Tai Chi Chuan

Gita Latte demonstrates her tai chi moves

Gita Latte today gave us a glimpse of tai chi – the Chinese martial arts form practiced for self-defence and good health. She is currently undergoing training under two Chinese masters and at the instance of Yusuf Rassiwala, demonstrated a few signature moves for our benefit soon after the exercises.
“It’s all about breath control,” she explained. “You need to concentrate on your breathing, regulating it with each body movement. In the process, you’d drift to a state of unconsciousness, unaware of your internal stresses and anxiety or of the world outside. In that sense, tai chi is another form of meditation. But it brings a host of health benefits also, like stablising blood pressure, sugar level, thyroid imbalance, heart issues… It essentially cleanses the system and makes you tough.”
Rassiwala’s idea of having Gita demonstrate the moves was obviously to explore the possibility of incorporating tai chi elements in our regular exercises. Earlier too, he had brought about some important innovations in our daily routine. But today, the general response bordered on confusion and incredulity.

Santosh Tyagi

Tara Chand Seth

Either Gita could not get her point across or that nobody is prepared to get out of their comfort zone and embrace a change in the daily exercises.
Be that as it may, Shekhawat today announced a change in his picnic programme. Instead of August 16, we will now go on August 22 (Saturday). This was occasioned in order to accommodate Srichand Arora, Yusuf Rassiwala and Monthi Serrao for whom the earlier date was ‘inconvenient’. Now they will have no excuse to drop out, Shekhawat said jubilantly.
The change of date also ensures the participation of another senior member – Tara Chand Seth. He is expected to return from his Delhi sojourn on August 16 and would have missed the picnic had we stuck to our earlier plan. Tara Chand is one man who never misses a picnic from the Club if he is in town.
Meanwhile, concern is mounting over Santosh Tyagi who has been keeping indifferent health for some time. Yesterday, she excused herself from the exercises, complaining of giddiness. This has never happened earlier. We know she has sugar and blood pressure issues. We also know that she is not one to readily pick up the phone at home. So let us hope and pray she recovers soon and returns to the Garden earliest.
Harish Wadhwa:
* I hope Gita Latte has given a clear signal to one and all by demonstrating the Chinese martial arts: Khali-peeli apun se panga lene ka nahin, kya! She is such a lovely and soft-spoken member among us, and talented too.
* Wishing you good health Santosh-ji. I miss company of many of you.