Whitehill town councillor Adeel Shah visited a tai chi class at Whitehill Village Hall.

He was joined by the chairman of East Hampshire District Council, Cllr James Fryer, plus the mayor of Whitehill, Cllr Catherine Clark, and the mayor of Alton, Cllr Annette Eyre.

Cllr Eyre is a regular participant in instructor Sue Kelly’s classes. She and the other councillors wanted to witness the positive impact of Alton Community Association’s adult learning classes.

The class comprises participants of all ages and skill levels, showcasing the ancient Chinese practice renowned for promoting physical health, mental clarity and relaxation.

Tai chi has a positive impact on balance and is used for stroke recovery and fall prevention. The added benefit is the class can be performed standing or seated, or a combination of both.

An Alton Community Association spokesperson said: “We believe wholeheartedly in community learning which embraces activities that nurture both the body and mind.

“Programmes like this are vital for supporting our communities’ overall well-being, both their physical and mental health.”

Participants also had the opportunity to share their experiences with Cllr Shah, expressing how tai chi helps improve their balance, flexibility and stress management.

Tutor Sue said: “I’m passionate about the practice of tai chi and believe it is for everyone. It’s wonderful to see so many people coming together to learn and take part.

“Having Cllr Shah here today gave us the opportunity to demonstrate how amazing tai chi is at promoting health and well-being."

The tai chi class is part of Alton Community Association’s leisure learning programme, which includes classes in Alton, Bordon, Liss and Alresford in a diverse array of subjects including yoga, fitness, French, Italian, Spanish, art, crafts and wellness.

For more information on the courses call 01420 85057 or email [email protected]