And, Ikeda thankfully says, it did.

"I used to have discomfort all the time," said Ikeda, a retired housewife, and one of the participants at the Tai Chi For Arthritis program at the Iwilei Training Center, across from the Dole Cannery 18 theaters. "Now there's no pain. I can walk at a good pace. It helped my fluidity of movement."

Although geared for people with arthritis, the Tai Chi For Arthritis program caters to other participants who do not have the crippling disease. The program offers a low-impact exercise aimed at improving strength, balance, posture and flexibility.

The program is endorsed by Hawai'i's Arthritis Foundation, and is taught by certified instructor Jerry Punzal. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and cost $4 per one-hour session.

Most participants are women, and many of them have some form of arthritis, ranging from hand stiffness to more severe afflictions that prevent them from standing for long periods of time, Punzal said.

"A lot of them say they don't have arthritis, but many of them do," Punzal said. "Some people, if they can't stand for a long time, we have them perform the movements in a sitting position."

Tai chi emerged sometime between the 1300s and 1600s in China, according to the Arthritis Foundation's Web site, Arthritis Today. Some researchers believe the practice was developed by monks, while others believe it was started by a retired general. Its roots are in martial arts, but tai chi movements are never aggressive, the Web site said.

Tai chi is designed to exercise the body, mind and spirit. As participants perform the movements, they softly work muscles, focus concentration and improve the flow of qi, the energy that sustains health and calms the mind, the Web site said. Qi is pronounced chee and is often spelled chi.

The Tai Chi for Arthritis program was originated by Dr. Paul Lam of Sydney, Australia, who began practicing tai chi nearly 30 years ago after developing a form of arthritis.

Tai chi can be practiced indoors or outdoors. At the Institute for Zen Studies in Iwilei, classes are taught in an air-conditioned, carpeted room for participants who need a comfortable temperature and a soft surface. Punzal said at-risk participants should consult a doctor before joining the class.

Ikeda said she has tried other exercises, but found that tai chi suits her best.

"I took yoga and I got myself in a pickle," Ikeda said. "So that's why I'm doing tai chi. I enjoy it because it's a form of meditation for me."

Karen Hare, of Kalihi, said tai chi is easy to learn. She's attended about four months of classes and appears comfortable doing the movements.

"There's a lot of repetition," Hare said. "That's what makes it easy for us. (Punzal) fine tunes it; he corrects us when we do something wrong."

Hare said tai chi helps her release tension that accumulates throughout the day.

"It's a stress reliever," said Hare, who works as a financial analyst at Pearl Harbor. "The moves and everything, when you're doing it, you don't think about anything. It's calming."

Lynn Mattos, of Kalihi, said she feels more energetic following the one-hour tai chi class.

"You're not tired afterwards," Mattos said. "(Punzal) always says, 'you look so tired,' when we come here. When we leave, we're fine. We're not as tired."