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广 告 • 文 化 // CULTURE /<br />
EVENT INFORMATION<br />
LEARN<br />
TAI CHI!<br />
By Shinyway 新 通 Chinese Language School<br />
Tai Chi ( 太 极 tài jí ) is an ancient Chinese ‘internal’ or ‘soft’ martial art often<br />
practised for its health-giving and spiritual benefits; it is non-competitive,<br />
gentle, and generally slow-paced. By increasing strength, flexibility, body<br />
awareness, and mental concentration, Chinese people believe that tai chi can<br />
improve your health.<br />
While there are many complicated and skilled tai chi forms, here are some you can try out by yourself.<br />
Root yourself<br />
One of the concepts of tai<br />
chi is ‘rooting’. It's fairly selfexplanatory:<br />
imagine roots<br />
growing out from underneath<br />
your feet. You are a part of the<br />
ground, never losing balance,<br />
focus, or your centring. Your<br />
limbs sway like branches in the<br />
wind, never hesitating for fear or<br />
apprehension. You are rooted.<br />
This does not mean you or your<br />
legs are stiff - quite the opposite<br />
- just imagine roots under you,<br />
a part of you, allowing you for<br />
freedom of movement because<br />
you cannot fall, you cannot fail,<br />
and you will always be a part of<br />
the natural world.<br />
Practice ‘pouring’<br />
You simply stand with your feet<br />
on the floor, parallel, shoulderwidth<br />
apart. Then you 'pour'<br />
your weight onto one leg and<br />
hold; after a few breaths in and<br />
out, you begin slowly pouring<br />
your weight onto the other leg<br />
and holding. Do this for a few<br />
minutes, clearing your mind<br />
and becoming aware of your<br />
balance.<br />
Do arm circles<br />
With your elbows out in front<br />
of you and your wrists relaxed,<br />
begin your arm circles. Start<br />
at the first level, making slow<br />
circles with your fingers, then<br />
your wrists, then your forearms,<br />
and then through your shoulder.<br />
Try to keep perfect, unmoving<br />
balance in your core at all times.<br />
While there may be helpful<br />
study guides, it is simply<br />
impossible to learn from a book<br />
or video. A video can’t correct<br />
your form, and professional<br />
correction is important to a<br />
beginner. If you want to take<br />
a bite of tai chi and try to<br />
understand how these old<br />
Chinese people feel when they<br />
perform tai chi in the park every<br />
early morning, don’t miss this<br />
tai chi experience event in <strong>May</strong>!<br />
Time: 10:00–12:00,<br />
Saturday 18th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Location: West Lake<br />
Cultural Square (next to<br />
the Grand Canal)<br />
Meeting place: 1F,<br />
Metro Business Building,<br />
611 North Zhongshan<br />
Road (right next to Line<br />
1 West Lake Cultural<br />
Square Metro Station<br />
Exit B).<br />
Meeting time: 9:45<br />
Early bird ticket: 99 RMB<br />
(sign up before 10th<br />
<strong>May</strong>)<br />
Contact: chinese@<br />
shinyway.com.cn<br />
What you’ll learn from<br />
the event:<br />
In the activity, you’ll<br />
learn and practice two<br />
core training methods:<br />
the first being taolu (solo<br />
‘forms’), a slow sequence<br />
of movements which<br />
emphasise a straight<br />
spine, abdominal<br />
breathing and a natural<br />
range of motion; the<br />
second being different<br />
styles of tuishou<br />
(‘pushing hands’) for<br />
training movement<br />
principles of the form<br />
with a partner and in a<br />
more practical manner.<br />
For more information about<br />
survival Chinese expressions,<br />
HSK preparation, online Chinese<br />
character program, Chinese<br />
cultural activities and Chinese<br />
corner, please scan the QR Code.<br />
redstarhangzhou.com 23
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