World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Celebrated in Israel

On Friday, dozens of teachers and students of various martial arts schools gathered in Jerusalem's Wohl Rose Park to celebrate World Tai Chi & Qigong Day.

These ancient Chinese practices for body and mind attract both fitness fans and spiritual seekers.

Marek Wajsman, who has been practicing for over 26 years, organized the event in Jerusalem.

[Marek Wajsman, Tai Chi, Aikido and Qigong Teacher]:

"In the whole world it is an amazing event, I do it every year. It's just people from all over the world, every year, at the same time, gathering together, doing some exercise, some simple movement. It is not necessary to get very complicated in this very sophisticated world. We can just stand under a tree and do a few stretches, a few soft movements, feel good and start the day."

According to a Harvard Medical Health Publication, practicing Tai Chi brings many health benefits.

[Dr. Dani Kahn, Clinical Psychologist]:

"These days more and more people are seeing articles come out, more and more research papers from very reputable Western medicine demonstrating how the Tai Chi forms and the Tai chi workouts are extremely good for balance and blood pressure and for general health. Something about this very ancient Chinese system seems to have tapped into something that's really just very wonderful for people."

Eliko Cohen teaches a type of Qigong called "The Five Animal Play."

[Eliko Cohen, Teacher, Five Animal Play Qigong]:

"The system is developed by an ancient Chinese teacher called Hua Tuo. He was looking at animals and he took movements from animals and translated it to the language of the human being's movement...When you practice the tiger you need to feel like a tiger. You imagine you are a tiger in a field. After practicing the tiger you practice you're a deer. So you need to find inside yourself the place of the deer. Or the place of the monkey. He is very fast."

The highlight of the event was the Chinese Lion Dance. Zachy, a Kung Fu Teacher, explains the purpose of the show.

[Zachy, Master, White Crane Kung Fu]:

"The three main things are: to banish the bad spirits, make the people happy, and to give them abundance. So it's a big celebration, you can hear the gongs and drums."

Also here are practitioners of Falun Gong - a peaceful meditation practice.

[Vadim Berestetsky, Falun Gong Practitioner]:

"Falun Gong practice is an ancient practice whose origin is in China, and based on the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. The main point of the practice is not only to do the exercise practice but to improve your personality, to become a better person, to try to behave according to the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance."

According to the official World Tai Chi Day website, one of the purposes of this day is to thank the Chinese people for these valuable gifts they brought to the world.

NTD News, Jerusalem.

Reporters: Rani Shoket & Robby Blonder

Photography: Rani Shoket