Adrianna Tan
When I was a kid I used to find the old Chinese aunties and uncles who got together to stretch (taichi) every morning in my neighborhood embarrassing. Now I’m like hey maybe I should find other people to stretch together with.
Community, social vanquishing of back pain, walking to eat delicious food together after with 20 of your friends.
They were on to something.
Adrianna Tan
I did see a flyer for taichi in Chinatown. It will probably be 100% in Toishanese, which I don’t speak. But I think it might be fun.
I once tried to do taichi in English at a corporate class and I could not stop laughing. It just sounds so deeply unserious and funny in English
Adrianna Tan
There’s a group of old Chinese people who march around SF city hall (in the park) together on Sundays. The old men beat drums and the old ladies literally march. With ribbons. I should try to join them
Adrianna Tan
@APBBlue it’s such a good low impact activity that helps a lot
Amy Maybe
@skinnylatte I randomly took a taichi class at a YMCA in SOUTH DAKOTA of all places. It's super relaxing. Really liked it.
Adrianna Tan
@keira_reckons yeah! There’s a lot of interesting social in / out group things here. Like what is in and out group? So arbitrary. I think it would be weird for a Chinese auntie to say ‘I’m going to do this (completely unexpected thing)’ coz ‘saving face’ is so impt. But the same person can say ‘I’m going to wear as safety vest and flap my arms and walk 3 km backwards!’ And it’s totally ok
Keira (She/Her)
I've seen the big groups in Singapore.
Where I live I don't see groups doing this much, but I swear in any sizeable park, worldwide, you can find at least one older Chinese woman wearing a visor, doing flappy arm exercises while walking.
When I was young I remember thinking I'd be too embarrassed to do it. Not now though. Now I understand, and I'd be so down for a group version.
They're definitely on to something - mobility for the win.
There's really no anglo version of it, either. Calisthenics, but I never knew many older people who did that.
JackieM
@skinnylatte they just get up SO EARLY
Adrianna Tan
@Jackiemauro gotta be done with exercise before dimsum opens
Mariya Delano
@skinnylatte @tshirtman this needs to become the next hip thing - communal stretching all around!
Adrianna Tan
@mrundkvist yep, got a bunch of those here!
Martin Rundkvist
@skinnylatte Have you seen the groups of mostly elderly amateur Beijing / Shanghai Opera performers who gather in parks and play their favourite scenes? Awesome.
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