🌏 This April, the World Moves Slower: The Kaupapa of Tai Chi Today

This April, uncertainty and pressure continue to shape daily life: war, fuel crisis, cyclone, rising cost of living especially transport and energy. Air New Zealand confirming flight cancellations and adjustments in 2026 due to ongoing operational pressures.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health reports:

* Over 160,000 people receive publicly funded mental health and addiction support in Aotearoa — more than three Nelsons’ whole population!!

* Continued workforce shortages across nursing, general practice, and allied health services, particularly in regional and rural communities

*Mental health concerns such as anxiety, stress, and depression remain among the most common reasons for GP consultations nationwide

Pressure may be inevitable—but stress is optional. 

What is your strategy to manage uncertainty and pressure?

What This Pressure Does to The Body

When this level of pressure becomes ongoing, it is not just something we think about mentally—it begins to show up in the body.

Health research refers to this as chronic stress activation, where the nervous system remains in a heightened state of alert for longer periods than it is designed for , which over time may appear as light sleep, difficulty switching off, tight shoulders, shallow breathing, chronic fatigue. weak immune function,  poor cardiovascular health, and emotional disorder.

In simple terms: the world stays switched “on,” and the body forgets how to fully switch “off.”

Why Slowing Down Matters

The body’s tissues are like elastic bands—when it is held under constant tension for too long, it gradually loses its flexibility. They become less responsive, more fragile, and eventually lose their functions. They snap. 

On a cellular level, every cell in the body knows where it belongs and how to function within the whole. Even the bacteria that live within us exist in a delicate balance, working in relationship with the body—much like individuals within a society, each with their own role.

When the system is under prolonged pressure, this balance begins to weaken. Cells  become deprived of proper nourishment and lose vitality. Communication between systems starts to break down , and this is often when illness begins to arise.

In more serious cases, when a cell loses its sense of connection and turn against the system, it develops into  cancer.

Imagine a car with an engine but no brakes—the faster it goes, the greater the risk.

Our body works the same way. If the system stays switched on for too long without proper rest, it eventually breaks down. 

 Tai Chi as a 'Medication in Motion'

A strong engine is only safe with good brakes.
Brakes don’t stop the journey—they make it sustainable.

In the same way, Tai Chi trains the body’s brake system.

What sets Tai Chi apart from other martial arts, exercise, or even meditation is this: Tai Chi trains the body to relax while in motion. Every movement is carried out in a calm, gentle, and connected way—from the inside out. It is not collapse, but relaxed alertness. Relaxed balance. Relaxed flow.

In Tai Chi, relaxation is the foundation.

If someone says they have practiced Tai Chi for years but their body is still holding a lot of tension, something essential may be missing in their practice. Because one of the most natural outcomes of consistent, correct Tai Chi practice is a visible shift: a calmer presence, a more relaxed and focused mind, and a sense of vitality that comes from deep, genuine rest.🌿

 

🌏 From Personal Wellbeing to a Global Movement

A calm mind, a balanced body. Strong individuals create a strong society. This is one of the quiet reasons Tai Chi has spread across the world.

Each year, on the last Saturday of April, millions of people take part in World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day—a global event that began in 1999. Today, it is estimated that over 250 million people worldwide practice Tai Chi and Qi Gong—around 50 times the population of New Zealand.

More recently, we have begun to mark the first International Day of Tai Chi and Qigong. In 2025, the United Nations designated 21 March as this international day, recognising its growing role in supporting health and wellbeing worldwide.

Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) includes Tai Chi as part of fall prevention programmes. This is significant, as falls remain one of the leading causes of injury and injury-related hospitalisation in New Zealand, especially among people over 65 .

Evidence-based research shows that practices like Tai Chi can reduce fall risk by improving coordination, stability, and body awareness. Balance, after all, is not just physical—it is a matter of both body and mind. 

In a world that often moves too fast, Tai Chi reminds us: keep moving, but in a gentle, slow, and mindful way.

April is a transitional month in the Southern Hemisphere. As the seasons shift, the weather cools and daylight saving starts, nature begins to draw energy inward, returning nourishment to the roots.

Tai Chi and Qi Gong, as internal practices, work in a similar way—supporting the unseen foundation of our health and wellbeing. This season is a natural time to begin or return to practice: to nourish your roots, move with nature, gather strength, and restore vitality for the next cycle.

🌿 Local Practice and Upcoming Courses

On April 25, I will be facilitating a workshop on Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Rongoā at Cultural Conversations as part of Tuku26. This event is now fully booked.

On April 26, I will be teaching a Qi Gong / Taoist Yoga workshop at the Nelson Yoga Festival.

New Term of weekly classes starts from 21 April, you can view Nelson classes here.

For those who prefer to practice independently, online Tai Chi and Qi Gong courses are also available, designed to support gradual, step-by-step learning in a home environment.

👉 Explore online Tai Chi and Qi Gong Course here

Final Thought

🌼 In a time of ongoing external uncertainty, these small daily practices not only support our own wellbeing, but also contribute to world peace. We cannot speak of world peace without cultivating inner peace.

🌿 As the saying goes, running water does not go stale. In Tai Chi, we move like flowing water—gentle, continuous, and alive. Even a simple 5-minute Tai Chi walking practice at home can become a quiet moving prayer for peace.

If you feel called to explore this journey, you are warmly invited to join me—through in-person classes, online Tai Chi courses, or simply by staying connected.

👉 Join the Tai Chi community in multiple ways: 
🌿 Sign up for our free newsletter
🌿 Follow along on social media for daily inspiration and practice tips
🌿 Explore online classes and resources anytime

Let’s keep moving—gently, slowly and mindfully.