International Tai Chi Day 4/28/12
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Ju Ming, Tai Chi, Single Whip (front view),1998 bronze, St. Louis, MO
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Tai chi…might well be called ”medication in motion”.
There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice…
has value in treating or preventing many health problems.
– Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publication, May, 2009
With International Tai Chi Day coming up on April 28th, here is a reminder of why this form of exercise is so beneficial to all round good health.
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Tai Chi is possibly the only complete, full body workout that can be practiced by people of all fitness levels, from an Olympic athlete to those confined in wheelchairs and recovering from surgery.
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It requires no equipment, no special clothing or shoes, no partner, and it can be done any time of day, every day, almost anywhere in the world (even on an airplane!), in any kind of space, indoor or outdoor.
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Benefits can be felt by a complete beginner in the first lesson. There is very little potential for injury, even if the movements are performed incorrectly. There are no harmful side effects.
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Tai chi can be practiced at work. In fact, it is the ideal exercise to relax and provide a boost of energy in the middle of a stressful day at the office, without the need to change clothes or take a shower.
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Tai chi’s movements are slow and gentle, at the same time giving you muscle strength, flexibility and balance. All without making you hot or breathless!
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Scientific studies have proven that tai chi can ease many problems of aging, such as circulatory problems and lack of balance, and is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of arthritis, low bone density, heart disease, hypertension, strokes, Parkinson disease, sleep problems and depression.
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Its focus on breathing and movement makes it an exercise just as much for clarity of the mind as for fitness of the body.
International Tai Chi Day, also now known as World Healing Day, takes place this year on Saturday, April 28 at 10 am, local time world-wide. Free and open to anyone, this is the ideal time to join in a demonstration, or to observe and get a feel for why tai chi is described as perhaps ”the perfect activity for the rest of your life”.
I’d also like to remind you that US Kuo Shu Academy, in Owings Mills will be offering a free Tai Chi & Qigong Class class on Saturday, April 28th at 9 am. I have been training Tai Chi there for over 3 years now and cannot recommend them enough. The instructors and students are some of the most skilled and nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. So, if you are looking to reduce some stress in your life, want to enter a new exercise program that addresses the mind as well as the body, or just want to see what Tai Chi is all about, please take advantage of this great opportunity and tell them I sent you.
Here’s their contact info:
US Kuo Shu Academy