Bringing tai chi to NYC

The ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi is increasingly becoming a way of life for many New Yorkers, thanks in part to the efforts of former world champion Chen Sitan and his wife Lin Xu.

From 5-year-olds to people in their 70s, New Yorkers of every background have been attracted to tai chi through the couple's classes, the tai chi and health qigong festivals they organize, and the community events they initiate in libraries and retirement clubs.

Chen started learning martial arts at age 6. By age 30, when he retired from his athletic career, he had already won 32 gold medals in Chinese and international competitions.

After coaching athletes for several years, Chen decided to come to the United States in 2003 in the hope of broadening the appeal of Chinese culture through tai chi.

"Tai chi is not just about competition. It means much more－it's a way of life," says Chen.

The couple started teaching tai chi and other martial arts in schools, before founding Sitan Tai Chi and Martial Arts to promote tai chi and provide a forum for fans.

The school's class schedule now includes different forms of tai chi, such as 24 form and 42 form, tai chi sword, tai chi kung fu fan, health qigong and other martial arts.

Tai chi's slow, graceful movements are accompanied by deep circular breathing. The movements work with qi, or life force, a type of "flow" that everyone has, says Lin.

There is growing evidence that this body-and-mind practice that started in China as a martial art has value in treating and preventing many health problems.

This gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility and balance, and may be practiced at any age, according to a study by Harvard Medical School.

Lin says people from different age groups come to her classes for different reasons.

"Parents send their kids to my class to improve their fitness and learn about Chinese culture, while adults attend to relieve work stress. Retirees practice it to prevent health problems," she says.

Frank Mandarino, who has been practicing tai chi for 11 years at Sitan Tai Chi and Martial Arts, says: "As an engineer and then a sales manager, I was on phone a lot and developed poor posture. I needed to get back into some healthy type of lifestyle after I retired, and I found tai chi."

He adds that he enjoys the challenge of tai chi, which he says is difficult as people need to coordinate their muscles with the movements.

"The more you do it, the more relaxing it becomes. It's almost meditative," says Mandarino, who is 81 years old.

Chen and Lin don't just teach martial arts. They also use it to promote Chinese culture.

"Language is one of the biggest barriers when discussing Chinese culture with foreign audiences, but since tai chi relies on body movements, there are no real barriers," says Lin.

She adds that tai chi performances in community centers are always well-received as local residents get to see what tai chi is all about for themselves.

"That's much more powerful than words," says Lin.

Chen, who is also the founder and chairman of the Tai Chi Qigong Association of America, set up the Tai Chi and Health Qigong Festival in New York, which has been held for the past eight years.

The annual festival features a range of presentations, demonstrations and short classes joined by dozens of teams from around the New York City metropolitan area.

"As time goes by, people realize that the core value of tai chi is balance," says Chen.

He explains that tai chi embodies the Taoist philosophy, which advocates a balanced body, a balance between body and mind, and a balance between humans and nature.

"We internalize this philosophy through practicing tai chi every day," says Chen.

Jean Kestel has been coming to group classes for about four years. She regards tai chi as an enjoyable form of communal exercise.

"I took pictures of people practicing tai chi in parks and malls in China when I visited in 2003. That's not common in the United States," she says, adding that the classes offer her a chance to stay in touch with Chinese culture. She plans to visit China again next year.

As popular as tai chi is in and around New York, Chen is still looking to develop a training program and grading system that will help him train more qualified teachers.

"A standard, effective and practical training and grading system will help unite all the teachers who are out there promoting tai chi on their own to work together for the noble cause," says Chen.