Local Tai Chi Class Observes World Tai Chi Day

Instructor and members of The Trafton Center’s Tai Chi classes

By Lisa Blanchette

The last Saturday of April is World Tai Chi Day and is recognized globally. World Tai Chi events have been held at the United Nations Building and the Nobel Peace Center as well as at consulates and embassies from Italy to India. Worldwide Tai Chi events began on April 27, 2024, at 10 am local time. e events unfold from the earliest time zones of New Zealand and move across the globe to the latest time zone in Hawaii.

It was a picture-perfect day at Gateway Park in Sanford last Saturday for the event. The instructor and members of The Trafton Center’s Tai Chi classes met to observe World Tai Chi Day and there was a definite sense of being part of something much larger. Instructor, Jo-Anne Masure led students through their forms and students participated at their individual levels and abilities. Jo-Anne led the students through several forms such as 37 short form, Crane, Crane in Mortal Path, Tai Chi Walking, Wave the Clouds, TC Sword, and Swaying.

During the “Wave the Clouds” form you could sense positive energy being generated and it called to mind that this was being replicated all over the world. One student spoke after the form was complete and said she had the feeling of being able to pass this positive energy to others and receive the positive energy back while participating.

L-R Jo-Anne Masure, Paul Wynne, Joan Durant, Patty Cyr, Grace Fogle, Connie Gregoire, Connie Turner

This gathering of seven students represented multiple skill levels (beginner through advanced) and a mixture of the standing and seated classes that take place at the Trafton Center. The Trafton Center is a branch of the Sanford Springvale YMCA. These classes are for YMCA-Trafton Members and attendance is on a drop-in basis for those members.

Instructor and two students doing the TC Sword form.