The senior citizens in Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital's tai chi class moved slowly in one accord to the sounds of the Asian music playing in the background.

One motion, called "repulse the monkey," looked like what some people would describe as "talk to the hand."

Participants were doing anything but talking as they moved during Wednesday's class, which is an ancient Chinese program that combines movement, slow deep breathing and meditation. Instead, there was the sound of gentle breathing.

"Squats increase flexibility in the knees. The closer your feet are together, the more difficult it is," tai chi teacher Sam Smith said. "Face relaxed. Breathing is natural. Center chest. Straighten whole spine. Whole body balanced, not too hard, not too soft."

The tai chi class is one of a few offered in the "Health to You" program, which was originally called "Senior Friends."

"There was a stigma against the concept of 'senior,' so it was renamed H2U," said Alan Palmer, Greenview's director of marketing, public relations, volunteers and H2U. "Instead of setting back in your golden years, this encourages you to be active and educated about health and what you can do about it. It is geared toward the baby boomers, someone in their retirement years but not ready to go into an assistant living facility."

Located at 1320 Andrea St., the center is home to H2U activities, which include line dancing, exercise classes, yoga, monthly arts and crafts, games, including bingo, book clubs and a couple of day trips each year. There are 400 members. Some activities, including the trips and exercise classes, have an additional fee.

"We keep it as low as possible, and the hospital subsidizes it." Palmer said. "We think it builds loyalty to the hospital."

The annual H2U fee is $20, which goes to the main office in Nashville. Members receive a newsletter and magazine. There are monthly health screenings the first Tuesday of each month that test blood pressure, PSA for prostate cancer, glucose and lipid profile, which includes cholesterol, triglycerides, coronary risk factors and HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Participants must fast for eight hours before the screenings.

"That test alone covers the cost of the membership," Palmer said.

The program often has events in which part of the proceeds go to H2U scholarships, which are awarded to the children of Greenview employees and volunteers who are entering the healthcare field. "Since 2005, we have given more than $25,000, most of it to (Western Kentucky University)," Palmer said. "They are all undergraduate scholarships."

Lois Schwitzgebel and Jessie Starkey, both of Bowling Green, have been involved with H2U's tai chi class for several years.

"It's strengthening, deep breathing, gives you good balance -- exactly what we need for this time of our lives," Schwitzgebel said. "When you're doing it, you use your muscles."

Starkey agrees.

"Most of us are 60 and older. It's good for our minds by concentrating on the movements. All worries go out the window," she said. "You look like you're not doing much, but you're doing a lot."

H2U and its programs are good ways to forge friendships. "A lot of us didn't know each other before started, but we all have become friends," Starkey said.

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