2008 Woodie Awards
Tai Chi balances WSA
By: Lanz Christian Banes
Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: LifeStyle
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Along with the lunch they normally get, members of the Webster Staff Alliance were also served a brief lesson on Tai Chi.
"The universe is always in motion. Everything changes," said Kim Bozark at the WSA's fourth general meeting Feb. 16 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.
Bozark was invited to the luncheon to give a brief introduction to the ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi Chuan, more commonly shortened by Americans to Tai Chi.
"(Tai Chi) is a good way to unwind; it's not too involved, kind of like yoga," said Nancy Wilson, academic adviser and special events chair of the WSA.
The WSA, said Marianne Kirk, is an advocacy group for Webster staff, serving as a liaison between concerned staff and the university administration. Kirk, a writer and editor of marketing and communications, co-founded the WSA. The WSA also organizes professional development days and provides funding for staff that want to hold workshops, but have no funding in their own departments to do so.
Tai Chi, Bozark said, is a physical exercise based on Taoism, an ancient, semi-religious Chinese philosophy.
"Originally a martial art, (Tai Chi) is primarily now practiced for health reasons," said Bozark, listing kinesthetic awareness, balance, leg strength, decreased blood pressure and stress reduction as some of the claimed health benefits. It is often characterized by gentle, graceful arm and leg motions, emphasizing physical and spiritual balance.
Bozark spoke to an audience of about 50 Webster staff members, as estimated by Wilson.
Wilson asked Bozark to speak at the meeting after she was introduced to Tai Chi during a WSA professional development day last year.
"(Tai Chi) stuck in my head," Wilson said.
At first Bozark seemed to have difficulty in getting the staff to get out of their seats to stand for the demonstration. However, Sharon Dowell, coordinator of the graduate and evening admissions center, stood up after several false starts, causing the other staff to follow.
"The universe is always in motion. Everything changes," said Kim Bozark at the WSA's fourth general meeting Feb. 16 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.
Bozark was invited to the luncheon to give a brief introduction to the ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi Chuan, more commonly shortened by Americans to Tai Chi.
"(Tai Chi) is a good way to unwind; it's not too involved, kind of like yoga," said Nancy Wilson, academic adviser and special events chair of the WSA.
The WSA, said Marianne Kirk, is an advocacy group for Webster staff, serving as a liaison between concerned staff and the university administration. Kirk, a writer and editor of marketing and communications, co-founded the WSA. The WSA also organizes professional development days and provides funding for staff that want to hold workshops, but have no funding in their own departments to do so.
Tai Chi, Bozark said, is a physical exercise based on Taoism, an ancient, semi-religious Chinese philosophy.
"Originally a martial art, (Tai Chi) is primarily now practiced for health reasons," said Bozark, listing kinesthetic awareness, balance, leg strength, decreased blood pressure and stress reduction as some of the claimed health benefits. It is often characterized by gentle, graceful arm and leg motions, emphasizing physical and spiritual balance.
Bozark spoke to an audience of about 50 Webster staff members, as estimated by Wilson.
Wilson asked Bozark to speak at the meeting after she was introduced to Tai Chi during a WSA professional development day last year.
"(Tai Chi) stuck in my head," Wilson said.
At first Bozark seemed to have difficulty in getting the staff to get out of their seats to stand for the demonstration. However, Sharon Dowell, coordinator of the graduate and evening admissions center, stood up after several false starts, causing the other staff to follow.