World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is a global celebration of the internal arts, coordinated to create a wave of practice that moves across the planet from east to west.
Tai Chi is a form of martial arts practice that benefits everything from balance to blood pressure. It is characterizwd by slow, deliberate, flowing movements which incorporate martial arts or even dance-like postures.
Qigong translates to something like “energy work” or can just be considered a form of exercise. Qigong has a much more diverse set of possible movements, and can include seated, standing, or walking positions. There are specific qigong practices for healing various organs or channels in the body, for working with seasonal energies, and for overall balance and connection with nature.
This wonderful event takes place all over the world, and this year was held in Yarmouth Maine’s very own Royal River Park.
From the official World Tai Chi website:
“On the last Saturday of April at 10 am local time worldwide, events begin … starting in the earliest time zones of New Zealand where mass Tai Chi and Qigong teach-ins and exhibitions are held that are free and open to the public. Then, as the planet turns events unfold all across Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, and finally ending this worldwide wave of Qi and health education, with the final events in Hawaii.”
World Tai Chi Day is a wonderful opportunity to gather with fellow tai chi and qigong enthusiasts and practitioners, although no previous knowledge of these arts is necessary to participate.
From MaineCoast Tai Chi, sharing some of the history:
“Here in Maine, starting in 2003 with a half dozen intrepid practitioners gathering on the Bowdoin College campus, the event has grown each year, attracting participants and spectators from Southern, Central and Western Maine, and in more recent years from Boston, Albany, NY, and beyond…
On the morning of April 26th, enthusiasts of T’ai Chi and Qigong who live in the eastern-most timezone of New Zealand and China will gather in their communities at 10:00am to practice together (we’ll still be sleeping). Then the next timezone will pick it up at 10:00am, and the wave of practice will continue sweeping across the globe, gaining momentum and intensity, as waves can do. 80 nations, from metropolitan areas to rural villages, join in.”
The below image is from World Tai Chi Day 2022 at Winslow Park in Freeport. This year 2025 it was at Royal River Park in Yarmouth but the weather prevented as big of a turnout.
