Cloud Hands, Grasp Bird’s Tail, Serpent in the Grass, Embracing the Tiger, Part Wild Horse’s Mane — those are the lyrical names of tai chi movements that Lucille Lo Chun performs with fluid, deliberate grace.

“Tai chi is often called meditation in motion because it’s seen as a slow, gentle dance,” said the 72-year-old Chun, who has been teaching the exercise for 11 years. “It developed in China centuries ago as a martial art. At first glance, tai chi doesn’t seem very active, but it is: You’re active on a higher level because your mind must be alert. Moving slowly is difficult; it requires suppleness, endurance, muscle strength and intense concentration.”

Chun and her husband, Dr. Kenneal Chun, 73, a retired physician, began delving into tai chi in 1997. Their son, Dr. Leslie Chun (vice president, medical staff services/chief quality officer at The Queen’s Medical Center), had completed a four-month stint as a guest lecturer at Kunming Medical University in China’s Yunnan Province that year. While there, he discovered tai chi, and when he returned home he encouraged his parents to try it.

Lucille Lo Chun and Kenneal Chun had heard of tai chi but had never seen it being practiced. Interest piqued after listening to their son’s experiences and watching his routines. They tried unsuccessfully to find classes on Oahu at that time.

So, Kenneal Chun began watching videos and reading books, periodicals and online articles to learn the basics as he continued his busy medical practice. He had taken kung fu lessons in his youth and saw similarities between that and tai chi.

When Lucille Lo Chun retired from teaching elementary school in 2002, she enrolled in a class at Kapaolono Community Park in Kaimuki that was taught by tai chi master Wu Licheng. Kenneal Chun joined her for weekly private lessons with him for five years. When Wu retired in 2007, he asked Lucille Lo Chun to take over as the instructor for his Department of Parks and Recreation classes and she was honored. The Chuns launched their website, everydaytaichi.org, two years later.

“The name EveryDay Tai Chi is meaningful,” she said. “We teach tai chi to everyday people who want to be at their optimum health and fitness. We ourselves are everyday people who would like to help as many people as we can enjoy the benefits of tai chi. And we believe that tai chi should be practiced every day; it should be a way of life.”

Today, they teach more than 100 students of all ethnicities and walks of life. Most are seniors; a few are in their mid 90s. Some are visitors who came across their website. And they have a dedicated following of students around the world (including Iran, Greece, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Malaysia) who are learning tai chi via their online videos.

Lucille Lo Chun is the primary instructor. Kenneal Chun is in charge of videotaping the classes, but he also teaches a segment in which he talks about how the art form employs movements for self-defense without weapons.

Being able to achieve correct posture and body alignment to maintain balance is one of the key elements of performing tai chi well. It offers numerous health benefits: It can boost energy; build strength and flexibility; and improve circulation, balance, coordination and agility. It is a low-impact exercise that is easy on joints and muscles. Some studies have shown it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

No equipment is required, maneuvers can be adapted to any fitness level and they can be done indoors or outdoors, solo or with a group.

There are also many mental and spiritual rewards. “Tai chi has given Ken and me a sense of peace, calm and relaxation,” Lucille Lo Chun said. “It has helped us to clear our minds, do things methodically and release negative thoughts and feelings. It has sharpened our awareness about people and our surroundings. It has helped us to live in the present.”

Chun has given tai chi presentations to church, college, community, corporate and senior citizen groups.

“I have a hard time saying no to people who ask me to speak to their organization,” she said. “I made teaching tai chi my mission because it strengthens body, mind and spirit; it contributes to total well-being. I know of no other exercise that is as powerful as tai chi.”