T'ai Chi -- Anywhere and Everywhere You Are
by Annis Cassells
Ever since we learned even a little bit of T'ai Chi,
one thing that has delighted my partner Judy and me is to practice in interesting and diverse spots in the world. That includes several continents and numerous countries and states with scenery that provides beautiful backdrops and vistas.
Our initial introduction to T'ai Chi was on a tour of China. Loose on the streets of Shanghai that first morning, Judy and I were drawn to a park where there were scores of people practicing T'ai Chi. The multi-age group moved with such grace and beauty. A gentleman who we'd met on the walkway encouraged us, and we became part of the group, trying to follow along. From then on, we observed numerous instances of "regular people" doing their morning T'ai Chi. Our tiny bus passed a beauty salon where all the operators, dressed in their pink uniforms and white aprons, gathered on the street before work and performed their daily T'ai Chi. Later in the tour, there were lessons offered in the crowded lounge of the boat that floated us up the Yangtze River which piqued our interest even more.
When we returned home and learned about T'ai Chi lessons in Bakersfield, we were truly hooked! Through instruction and practice, we learned how the slow, graceful, weight-shifting movements of T'ai Chi improve flexibility, balance, and strength. I felt more sure-footed when on uneven terrain, and I discovered that practicing T'ai Chi helped me eliminate stress and refreshed me while improving my inner balance as well as my physical balance.
Traveling, as we regularly do, by car or motorcycle calls for periodoc stops to stretch or walk. These breaks often include a section of the Yang Long Form under the open sky at a highway rest stop.
We find that practicing T'ai Chi in "exotic" places provides fond memories while boosting physical acuity. At the equator in Kenya, Africa, we drew a crowd of fellow travelers.
In the Amazon of Peru, we practiced under the thatched roof of the hammock house while the rest of our crew relaxed in their hammocks at siesta time.
And, on the grounds of the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, we accompanied bronze sculptures with our artful T'ai Chi poses.
No matter where in the world a T'ai Chi interlude takes place, the benefits abound -- for the onlookers as well as for the players. Tell us about the unusual or "exotic" spots where you have taken the opportunity to incorporate T'ai Chi into the scenery and bind it to the memory of those places.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Note from Webmaster: Well, folks, there's a challenge! Send in your descriptions of "exotic" places you've done Tai Chi, with or without a picture. To get the ball rolling, your webmaster has practiced Tai Chi in France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Spain, Hawaii, and a few other states. How about you? Email to Tai.Chi.Federation.of.Kern.County@gmail.com ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------