Celebrating T'ai Chi on the Miramichi
by Kellie Underhill
Seventy per cent of all doctors' visits are stress related.
Practicing T'ai Chi and Qi Gong not only reduces stress and lowers anxiety,
depression, and fatigue; but it also minimizes the effects of chronic conditions such as allergies and asthma, improves breathing
capacity and can lower high blood pressure, boost the immune system and slow the aging process.
Some people aren't aware of the health benefits of T'ai Chi and Qi Gong.
Still more people aren't aware they can study these ancient arts right here on the river.
Dave Bucklow has been teaching T'ai Chi, Qi Gong and Aikido for about
a dozen years.
T'ai Chi and Qi Gong improve balance and coordination TWICE as effectively
as other balance training. They improve postural control, while stretching, toning and relaxing the body in a cumulative way
that no other exercise can achieve.
T'ai Chi is probably the lowest weight bearing exercise, and modified
forms can be suitable even for arthritis sufferers. T'ai Chi has been recommended as therapy for chronic pain, AIDS, arthritis,
insomnia, asthma, high blood pressure, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, fibromyalgia and any psychosomatic illness. T'ai Chi
and Qi Gong are accessible to practically everyone.
Aikido and T'ai Chi are two different arts.
"Most people look at T'ai Chi as a health benefit, but it is a full martial
art," Dave says. "Aikido is a gentle art. Most martial arts are competitive but there's no competition in Aikido, it's more
spiritual than competitive. So, as 'The Gentle Art of Self-Defence' it complements the Martial side of Tai Chi very well."
"Qi Gong is a method of building energy," Dave adds. "It's breathing
and self-healing, balancing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being."
Dave begins his classes with Qi Gong and then moves into T'ai Chi, so
students essentially learn two arts for the price of one.
Every year, on the last Saturday of April, at 10 am the world breathes
together in a T'ai Chi & Qi Gong relay of calm and peace that spreads throughout the Earth - time zone by time zone. This
is World T'ai Chi & Qi Gong Day, where the entire planet has the opportunity to promote healing and harmony.
Groups around the world gather in public parks or the lawns of public
buildings at 10 am local time to exhibit T'ai Chi & Qi Gong to the world.
World T'ai Chi & Qi Gong Day launched in 1999. Dave was one of the first people to get involved.
"It was started by a gentleman called Bill Douglas," Dave says. "When
he started it, there was only his club. He thought this could be something good if it got onto the Internet. And I was one
of the first people that noticed it."
In fact, one of the four purposes of the event is, "to provide a mighty
example of how the emerging power of the Internet can be used to promote world cooperation and health."
Most of the event organizing is done via the Internet through the
website at www.worldtaichiday.org. "T'ai Chi & Qi Gong are about personal empowerment and the Internet is a powerful enabler."
"The first year, which was only four years ago, about eight clubs contacted
the website and said they would do it and join in this wonderful thing," Dave recalls. "So, from there it's gone from eight
clubs in three countries to 700 clubs in 54 countries."
Since the most recent event held a couple of weeks ago, the number of
clubs involved has risen to 800.
"Wow," Dave exclaims. "That's 100 more, in less than a month."
The Internet is credited for most of this rapid growth.
"It's been a very useful tool for this particular type of recruitment
and it's worked out extremely well," Dave says. "So, there are over a hundred thousand people around the world participating
in this particular activity and the intention is to bring peace and health and harmony around the world."
The other purposes for staging this historic event are to educate the
world of the profound implications T'ai Chi & Qi Gong can offer our personal, social and world health; to thank Chinese
culture for providing this powerful health science to the world; and to improve world relations by joining T'ai Chi &
Qi Gong practitioners around the world on this day, to promote and celebrate a healthier world.
Dave's new sessions in T'ai Chi, Qi Gong and Aikido will
start next winter. For more information about these classes or World T'ai Chi and Qi Gong Day email Dave at dbucklow@msn.com or visit Dave's webpage on Mighty Miramichi.
Kellie Underhill is the editor of Bread 'n Molasses.
Her writing credits include The Moncton Times-Transcript, The Brunswick Business Journal, The Atlantic Chamber Journal and
The Reader magazine. Send comments about this article to editor@breadnmolasses.com.
