One world, one breath – World Tai Chi Day

By New Worker correspondent

FOR NEARLY two decades, a quiet, subtle phenomenon has grown across the planet. Each year, on the last Saturday of April, in hundreds of cities in over 80 nations, spanning six continents, World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events have been held.

In Charlton, south-east London, people from many different groups gathered last Saturday to practice tai chi together in the open air in different styles and to celebrate Chinese culture.

In addition to the tai chi there was Chinese food, a Chinese tea ceremony, a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy, Chinese music and of course a Chinese dragon, who took part in an enactment of a Chinese traditional fairy story.

The event attracted attention from many people who happened to be passing through the park at the back of Charlton House, and one or two toddlers were inspired to join in with the tai chi exercises for a while.

Advanced practitioners held onlookers spellbound with dramatic sword exercises, backed with dramatic Chinese music.

No comments:

Partying for our Paper

Andy Brooks taking the collection

by New Worker correspondent

Comrades and friends travelled to Charlton on Saturday 24th September for the Metropolitan NCP Cell and Supporters’ Group annual garden party in south London. This has been a regular feature in London Party life for more years than many of us can remember. As usual, the table was loaded with good food made by one of our local Charlton comrades and there were plenty of soft drinks, beer and cider to wash it all down with. No New Worker event ends without an appeal for the fighting fund. This time NCP leader Andy Brooks was tasked with taking the collection, which raised £190 for our communist weekly!