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The top photo depicts Zibin Guo, left, teaching a tai chi chuan class for veterans pre-COVID. The bottom screenshot shows a snippet of a virtual Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi for Veterans training course which Guo developed and implemented as a way to help healthcare providers comply with COVID safety standards while still providing this service to disabled veterans.
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FALL 2021
risis creates opportunity. That is one of Zibin Guo’s principles, and it’s a cornerstone of the Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi for Veterans program he runs. Guo, a UC Foundation professor of medical anthropology in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Social, Cultural and Justice Studies, says the program is part of his academic quest to redefine disability by utilizing ancient wisdom to help modern people deal with contemporary challenges. Funded by the Adaptive Sports Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the program integrates deep breathing with the gentle, flowing movements of tai chi chuan, a martial art known for its health benefits and meditation. It is ideal for veterans with physical or emotional difficulties that limit mobility.
