World Tai Chi Day 2025
- Dan Kimball
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
One World, One Breath — Join Us in Tucson at Freedom Park!
“Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 Time: Starts at 10:00 a.m. (but Come early!) Location: Freedom Park, Tucson, Arizona
Every year on the last Saturday of April, people in over 80 countries come together at exactly 10 a.m. local time to celebrate World Tai Chi & Qigong Day—a global event that promotes health, mindfulness, and unity through the ancient practices of Tai Chi and Qigong. This synchronized celebration spans every time zone, creating a continuous wave of movement and breath that circles the globe.
🌿 A Global Movement for Peace and Wellness
Since its founding in 1999 by Bill Douglas and Angela Wong Douglas, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day has expanded to over 80 countries. It’s now a worldwide celebration of health, harmony, and holistic living, acknowledged by governors, legislators, and healthcare institutions—including Harvard Medical School, which refers to Tai Chi as “medication in motion.”
🌿 What Are Qigong and Tai Chi?
Though often grouped together, Tai Chi and Qigong are distinct yet complementary practices rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts.
Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”) means “energy work” or “cultivating life force.” It combines breath control, slow movement, and meditation to balance the body’s internal energy (Qi). It’s a foundational practice for maintaining health, improving vitality, and enhancing spiritual awareness.
Tai Chi (short for Tai Chi Chuan) is a martial art that evolved from Qigong principles. It features a flowing series of movements designed to cultivate balance, strength, and awareness while promoting relaxation and self-defense skills in a non-aggressive form.
Both practices emphasize mind-body integration, gentle movement, and deep breathing. While Qigong is typically simpler and easier to learn, Tai Chi offers structured forms and sequences that provide both mental challenge and physical benefit.
💡 Why Join a Qigong or Tai Chi Class?
1. Improve Your Health Without Breaking a Sweat
These practices are deceptively gentle yet incredibly effective. Studies show Tai Chi and Qigong can:
Lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health
Boost immune system function
Relieve chronic pain (including arthritis and fibromyalgia)
Enhance flexibility, balance, and strength
Improve lung capacity and endurance
Best of all, they’re low-impact and accessible to all ages and fitness levels.
2. Reduce Stress and Find Emotional Balance
We live in a high-stimulation world. Qigong and Tai Chi help calm the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic (rest and digest) state. That means:
Less anxiety
Better sleep
More emotional regulation
Increased resilience in the face of stress
They offer a moving meditation that soothes the mind while strengthening the body.
3. Enhance Mental Focus and Clarity
Because both practices require present-moment awareness, they train your mind to focus gently but steadily. Over time, practitioners report:
Better memory
Sharper focus
Increased creativity
A sense of mental spaciousness
4. Cultivate Inner Peace and Spiritual Connection
While not religious, Qigong and Tai Chi invite you to connect to something deeper—your breath, your body, your energy, and even the natural world around you. Many practitioners find a sense of spiritual clarity and inner peace, making these practices a daily ritual for centering and grounding.
🌀 Why Join Us at Freedom Park?
Our local gathering at Freedom Park is more than a demonstration—it’s an open invitation to experience what Tai Chi and Qigong are all about:
Free Guided Practice led by experienced local instructors
Community Connection with others who care about health and mindfulness
Beginners Welcome — no experience needed
All Ages & Abilities — standing and seated participation available
Whether you're 8 or 80, whether you're new to Tai Chi or a longtime practitioner, this event offers an inclusive and gentle way to connect with your breath, your body, and your world.
🌿 Join Us Every Monday Morning for Qigong & Tai Chi at Spoke! Mondays at 10:00 AM | Spoke Coworking | 6700 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ
Start your week with calm, clarity, and energy! Our Monday morning Qigong & Tai Chi class is the perfect way to reconnect with your body, breath, and inner balance. Whether you’re brand new or experienced, this class offers something for everyone.
Led by Dan Kimball—Licensed Professional Counselor, Tai Chi instructor, and holistic wellness coach—this session blends gentle, flowing movements with mindful breathwork to help reduce stress, improve flexibility, and enhance overall vitality.
Why You’ll Love It: ✔️ Ideal for all fitness and experience levels ✔️ Supports emotional balance and mental clarity ✔️ Increases mobility, strength, and energy ✔️ A powerful reset to start your week with intention