Jardena Green: an 18-year old healer

Jardena Green teaches Therapeutic Tai Chi for Health

It was 6:30 pm on a Monday in late November, 2009. The weather was slightly chilly. Situated in north St. Louis, Sullivan Place is a well-maintained, gated senior community for independent living. In the lounge, several seniors waited for their teacher.

Jardena Green, an 18-year old Taichi instructor arrived on time and greeted each of her students with kindness. Jackie Saunders, a 74-year old great grandmother, was excited to share her latest medical exam report with Jardena and others. Jackie has been on dialysis for over a year and half; her doctor told her that morning that she was making progress and doing well.

Since it was just after Thanksgiving, students were still chatting about their holiday. Jardena softly asked them to form a circle to start the class. She worked with the group on the simplified Silk Reeling and Chi Gong during the warm-ups. She included additional shoulder rotation to help them loosening up. She constantly reminded them to sink (the body), go slow, straighten body, smoothly shift body weight and breathe slowly. It was amazing to see Jeanette Saunders standing up from her wheelchair after ten minutes of warm-ups. The second part of the class was Therapeutic Tai Chi for Health. With clear verbal instruction and lead, the seniors followed her well.

Jardena demos a movement

Jardena’s father Gordon Green is an Aikido master and friend of Taichi Shifu Justin Meehan. Four years ago, Miss Green watched Shifu Meehan practicing Taichi. She was fascinated and asked him to teach her. Moved by this tender request, Justin has generously provided free lessons to her. Jardena did not disappoint Shifu Meehan. She studies hard. In two consecutive years (2008 and 2009), she won the national title of female heavy weight Push-hangs gold medals in the 10th and 11th Annual Chinese International Kung Fu Championship in Orlando, Florida. She was showcased in the prestigious Tai Chi Magazine and other news media.

When Sullivan Place asked Shifu Meehan to conduct a Taichi/Chi Gong program there, Shifu Meehan suggested adopting Therapeutic Tai Chi for Health and recommended Jardena for the teaching position. Therapeutic Tai Chi for Health is a simplified Hun Yuan Chen Taiji, excluding leg lifts, sudden force movements, lower stances, and others types of martial art movements. It also includes Taoist Chi-Gong. The Therapeutic Tai Chi for Health is designed by Master Meehan and Shawn Tucker, a physical therapist and Taichi instructor. The Sullivan’s Taichi program consists of two one-hour classes per week.
 

Master Justin Meehan and Jardena Green

After the class, I interviewed some students. They all love Jardena and her class. “She is very professional”, said Edna. She also added that Jardena’s instruction is comprehensible and easy to follow.” Jackie Davis commented that Miss Green is very knowledgeable.

Mr. Morris was in the Navy and his arms used to get numb and uncomfortable. The problem kept him awake at night. Taichi makes him feel better and he now can sleep through the night. Mrs. Morris said that Taichi helps her balance and improves her mood. Cathy, who is wheelchair-bound, appreciates the strength Taichi brings her arms. Alexis Sleet, who has arthritis in shoulders, commented that Taichi is invigorating; with slow breathing, it feels very soothing. Another Jeannette, in a yellow shirt, did not detect any health change but she proclaimed that practicing Taichi makes her feel so good.