of pushed aside we’re all, we’re not 19, we don’t have these fabulous bodies and they kind of look at us like we can’t do anything, but this has really shown us.” (the Tai Chi) … gives you a little confidence. Confidence that if you, if you’re in a balance situation, you can get yourself out of it.”  “I think after six months, we can do exercises at home as well.”  “I found my balance was better…. I was more confident.”  “I think from a practical point of view, it really helps like balancing on the subway flooring.”  “They showed us how to walk, put your feet first, then—when I see uneven block or some snow or something, immediately I begin to walk this [demonstrates]….”  “Some of the movements are so important and so easy … and convenient, everywhere we can do it. Nothing can stop us, we don’t have any excuse to stop.”  “When you brush your teeth, you can [perform the tai chi movement] pour.”