GREENFIELD — T’ai Chi is known for its sychronistic, flowing movements, and both those aspects will be on display at Greenfield Community College, and around the world today.
Starting in New Zealand at 10 a.m., hundreds of thousands of people around the globe will gather to practice the ancient martial art for World T’ai Chi Day, each at the same time in their own time zone. The result is a wave effect that will circumnavigate the globe.
When the wave reaches Greenfield, students from J.R. Roy Martial Arts Studio on Osgood Street will begin their exercises near the East Building at Greenfield Community College, and invite anyone and everyone to join them.
Sensei Jeff Chaisson will lead the group through exercises in Qigong, basic movements in Push-Hands, standing meditation and the Tai Chi form.
T’ai Chi is considered to impart a variety of health benefits to its practitioners, and has become popular among seniors due to its gentle, low-impact movements, said J. Richard Roy, the school’s owner.
“While the individual health benefits of practicing T’ai Chi are great, World T’ai Chi Day reminds us about the community health benefits as well,” said Roy. “T’ai Chi uses the principles of Yin (soft) energy and Yang (hard) energy, and works to create an internal and external balance between them. This balance is worked toward not only in the movements of T’ai Chi, but in everyday life as well. I believe this makes the practice of T’ai Chi a tool for building a healthier, more balanced local and global community.”
No experience is needed to join in. Donations to DIAL/SELF, a local youth advocacy organization, will be accepted at the event.