by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 12/97) - It is a centuries-old exercise and martial art that attracts followers around the globe.

Tai Chi is growing in popularity, even in Yellowknife, where a band of 15 members meets twice a week and follow the style of Taoist Tai Chi, an adaptation of the original Tai Chi form devised by master Moy Lin-Sin in 1970 after he immigrated to Canada.

"It's meditation in motion," said Greg Cousineau, a Taoist Tai Chi instructor taking a break while students continued to go through the 108 Taoist Tai Chi moves at Mildred Hall school Tuesday night.

"It's a great way to reduce stress." An all-round form of exercise in which the whole body is worked. It works one's physical, mental and spiritual parts."

Most of the regular members -- all adults -- in Yellowknife's society are interested primarily in Taoist Tai Chi to help them relieve stress and gain exercise.

Two people in Yellowknife teach advanced or continuing classes -- Cousineau and Wendy Anderson.

There are six other students of the discipline who can instruct basic movement and motions for beginner classes.

To further improve students' skills, four times a year the society brings up professional instructors from Edmonton to hold workshops.

The International Taoist Tai Chi Society has 400 clubs on the globe, 200 in Canada.

There are four basic aims of Tai Chi:

• To make Tai Chi available to all, such as special-needs patients, cancer patients and seniors

• To promote the health benefits of Tai Chi

• To improve communication between East and West

• To promote compassion and charity.

Tai Chi is in its sixth year in Yellowknife.

The society presently offers two continuing introductory courses at the Racquet Club and Breakaway.

Seniors' classes are held once a week at the Baker Community Centre and a continuing class of people who know the 108 moves meet twice a week at Mildred Hall.

Starting in January a beginners class will be held twice a week.

Registration to join the society is $20 with $40 monthly dues, which gets members into all classes, any weekend workshops and admittance to any Tai Chi Club in the world.