Tunisian enthusiasts celebrate 2022 World Tai Chi, Qigong Day

Tunisians joined millions of people around the world to mark the 2022 World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, an annual event held in the last Saturday of April to promote the related martial arts disciplines of Tai chi ch'uan and Qigong since 1999.

A group of Tai chi ch'uan and Qigong practitioners as well as Kong Fu fans gathered in the natural park of Sidi Bou Said, in the Northern suburbs of the capital city Tunis for an open air session by Ariel Betti, the Tai Chi and Qigong ambassador for Tunisia and Africa.

"Tai Chi and Qigong is spreading around the world. People in more than 90 countries are practicing this discipline to mark this special day because it has many health benefits. It's a source of wellbeing, reduces high blood pressure. It's good for mental, physical and emotional health," said the martial expert from Cameroon .

The Chinese martial art has brought people from all walks of life in Tunisia together as they say that practicing Tai Chi and Qigong even once per week has many benefits.

"As you see, we are welcoming a lot of people that come here for free and practice and discover the art of Tai Chi and Qigong. So we've been doing this practice in Tunisia since now 11, 12 years. We are a group of many persons from different nationalities, different backgrounds," said a Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner.

''I encourage everyone to try this discipline because it's a way to find out who we are, to connect with oneself and to our environment through slow movements and deep breathing. It's a way to have a moment of harmony inside and outside with surrounding elements,'' said a Tai Chi and Qigong martial artist.

Many have benefited from the activity. Olfa Ayachi is a 44 year-old civil servant who won her battle against a deadly disease. She joined a group of novice and experienced fans of Tai Chi and Qigong as part of her recovery process. Olfa said this discipline has helped her achieve physical and psychological healing.

"Last year, I got sick and the cure was long and tough. I stayed motionless at home for 12 months. I started practicing Tai Chi and Qigong to recover. Now I feel so much better. This Chinese discipline has saved my life and allowed me to feel better," she said.

Tai Chi and Qigong have gained popularity in Tunisia since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March, 2020. When Tunisian authorities issued stay-at-home orders and imposed restrictions during the lockdowns, many people started practicing Tai Chi and Qigong online. Martial artists are now joining clubs as the health situation improves in the North African country.