Imperial celebrates tai chi

IMPERIAL — There was a moment during the weekend when people in more than 60 countries were practicing tai chi at the same time and for the same reason.

The reason was World Tai Chi Day, which took place last Saturday.

In Imperial County the celebration was held at Eager Park, where the Moifa Martial Arts Institute started practicing at 10 a.m. to “be in conjunction with the cosmic energy,” said instructor Maria Elena Marcello.

The benefits of tai chi are innumerable, she said. “Tai chi trains people in balance, strength; is good for diabetes, arthritis and helps reduce stress.”

And as a way of preventing diseases, Imperial Parks and Recreation Department has been promoting this worldwide celebration for four years now, Marcello said.

This year the celebration began with the lion dance.

The Chinese believe drums scare the bad spirits, Marcello said, while the lion is a symbol of good luck and blessings.

Marcello then led her students and those present willing to be part of this healthy art form on some tai chi forms.

Meanwhile, Arizona resident Ray Boehm was standing in the background, warming up for his presentation of Garuda, a rare form of Tibetan tai chi.

Garuda was a highly guarded art form of the Shaolin temple; he said, and was only taught to certain few.

Garuda is also a dying art form, he said, practiced by people like the Dalai Lama.

There is only one Garuda school in the United States, located in New Mexico.

In Garuda and in tai chi, “the breath is everything,” said Boehm. And the purpose behind the forms, Boehm said, are to move with energy and breath, not with muscle.

“Tai chi is the power of the breath. It’s like meditation and movement,” he said.

But tai chi is also a martial art, Boehm said, and is the basis of kung fu.

Soon after, a kung fu routine done by Imperial resident Jose Luis Gonzalez took place.

“He’s really good. He’s just so graceful,” said Imperial resident Marilyn Caradine referring to Gonzalez. “It’s like he’s meant for it.”

Gonzalez, 19, has been practicing kung fu for the last two years and finds it “very relaxing.”

“You can concentrate on this and forget about your problems,” he said referring to kung fu.

Kung fu also develops character. “I feel more confident because of this (kung fu),” he said.

Gonzalez likes kung fu so much, he said, that he can see “himself practicing for the rest of my life.”

Heber resident Gloria Sigmond feels the same, but for tai chi, a sport she’s been practicing for three years now.

“I love it (tai chi). Before, my knees would crack, but now I can even raise my whole feet,” she said.

Not practicing isn’t an option for her, especially because whenever she does stop, her ailments come back.

“Tai chi is a lifetime thing for me,” she said, and for those who are part of the older generation, tai chi is highly recommended.



Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com

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