There, every Monday morning, Sylvia Rawlins, known to friends, colleagues and students as “Silky Stone,’’ gathers her pupils for a 90-minute session of tai chi.

For that one-and-a-half-hours, only deep breathing and slow movement matter. The class participants, mostly seniors, have left stress and minor aches and pains behind, to take in the benefits of an ancient Chinese practice that many Asians accept as a natural part of their lives and is slowly becoming better known and more appreciated in this country.

“In China, whole families do it together before breakfast. It’s a normal part of the day and children grow up accepting it,’’ said Rawlins, who was born in the Philippines 52 years ago and came to the United States in 2002.

“I met a guy,’’ she said, by way of explanation. They are now married and live in Westampton with their son.

A martial arts artist, body-builder, author, actress and personal trainer, the instructor said that deep breathing is central to the practice of tai chi. “It is the main control for everything,’’ she said.

Her professional name was chosen in part to reflect the two sides of tai chi, soft and fluid, on the one hand, strong and focused on the other. “That’s why I chose Silky Stone,’’ she said, noting that tai chi is closely related to martial arts.

“As we age, we aim for a softer approach, one that the young may find too slow or boring,’’ Rawlins said, listing some of tai chi’s many benefits, improved balance and flexibility, reduced inflammation, lower blood pressure and deeper sleep, among them.

One of her students said he was barely able to walk when he started the class two years ago. “I shuffled,’’ said Art Bauman, who gave his age as “over 80.’’

Hoping to avoid surgery for the knee pain that was tormenting him, the Mansfield resident decided to try tai chi. “I needed to build up my strength, increase flexibility and reduce stress,’’ he said. “Now, I can get up from a chair and walk down the street. It’s a miracle.’’

A swimmer with chronic back pain, Cecilia Penna, 60, also joined the class two years ago and has noticed a lessening of tension. “The deep breathing has really helped,’’ the Mount Laurel resident said.

A relative newcomer, Evesham’s Joe Speight, 76, started the class seven weeks ago and noticed a difference in how he felt the first day, a reaction that does not surprise the instructor.

The class is part of the Y’s group exercise program and, according to Jessica Revere, Marketing and Communications Manager, will be free to members until the end of the current session in mid-December.