This Saturday at 10 a.m., 50 nations and 600 cities will holdevents with the intention to re-focus the public's mind on healingmethods.
The event is known as World Healing Day and will be held inMemphis at Shelby Farms, picnic area five. The event will untilnoon and be hosted by the Wushu Tai Chi School.
"Last year the event was held at Rhodes College," said seniorNicholas Cupples, an e-commerce major. "It was a good turn out ofTai Chi practitioners."
Cupples has practiced Tai Chi for several years now and willgive a demonstration at this year's event.
Tai Chi can be translated from Chinese characters as "supremeultimate." This notion is often associated with the Chinese conceptof the yin and yang, the notion of dynamic duality (male/female,dark/light). In the West, Tai Chi is practiced as a form ofmeditation through movement.
"Tai Chi at its core is a martial arts practice," Cupples said."It's creating a unison of mind and body that generates a sense oftranquility. This sense of tranquility stays with you through yourdaily life and also has many health benefits."
Unlike hard styles like Karate and Kung Fu, Cupples said Tai Chiis a soft style and is almost like a slow motion Kung Fu. There arefour main styles of Tai Chi: Chen, Wu, Sun and Yang.
"The theme is healing," Cupples said. "It is designed to healyou, make you healthier and strengthen your immune system. It's agreat form of exercise."
Cupples said there should also be several yoga instructors atthe event teaching mini-workshops.
In addition to World Tai Chi Day and World Yoga Day, WorldHealing Day is a celebration for energy and meditation, massagetherapy, prayer for healing, natural health therapies, earthcultures healing, environmental healing, animal rights and organicagriculture.
"Demonstrations will be given by different schools, and we willhave different groups all practicing at the same time," Cupplessaid. "At the end, people will gather around the leaders, and theywill talk about what it is all about."
Bill Douglas, author of the best selling book "The CompleteIdiot's Guide to Tai Chi and Qigong," formed world Healing Day in2003. Douglas has written on global health and healing issuesworldwide.
University of Memphis Sophomore Mason Chumpia, biology andchemistry major, said he is looking forward to attending Saturday'sevents.
"I took a yoga class here at The University last spring,"Chumpia said. "I had it first thing in the morning, and it relaxedme for the entire day. This event sounds interesting, and I'mcurious to know more about it."
Chumpia's interest could stem further than just the eventSaturday. Cupples said this summer there will be a Tai Chi courseavailable for students to take.
"Tai Chi is an important art form practiced on the other side ofthe world," Cupples said. "It's good to learn about other cultures.The benefits are educational and valuable. This Saturday's event isa great opportunity for someone who does not know much about TaiChi to come out and learn what it's all about."
