World
Tai Chi & Qigong Day
April 26, 2025
TAI CHI Spotlight
Flashback: World Tai Chi Day 2009
A Tai-Chi Story
Almost twenty years ago Tai Chi helped heal a compression fracture in my spine that had crippled me for three years.
I was sold.
I inhaled everything “Tai Chi” and after four years of intense study under the ridged tutelage of my master, Doug Armstrong, I began to teach Tai Chi.
My students felt the peace and well being while moving slowly thru the long form.
It began to set the stage for their healing, physical and emotional.
It rebalanced their minds, and smiles would erupt after an attempt at the Shoot the Tiger or Figure 8 punch.
Soon after, Master Armstrong asked if I would participate in WTCQD held by Earl Musset in Carson City/Minden.
I had never heard of WTCQD.
Historically, World Tai Chi and Qigong Day had a ragged and not well defined beginning back in the Midwest about 1995.
Social media was burgeoning and barely used by more than universities and computer geeks.
But with the tenacity and persistence of purpose, Bill and Angela Douglas, pounded away on their keyboards creating the most comprehensive online accumulation of Tai Chi resources in the country.
After twenty five years, they have effectively shared medical reports, antidotal stories, and first person accounts of healing using Tai Chi all around the world.
Their website has become the major online resource for books, journals, t-shirts, medical articles, photographs, and first person documentation exalting the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong.
We met with our class on a chilly late April Saturday with Earl’s group. He had coordinated a program of events, martial arts presentations and Tai Chi demonstrations and instructions.
For one hour, our community did its part to spread good energy through our time zone.
With Tai Chi organizations, clubs, classes starting at the same time across all the globes time zones, we effectively spread calming and peaceful energy around the world for 24 hours.
World Tai Chi and Qigong has captured the souls of all who not only participated but also observed. There is no doubt how the energy passes through us all, invigorating and healing.
WTCQD repeats annually and has grown throughout every part of the world, proving its value in just the sheer volume of numbers.
Ahhhh, peace.
The world is overrun by stress, anger, depression, fatigue, and fear. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day gives us the opportunity to offer a small effort to spread peace and well being everywhere.
Slowly, WTCQD adds a small piece, then another small piece until it incorporated the entire globe.
One can only close their eyes, meditating upon the fresh air and stimulating the energy to settle the sense of peace around us all.