Tai Chi gains popularity in Switzerland as wellness practice

Tai Chi is the quintessential Chinese national sport. There's hardly a park in the country where people don't practising Tai Chi early in the morning. They perform the traditional slow motion sequence of movements, appearing graceful and serene.

Tai Chi is also gaining increasing popularity in Switzerland. 

Training in this ancient martial art consists of slow and flowing movements. These movements are recognized to protect and strengthen the joints, promote concentration and improve flexibility. 

In Switzerland, Tai Chi is now recommended on a national level for its wellness and preventative benefits. Some Swiss health insurers even reimburse the cost of classes when delivered by a certified physician, further catering to a growing public demand.

In December 2020, Tai Chi was officially inscribed on UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition has accelerated its already significant popularity growth worldwide, with around 300 million people estimated to be practising Tai Chi internationally.

In Switzerland, numerous classes and events are offered in most cities and towns. 

Master Ken Wong has been practising and teaching Tai Chi classes in Geneva for 20 years. He learned the mastery of Yang style Tai Chi from a well-known Chinese Tai Chi master Chen Sitan in New York. 

Yang style Tai Chi is known for its slow, graceful and flowing movements, emphasizing health and balance. Over the years he has witnessed a growth in Tai Chi's popularity in Geneva.

Ken Wong says that many Tai Chi practitioners in his groups are Europeans who he thinks want to get to know the Chinese culture and they enjoy Tai Chi for its movements. 

Master Wong's Tai Chi classes have been taking place every Sunday for the past 15 years in Geneva. In the winter month, they practise in a shopping complex in the center of Geneva and in the summer it is in a local park. 

The class is very popular, with around 30 people attending each time. 

The students range in age with some as old as 85 and nationalities from Switzerland, France, Spain, Chile, China and Vietnam, among others.

But Tai Chi classes are not only available in big cities like Geneva and Zurich. They can be found across the whole country and some classes are offered online via a popular club run by one of Switzerland's biggest supermarkets Migros. 

These courses are recommended for stress management and as a form of exercise that harmonizes body and mind.