Ray, 85 – The Bionic Tai Chi Guy

Meet Raymond Sol aka “Ray the Tai Chi Guy,” one of the 2026 Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes. He’ll be sharing updates on his fitness journey through the rest of this year. From not getting picked for the team as a kid, to forging his own fitness paths, and overcoming a series of life-threatening health setbacks – Ray has embraced the practice of tai chi, and now runs a thriving business teaching people of all ages that it’s never too late to improve your wellness.

“You’ve been selected to be a 2026 Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete.”

It’s kind of unreal how those words resonated with me, and how I longed to hear them when I was younger. Growing up after WWII in the late 1940s, I was a skinny little guy about 4’8” (maybe) and about 70-80 pounds. Running around the side streets of Chicago, or going over to my grade school’s playground, was a chance to play with the other guys. Touch football or some 4-on-4 basketball were the activities then. “Okay, let’s pick sides!” Unfortunately for me, nobody picked me. “Too small…not fast enough,” were the words I heard mumbled. So, I watched from the sidelines. And then I went home – next time, maybe…

Finding My Lane

Fast forward to high school and the chance to play “big time” sports. Lane Technical High School had over 8,000 students, all boys. So, I tried out for the swim team. I was going to be another “Tarzan” racing through the water! Unfortunately, the coach thought I was too small to be a swimmer and put me on the fancy diving team. Damn! Okay, so now it was up to me to win or not. I was part of the team, but in my own event.

I realized that being in an individual event required me to work hard, and not depend on others to help me across the winner’s line.

So, as a freshman, I dove in. And, in trying my best, I won the city championship in Fancy Diving! I even had my picture in the Chicago newspapers. That’s when I realized that being in an individual event required me to work hard, and not depend on others to help me across the winner’s line. After that, I tried running track and won the city championships in both the half mile and mile events. I was a “big guy” at 5’ and 104 pounds when I graduated in 1958, and I had a working scholarship award for college.

From Recovery to Rejuvenation

Fast forward with me once more – about 40 years forward this time. In early 2000, I suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism attack. After a period of recovery, I learned tai chi to help me exercise my body and mind, and started hiking to build stamina. I eventually began teaching tai chi for the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden and later became an adjunct professor at Paradise Valley Community College.

My physical challenges did not stop there. After surviving multiple prostate operations, pneumonia, and valley fever, and spending three months in the hospital, I organized, planned, and lead a Rim-to-Rim hike in the Grand Canyon. The following year, I lead a second, six-day, Rim-to-Rim hike – to show it was not a fluke!

Breathing In, Branching Out

At the age of 75, I started a health and wellness consulting business. Tai Chi Body Balance LLC has been in business ever since, offering group and private tai chi classes. In 2019, I started teaching at Arizona State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. During the pandemic in 2020, I created and designed Zoom tai chi classes for Arizona State and Penn State Universities. I am still teaching these classes and have won several Zoom teaching awards from ASU.

“Stayin’ Alive” with Plans to Thrive

Today, my life theme or philosophy is “To add years to my life, and life to my years.”

I am known as “The Tai Chi Guy” but I’ve also called myself the “Bionic Guy” after having total knee replacements in both legs (2015 & 2018). And then open heart surgery in 2023 to replace my aortic valve. And then lens replacements in both eyes (2025). Did I mention I wear hearing aids too?

Today, my life theme or philosophy is “To add years to my life, and life to my years.” My theme song is “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees! My life goals are:

1. Live as healthy as I can until I die
2. Live to 100
3. Then live to 120 and beyond

The healthy lifestyle practices I currently pursue are:

1. Exercise several routines daily
2. Do relaxation exercises daily
3. Sleep 7 to 8 hours daily
4. Eat a vegan nutritional diet daily
5. Maintain social interactions with family and friends daily

Join Me for Tai Chi

Currently, I teach tai chi five days a week, and I’m very much looking forward to teaching a short tai chi form during my two virtual presentations for Senior Planet in July and August. Mark your calendars for July 15 and August 19 at 1:30pm EDT, and stay tuned to seniorplanet.org/fitness as these dates draw near!

This is an exercise class with no “hocus pocus” stuff. No special clothes or shoes are required, and we will never get down on the floor. The movements are slow and designed to gently move every muscle and joint in the body, with an emphasis on improving balance, stability, flexibility, strength, relaxation, and stress relief – got all that?

The benefits of tai chi come with time and practice. Take it from me – people are never too old to improve their health and wellness.

In need of a little motivation to get moving? Join our daily health and wellness programs, stay tuned to the latest news and articles from SeniorPlanet.org by signing up for The Orbit weekly newsletter, and follow us on social media (Facebook | YouTube | Instagram) to get to know these awe-inspiring athletes. You might just find a new love for fitness along the way!

 

Images courtesy of Raymond Sol