A PLACE OF PEACE

Tai chi about more than just exercise for Summerside group

Tai chi about more than just exercise for Summerside group

SUMMERSIDE – With grace born of deeply ingrained muscle memory, Gloria Wood flowed through her set of tai chi movements Thursday morning.

The Summerside resident was standing on the picturesque breakwater that protects the Silver Fox Entertainment Complex’s marina, on the Summerside waterfront.

To one side of Wood, ships rattled gently in their moorings and small sail boats raced around the harbour, while on the other, the dark green forest and red beaches of Holman’s Island created a soothing summer backdrop.

The sound of traffic from nearby Heather Moyse Drive was muted by the buffer provided by the Harboufront Theatre and Access P.E.I. buildings.

In short, it was a peaceful little oasis in the heart of the city.

Wood was not alone on this pleasant morning. Seven women standing in two columns moved through tai chi sets in relatively unison, like silent dancers

All are members of Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi, which is a school of tai chi that boasts groups and members across Canada. It was founded by Moy Lin Shin who immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in 1970. The first P.E.I. group started in Charlottetown in 1980, and a second group started in Summerside 1990.

The Summerside group has been meeting regularly at the Wilmot Community Centre ever since, though in the summer the members meet either at the breakwater or at Green’s Shore when the weather is nice.

Wood started attended years ago as a way to keep up her physical and mental wellbeing.

“It’s really a whole-body workout,” but without the lifting and getting up and down that some people find difficult, she said.

“It keeps me loose. I’m at four classes a week, and it keeps me from getting tightened up as I age. I had sciatic issues at one point and while that’s gone away, I feel tai chi keeps it away.”

Gloria Cook started tai chi more than 25 years ago as a way to deal with the stresses of a busy career and growing family and has been hooked ever since.

“When you’re doing tai chi, you’re just doing tai chi, you’re not thinking about work or anything else. In that way it’s considered a moving meditation,” she said.

COLIN MACLEAN/JOURNAL PIONEER The Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi group has been active on P.E.I. since 1980 and in Summerside since 1990. Practising on the Summerside waterfront Thursday morning were, from front left and moving backwards Gloria Wood, Monique Maineville, Liz Spangler, Gloria Cook, Norma Butts, Paula Picketts and Elaine Caseley.