One of my most profound training experiences happened many years ago at Sigung Look's Santa Cruz, CA retreat. We stood in front of the breaking waves practicing our Tai Chi, Hsing-I, and Bagua techniques, in time with the crashing waves. As the waves built up, we began the technique; as they crashed and rolled into the shore, we completed the technique and then started building energy for the next movement as the wave retreated from the beach.

Imagine 500 or more competitors around you doing Chinese martial arts all day and night. They share the same love and fervor for their hobby and lifestyle as much as you. The excitement in the air is palpable, while the nervousness passes over you in waves. You learn to love the smell of Tiger Balm in the morning. You spend all night practicing, all day waiting for your chance to prove you've learned an inkling of what your Sifu has shown you.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is a worldwide celebration of the healing and health benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong. People, across racial, economic, religious, and geo-political boundaries, who share a common vision of hope & healing for our planet and her people come together worldwide on the last Saturday of April every year; and then, at ten am local time in every time zone across the planet they begin to practice their Tai Chi and Qigong to create a wave of healing energy that circumnavigates the globe and to provide an example multicultural and international co-operation to the world.

This was the first time that the event was held at Poblanos Fields and was such a success that Sifu Dug Corpolongo of Lotus Dragon Tai Chi and Qigong is planning on repeating this event every year plus celebrating Tai Chi with the Cranes in November, coinciding with the Sandhill Crane Weekend at our Open Space Visitor Center, and also providing a Qigong demonstration, the Six Healing Sounds, in June for the Summer Series at Poblanos Fields. All the events are free and open to all practitioners and the general public.