Members El Paso, TX Local 51 and their families are benefiting from weekly Tai Chi classes offered through the El Paso Fire Department Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Following the advice of an EAP counselor, Local 51 President Joe Tellez agreed to try an introductory class at the Texas School of Tai Chi and Healing operated by Sifu Ray Abeyta, himself a former fire fighter. “I was non-stop stressed out,” says Tellez. “I needed to find a way to reduce stress.”

He was immediately hooked. “It’s helped me calm down and handle stress in a positive way,” says Tellez. Abeyta, who comes from a family of boxers and street fighters and learned his martial arts skills from his father, was delighted to introduce Tai Chi to the more than 870 employees of the El Paso Fire Department.

Abeyta has held orientations about Tai Chi at all 35 fire stations in El Paso to encourage Local 51 members to participate in classes held two times a week at the union hall. He is now the official Tai Chi instructor for the El Paso Fire Department. He says, “I am proud to be involved in this project. I know Tai Chi can help these men and women become better fire fighters.”

So, what exactly is Tai Chi? According to written history, Tai Chi dates back nearly 500 years ago to the end of the Ming Dynasty in Henan province. It is a hybrid of many different styles of martial arts combined with the Chinese medical theory of “jingluo” (energy channels), “daoyin” (leading and guiding energy) and “tu-na” (Taoist breathing techniques). Today, it is the most practiced martial art in the world, although few use it as a fighting art. “Most use Tai Chi as a means of strengthening the body, mind and spirit,” says Abeyta.

In addition to stress-relieving benefits, Tellez says he’s experienced physical improvements as well. “The martial arts aspect has made my body stronger and improved my posture and balance,” he explains. “On the job, I’ve learned to use body mechanics, not just brute force, which reduces the risk for injury.”

Tellez adds that management has also been extremely supportive of the program. “It’s a much better way to relieve stress than turning to alcohol or other more harmful behaviors, so the city is 100 percent behind this.”