Tai Chi Thrive

“We should do this more often,” was the general feeling expressed as about fifty Tai Chi and Qi Gong practitioners enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air in Petaluma’s Lucchesi Park On Saturday, April 27.  Some obviously were experiencing the joy of practicing the forms in the great outdoors for the first time, and it is truly an awesome feeling.  For a day that had begun with a slight drizzle, warmth rose from the grass, and the sky became bright blue by 10:00 a.m.

As we raised our arms toward heaven, a song from childhood flooded my mind:  “God’s beautiful world… I love God’s beautiful world.  He made it for you; He made it for me.  I love God’s beautiful world.”

One World, One Breath – World Tai Chi Day came into being several years ago when a large group gathered at the end of April to celebrate Tai Chi.  The idea spread, and now the last Saturday in April – preferably at 10:00 a.m. – honors the many benefits of Tai Chi.  It circles the globe starting in the earliest time zones of New Zealand, continuing through  Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, ending in Hawaii at the close of the day, joining the world as one breath.

Tai chi is an activity often referred to as being suitable for all ages. Is it really? My experience answers with a very strong YES! The youngest practitioner I’ve taught came to me when he was five years old. He said he wanted to begin classes, so I started to tell him all about Kung Fu as that is what most children his age practiced. He stopped me. “I don’t want to take Kung Fu,” he said, and I was thinking, “Why is he here?” He let me know right away; “I want to take Tai Chi,” he asserted, and I was delighted.

Spanning the age range 100 years is a dear lady who celebrated her 105th birthday in December. She comes every week to practice with her group. When she isn’t exercising, you might find her working a crossword puzzle or enjoying a little parakeet who likes to sit on her shoulder..

Tai Chi or Qi Gong for all ages? That about covers it.

The first Health Qi Gong Coach Training Program sponsored by China Health Qi Gong  Association in the USA was hosted by Master Li Shu Dong, president of USA Health Qi Gong Federation at his studio in Cupertino.   The course, held June 12, 13, and 14,  met six hours each day.  Two excellent professors from Beijing University, Masters Liu, Yuping and Song, Weixiu led the sessions.  As our goal was to become certified at National Coach Level, the program was intense and demanding with testing at the close of the last day.  The four Health Qi Gong Forms – Ba Duan Jin, Wu Qin Xi, Yi Jin Jing, and Liu Zi Jue –  chosen and being taught world-wide by China’s Health Qi Gong Association, were all taught during those three days, and each participant could choose which form or forms to be tested on.  I decided to try all four, thinking to give myself better odds, and was very pleased to be certified in all four.

Another beautiful day, another delightful gathering as fifty plus Tai Chi and Qi Gong practitioners shared their various forms in Cotati’s lovely La Plaza Park on World Tai Chi Day.  Bob Flannery’s group that practices there each Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. was first on the scene, and others soon followed.   

Everyone joined us in our head-to-toe warmup, Ba Duan Jin Qi Gong, and 24 Movement Yang Tai Chi – which they insisted we repeat three times.  Bob then led us through some of his warmups, Qi Gong, and parts of their Tai Chi Form.  We followed Juliette, who teaches Qi Gong,  and relaxed into  gentle movements as we enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine and the refreshing breeze.  This special  time came to a close with a stunning Tai Chi Fan performance by Maggie Mackey who also teaches Tai Chi and Qi Gong.

The joy of being together, meeting new people, and experiencing different forms is a pleasant memory we carry with us and hope there will be more such occasions.