Brooksby Village specialist brings home five Tai chi medals

PEABODY-Peabody resident and Brooksby Village Fitness Specialist Lisa Kirshon recently won five medals (three golds and two silvers) at the USA Wushu Kungfu Federation National Championships held at Eastern Connecticut State University.The 49-year-old has been practicing the Chinese martial art of tai chi and sword forms, as well as chi gong, a Chinese healing art, for the past 18 years.?I began training because of ill health,” she said, noting disc pain in her lower back. “I was just kind of looking for my self-care piece.”She started her search with acupuncture and various bouts of physical therapy, but she said something was missing.?I wondered what form of exercise could I do to strengthen my own body,” she said. Her acupuncturist gave her the name of a tai chi instructor, and six months later, her pain had drastically minimized. After a year, it no longer existed.Tai chi chuan, as it is formally called, translates in English to mean grand ultimate fist, although Kirshon uses it not for fighting, but for health and wellness. She refers to it as a “form of mediation in motion.”?Chi gong,” she says, “is very user-friendly?It is the art of using your mind to control the body.”There are over 5,000 styles, all of which focus on specific breathing techniques, visual imagery, and specialized movements to cleanse the body of stagnant energy.Kirshon began teaching the arts at various hospitals and seniors centers across the North Shore, including the North Shore Medical Center?s Union Hospital and Cancer Center.?I work specifically with people in active treatment,” she said. “What a difference it makes. They cope better.”In addition to teaching, Kirshon?s remained very active in competitions across the nation. In 2000, she was named Grand Champion of the Northeast. In 2002, her growing number of gold medals named her the second highest ranked female in the U.S. for tai chi and sword forms. And, her most recent winnings at the Wushu Kungfu National Championship qualified her to be part of the Team Trials for the International Competitions in China.?One of my walls is decorated with medals and trophies, but it?s not about winning as much as it is about the idea and positive attitude that you can stay strong with age and even get stronger with this type of exercise,” she said.Kirshon currently teaches tai chi, chi gong and mediation to men and women at Brooksby Village. She?s been working at the retirement community for more than a year and says she?s gained quite the following.?It?s safe for any age, especially the senior population,” she said.Kirshon lists better posture, increased balance, and less emotional stress as just a few of the exercise?s many benefits.?They?re learning to be in the moment,” she said. “I give these people the opportunity to enjoy their healthier, active mind.”With a “daily dose of vitamin chi,” people can live longer and healthier, she said.?Truly, this is the exercise we can grow old with to stay young.”