As sweet-spicy incense and the music of Asian flutes filled the air, eight men and women stood in a spacious Mill Street studio Thursday morning.

But only for the fleetest moment. They swept their arms down toward the floor, turned, nearly took a step, pulled up a knee, balanced, stepped back, turned, lunged.

Their arms pulled the air toward them, pushed it away, gathered it up, swept it to the ground.

Their movements appeared graceful, controlled and effortless, with one pose flowing like water into the next. But after a half-hour of warm-up and another half-hour of tai chi movements, the sounds of their labored breathing mixed with the muffled whoosh of cars outside.

At a time when daily stock market rollercoasters and economic doom and gloom seem to blanket people's spirits, some are turning to tai chi to reduce their stress and deal with some health issues.

Eileen Wheeler, teacher of the serene-seeming class and co-owner of Body Balance of Northern California, recently worked with employees of Smith Barney's regional offices on a team building retreat.

They brought her in to teach them tai chi as a way of managing the stress of their jobs.

"I think it's the breathing," Wheeler said when asked how tai chi encourages relaxation. "Slowing down and taking the time to take deep breaths, and coordinating the body's movement with that breath."

This ancient Chinese exercise, also called a meditation in motion, is modeled after the natural movements of animals. Movements have names such as Creeping Snake and Crane Spreading Wings.

Regular practice of tai chi is linked to reduced glucose levels, reduced heart rate, better circulation of the blood, more oxygen to the brain, increased brain development and even improvement with shingles, said Wheeler and student Ken Ditmore.

The Alta Sierra resident has taken the classes for three years. He's 84.

"When you're doing all those movements, you (learn to) do it automatically, and your mind's clear," Ditmore said.

The practice also improves people's strength, flexibility, ability to concentrate and awareness of the body as it moves, making it helpful for older people in maintaining health as they age and preventing falls, Wheeler said.

Wheeler and her husband, Ty Wheeler, are in their late 20s. They met in Colorado, moved to Grass Valley five years ago and opened their studio at 151 Mill St. in January.

In addition to tai chi, they offer a program of kung fu for adults and children ages 5 and up, yoga, classes in self-defense, cultural and music events, retreats and seminars. To learn more, visit www.bodybablancenc.com or call 559-2931.

To contact City Editor Trina Kleist, e-mail tkleist@theunion.com or call 477-4230.