Find time for Tai Chi in Penarth (From Penarth Times)

Find time for Tai Chi in Penarth

4:40pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News

AN average of 25 people went to Alexandra Park in Penarth for the recent early morning Tai Chi sessions, now in their 6th year.

Not even the rain could stop people, and one morning they were under the shelter for half the session before dashing outside as the clouds cleared. The turn-out and enthusiasm to give this way of exercising a go, given the conditions, was impressive.

What is this way of exercising? Well, it is both gentle and powerful - contradictions in terms, but quite possible to achieve. In the Qigong (chi - energy, gong- exercise) a movement is repeated slowly, enabling each student to feel how their own body can adapt and apply without forcing or straining for results. Patience, humour, strength and confidence can then be built up over time.

There must be something in this method as thousands of people use it, and it has lasted the test of time, as its early roots are reported from 13th century China.

New classes are running in the daytime at Glyndwr Community Hall on Mondays at 10.30am, and in the evenings at Albert Rd Methodist Church Hall, starting Thursday, September 20 at 6.30pm. Go along and try it out.

For more information call Rising Phoenix Tai Chi on 029 2020 6042 or visit www.shibashi.com