Most people think martial arts(武术) are all about kicking, punching(用拳打) and fighting. But China's taijiquan, also known as tai chi, is the other way around. It is slow, calm, and peaceful.
UNESCO(联合国教科文组织) recently added tai chi to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List(非物质文化遗产名录). Although tai chi is an ancient martial art, it is still quite popular today. It has over 100 million fans in more than 150 countries.
People do tai chi as a way to stay fit. Unlike other exercise, it is "soft"—the muscles are relaxing, the joints(关节) are not fully bent(弯曲的), and you don't need to stretch(拉伸) too much. This means many can do it. You can practise it almost anytime and anywhere without anything. It is believed that practising tai chi can help us have better control of our bodies so that we can stand, walk and run better.
But tai chi's benefits go beyond physical health. Marleni Calcina, a Peruvian woman who has practised tai chi for more than 10 years, says it's not only a sport, but also a way of life. Tai chi has taught her the value of living more slowly.
Life and work used to stress her out. But she began to feel a change thanks to tai chi, which helped her get peace and inner harmony(内心的和谐). She told Xinhua, "For me now, practising tai chi is like speaking with my soul(灵魂). "
