World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
by Dave Bucklow

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day (WTCQD) was celebrated this year on Saturday the 24^th of April. The event has grown astronomically and now has more than 1100 clubs in over 60 nations participating.

On that Saturday we all became part of a global tai chi movement, entwining people across racial, ethnic, and geopolitical boundaries to celebrate health and healing. Something our planet is hungry for.

Although millions will be affected by WTCQD 2004 by reading about it in newspapers, and seeing it on television screens . . . for the participants, something more profound occurred even than that.

We globally "breathed together."

Most Tai Chi teachers have experienced the amazing shift that occurs when a class of Tai Chi players gets to the point where they begin to "breathe together." The feeling of it is so effortless, synchronised, and you know that health benefits are felt by all.

On that Saturday a web across our planet "breathed together." It was great being a part of it.

Here on the Miramichi River it was a great success, with the number of participants growing to more than double last year.

Northumberland/ Miramichi Tai Chi & Aikido Club has participated in this worldwide event for the last five years, and this year we enjoyed the company of Joanne Despres, Instructor for the Rogersville Club. Joanne hopes to have the Rogersville Club primed to participate in next year’s event, thereby including Rogersville in this worldwide event.

Dr. Tony Tann and his wife Yvette arrived after the photo shoot, so are not seen in our photo taken again at Ritchie Wharf. Here on the Miramichi we wish this event was later in the year, as April is always a cold month, but it was designed to coincide with World Heath Week, and this year coincided with World Earth Day too. Still every one enjoyed the day’s activity, followed by ‘Brunch’ in the Goody Shop.

The Health benefits of Tai Chi are now being embraced by the Arthritis side of the Medical profession, with articles to be found in the Spring edition of ‘Rheumatology News’, and by the Arthritis Society too. So, find a club close to you and begin enjoying the health of Tai Chi for yourself, and we will double the numbers again for next years WTC&QGDay.

Dave Bucklow teaches Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Aikido. For more information about local classes or World Tai Chi Day visit his website.