Every morning, Elvina arrives at a park on time to practice Tai Chi with her fellow exercisers. As melodious traditional Chinese music plays, they slowly commence their movements, raise their arms, bend their knees, wave their hands and stamp their feet... The charm of Tai Chi, which combines hardness with softness and integrates movement with stillness, is precisely demonstrated by them. Under the canopy of green trees, Tai Chi’s unique allure of embodying the harmonious unity between human and nature is unleashed, and time seems to slow down in this tranquil moment.
Elvina from Russia is currently an international student at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Prior to this, she studied Western Internal Medicine in Russia. When asked about her reasons for coming to Liaoning for further studies in traditional Chinese medicine, Elvina said, “Both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have their own advantages, and they can complement each other to benefit more patients. For example, traditional Chinese medicine advocates ‘preventive treatment of disease’. I found that Tai Chi, with its gentle and slow movements, is an indispensable fitness therapy in traditional Chinese medicine.”
“Nowadays, not only many Chinese people exercise Tai Chi, but also quite a few foreign friends like me have become fascinated with Tai Chi,” said Elvina. “When I was in Russia, I saw a very popular Tai Chi video online, and I was immediately attracted by this mysterious Chinese martial art. Now, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to systematically learn and practice Tai Chi under the guidance of professional teachers.”
“The movements of Tai Chi may seem slow, but in fact, every detail requires precise control,” said Elvina. While practicing the “White Crane Spreading its Wings”, she discovered that this movement requires coordinated effort from all parts of the body, from the extension of the arms to the twisting of the waist, and to the support of the legs, none of which can be omitted. “To execute every detail perfectly takes years of practice. Although it’s not easy to become a master, I will definitely persist,” Elvina said firmly.
“Practicing Tai Chi regularly involves rotating the arms and wrists, and stretching the muscles and bones, which not only enhances the flexibility of the muscles and bones, but also strengthens the elasticity of the internal organs. These can bring many benefits, such as improving physical health, nourishing the mind and body, and prolonging life.” As her learning progresses, Elvina’s understanding of Tai Chi is gradually deepening. “Besides strengthening the body, Tai Chi also embodies rich philosophies, which are the essence of Chinese culture.”
“Tai Chi emphasizes ‘overcoming hardness with softness’, using a gentle approach to dissolve external pressure. This philosophy is also very applicable in our daily life,” said Elvina. “In the future, I will face many unknown challenges, but I will approach them with a gentle and resilient attitude. I believe I will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve meaningful and successful results during my study in Liaoning Province.”
