Saturday, May 4, 2019

NTDonChina

Published on May 3, 2013

An oasis of tranquility in the heart of New York City,

this is World Tai Chi Day.

Richard Jesaitis, Tai Chi Master, NYC Tai Chi Day Organizer:

"At 10 o'clock in the morning at every spot in the world

where people do tai chi, they get out and they execute their

basic slow form. So it starts in Australia and it snakes around

and it ends in Hawaii. And we are one of the largest events

in North America here in Central Park. This is our 10th year."

This slow-moving exercise, originally from China,

has brought health and well being to millions across the world.

Jesaitis has practiced tai chi for 42 years.

Richard Jesaitis:

"When it's done correctly, the body almost feels like it's

floating because the mind communicates with the energy

and the energy moves the body, rather than the

mind communicating with the muscles and

the muscles move the body."

This energy, in Chinese, is known as qi. Tai chi is believed to

open up the body's natural energy channels and store qi

in an energy field in the abdomen, known as the dan tian.

This energy greatly benefits the tai chi practitioner's health,

but also has other uses.

"Tai chi originally is a very strong martial art. Most people

don't go past the basic slow form, which is good for health

and well being, but if you study it under a master who knows

the forms, you can master the self-defense aspects,

the aggressive aspects, plus all the weapons,

the swords, sticks, and sabers."

In addition to practicing the slow form and self-defense

routines, a tai chi practitioner needs to build up their

internal energy through other exercises.

Longfei Yang, NTD Martial Arts Competition Judge:

"Our internal power is (developed) through cultivation,

through standing exercises, or meditation, to help the body

to relax and all work in one. They call this internal strength

(nei jing). You develop nei jing from the dan tian."

youtube.com/watch?v=21l3xmRHwno

Tai Chi Crossroads