The Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi class from the Central YMCA in Columbus hosted the 2004 World T'ai Chi and Chi Kung Day as it did in 2002 and 2003. The date was April 24th at 10am. Demonstrations included Dr. Phil Chan, Dr. Melody Lu, Sensei Stephen Van Camp, Instructor Penny Pennington (Arthritis Foundation) and the YMCA Hwa Yu T'ai Chi Health and Wellness Group. Dozens of T'ai Chi students demonstrated the ancient Chinese martial art for health and self defense. Scores of people attended and enjoyed the 75-minute demonstration.

You can read more about the annual event at http://www.worldtaichiday.org/.

The Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi classes from the Central YMCA, Hughston Health and Wellness Center and Columbus State University's Rankin Arts Center hosted the first World T'ai Chi & QiGong Day celebration in Columbus, Georgia on April 6, 2002. The event began at 10am Eastern Standard Time as the T'ai Chi practioners demonstrated Hwa-Yu and Yang Style T'ai Chi & QiGong (Chi Kung) exercises. Click here to see some of the pictures from the Columbus event.

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world demonstrated T'ai Chi & QiGong at 10am local time April 6th. It was a great opportunity to share the wonderful health and fitness benefits of T'ai Chi and QiGong.

The students of Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi in Columbus, Georgia are thankful to Mayor Bobby Peters for proclaiming April 6, 2002 as T'ai Chi and QiGong Day in Columbus. Here is the Proclamation Statement Mayor Peters gave to T'ai Chi and QiGong Day Columbus organizer Mark McGee:

"Whereas: Stress is a major hazard to the health and happiness of the citizens of Columbus, Georgia as well as of the world; and

Whereas: There is a worldwide interest in the practice of T'ai Chi and QiGong--Chinese methods of relaxation and rejuvenation that have spread to many cultures; and

Whereas: T'ai Chi and QiGong are practiced by many people to promote stress reduction, improve breathing capacity, lower high blood pressure, boost the immune system, slow the aging process and improve balance and coordination; and

Whereas: T'ai Chi and QiGong are therefore credited with bringing health benefits to many people, thereby contributing to improvements in their quality of life and producing financial savings in their healthcare costs; and

Whereas: April 6, 2002 is designated World T'ai Chi and QiGong Day, and these tools for health and relaxation will be publicly demonstrated in all of the world's time zones at 10:00am on that day; and

Whereas: Local practioners will demonstrate T'ai Chi and QiGong on Saturday, April 6, starting at 10:00am in Weracoba Park on the grassy field within the athletic track;

Now therefore, I, Bobby G. Peters, Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 6, 2002 as "T'ai Chi and QiGong Day" in Columbus, Georgia."

We thank Mayor Peters and J. Edward Wilson, the Mayor's Chief Assistant, for their hard work in scheduling the demonstration field and preparing the proclamation.

We thank Sandra Okomoto, Jim Houston and Larry Gierer of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for their wonderful coverage of T'ai Chi and QiGong Day in Columbus and explanation of the health and fitness benefits of T'ai Chi and QiGong.

We thank Dee Armstrong, Adrian Helmick and Jo Giles of WTVM-TV for their special coverage of the health benefits of T'ai Chi and QiGong and T'ai Chi and QiGong Day.

We thank WRBL-TV for their coverage of T'ai Chi and QiGong Day.

The citizens of Columbus, Georgia and the surrounding communities now have greater access to information about the benefits of T'ai Chi and QiGong to their health thanks to the help of the Mayor's office and the Columbus Media.

A special thanks to T'ai Chi instructors Stephen Van Camp and Philip Chan for their special participation in World T'ai Chi and QiGong Day.

For more information about T'ai Chi and QiGong classes in Columbus, Georgia, contact Mark McGee

"Those who set out to learn the exercise, do not misjudge the value of The Chinese Five Word Song."

Verses 133-134

"The Chinese Five Word Song" was written by Master Li Tung Fung during the early part of China's Sung Dynasty. Master Li learned Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Liu Ho Pa Fa Ch'uan Fa) from Master Chen Hsi-I, creator of the martial art and health exercise. Master Li Tung Fung took refuge in the mountain of Yun, southeast from the Lok district. While living on Yun, he authored the famous Chinese Five Word Song, which serves today as the only extant treatise explaining the principles of the original Liu Ho Pa Fa.

Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan was a closed-door martial art for almost 1,000 years. Master John Chung Li opened the door to hundreds of students in China, the United States and Europe. Master Li translated The Chinese Five Word Song and added his commentary to each of the 134 verses to help students understand the truth within Internal Martial Arts. We are privileged to now offer the insights to this phenomenal martial art and healthcare science through the publication of The Chinese Five Word Song.

We are extremely pleased to announce the publication of The Chinese Five Word Song. It's filled with tremendous insights into the philosophy and guiding principles of Internal Martial Arts from one of the true masters of the 20th Century.

You can purchase "The Chinese Five Word Song" from top online book sellers (Barnes and Noble, Borders Books, Amazon.com and Books A Million).

Contact Mark McGee by e-mail if you would like to receive a signed copy of the book.