University to celebrate World Tai Chi Day with special demonstrations and more

The university will host its first World Tai Chi Day on Saturday, April 28.

The last Saturday of every April is World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, celebrated around the world. World Tai Chai and Qigong Day was established in 1999 as a free public event bringing together people across racial, economic, religious, and geo-political boundaries to join together for the purpose of health and healing through tai chi and qigong. It is celebrated in 80 nations at 10 a.m., beginning in Samoa and ending in Hawaii.

The free, family-friendly event at Yale is open to the public. It will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the lawn at Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Avenue. It will feature tai chi demonstrations by local tai chi schools and instructors 10-11 a.m. and again 1:15-2 p.m.; tai chi and qigong workshops 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m.; and a raffle for prizes at 2 p.m. In addition, the event will feature a talk by Dorothy Baker, a senior research scientist in internal medicine (geriatrics) at Yale, about her published research on fall prevention and how tai chi can help with fall prevention. The first 200 attendees will receive free event towels.

World Tai Chi Day at Yale is organized by the Yale-China Association, Aiping Tai Chi Center, and Jon Mroz of 3 Element Martial Arts, with sponsorship by many Yale organizations.

Registration is required to attend the event.