Jing jing Jackson

Imagine coming across a gentle form of exercise that helps maintaining strength, flexibility and balance. Something you could do both indoors and out, alone or in company, and don’t need any special clothing or equipment for. Something that could be done quickly or slowly, sitting or standing, and was low impact yet warmed the body and for those in the diabetes community, lowered blood glucose.

 Tai Chi is both the perfect activity for the rest of your life. According to Harvard Health Publishing ( the consumer health information division of the medical school ), Tai Chi is a mind-body practice that has value in treating or preventing many health problems. It is often described as a meditation on motion but Harvard refers to it as a “medication in motion”

Studies have been done to investigate the effects of Tai Chi on type 2 diabetes. In 2024 findings showed that Tai Chi demonstrates a significant effect to enhance glycaemic control. Lower blood pressure, improve serum lipid profiles. Reduce insulin resistance positively influence obesity related indices and improve quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes

TAI CHI IN AOTEAROA

In New Zealand Tai Ch is popular particularly with older Kiwis as it is a recommended exercise for strengthening leg and core muscles in order to prevent falls. You can find links to Tai Chi and other mobility classes on ACC’s website.

The Tai Chi for Health Institute was founded by family physician Dr Paul Lam in 1974. Dr Lam took up Tai Chi to control his arthritis.

He found it helped this as well as his general health, so he designed a series of programmes such as Tai Chi for arthritis and Tai Chi for diabetes. He has produced instructional materials to make Tai Chi easy and enjoyable to learn and investigate further to train to teach his specialist Tai Chi forms.

A GREATER SENCE OF CALM

Jingjing Jackson was never going to avoid meeting up with Tai Chi. Originally from Guangxi in Southwest China she started her Tai Chi journey at age 11 with Kunga Fu and in her 20s onto the Tai Chi path, training under a lay monk from Wudang Mountain, home of the famous complex of Taoist temples and monasteries

She moved to Otautahi in November 2023 from Nelson.

Adapted from the Winter 2025 edition of the Diabetes Wellness Magazine

and has been extremely proactive teaching for the public and running workshops for beginners, experienced tai chi practitioners and instructors.

She has organised over twenty workshops since she has been here.

I contacted her in May 2024 to see if she would play a part in the South Island Tai Chi and QiQong Festival which was held on the 12 October in and her performance was impecable

She was asked in a recent interview for the Diabetes Wellness magazine, what she thinks about the modified forms taught to help various health conditions as was originated by Dr Paul Lam and she believes that any combination of the Tai Chi postures can help

“With one sequence you can have everything, including your happiness, you just need to do tai chi. It has been historically developed in such a holistic way. It’s so smart.

I have enjoyed working with Jingjing since she has been with us and found her to be a vibrant, and passionate  advocate for Tai Chi and admired by her peers. She is moving back to Nelson in November.

Mike Penter

October 2025