Medical power behind Tai Chi
By Mathews Kasanda in Beijing, China:
Taiji, mostly pronounced as Tai Chi, which is practiced by Chinese people, is believed to be more than just an art as it is a “perfect physical practice with a number health benefits”.
According to the Master of Traditional Chen Family Taigiquan, Yang Songquan, who is a Tai Chi teacher and has practiced traditional Tai Chi for 66 years, the practice is a combination of sports medicine, philosophy and martial art.
Over the past weekend, he engaged journalists from African countries including Malawi and from the Caribbean region whom he taught basic Tai Chi lessons to share with them the benefits.
The exercise is believed to have powers to nourish kidneys, spleen, lungs, heart and the liver resulting in better mental and physical health for ages and “a very effective method for long life and anti-aging”.
Yang stated that despite Taiji having its origins in China, it can be practiced by every person across the world to be healthy and happy.
“Tai Chi embodies the culture… Practicing Tai Chi is the true essence of the culture, it is really an amazing thing that we have in the world. In the ancient times, it was kept as a secret in families.
“So it is a treasure that we can now have the opportunity to learn from the teachers,” he said adding that there are five types of Taiji.
According to him, Taiji was listed on the Unesco Intangible Heritage in 2020.
After introduction to some Taiji lessons, a journalist from Burundi, Claude Hakizimana, was convinced that Tai Chi moves could really improve one’s life in several aspects.
“It is like someone is doing sports, it really helps in life, it [the lesson] was very interesting,” Hakizimana said.
Tai Chi is very common in Chinese action moves which has penetrated most African countries and has endured for decades.
The journalists are being oriented in several aspects of Chinese culture for them to have a better understanding of the Chinese people.
On Monday, they were introduced to Chinese language and have already visited some of the country’s historic places.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
