世界节假日博览 第84期:世界太极拳和气功日

 World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is an annual event held on the last Saturday of April each year. Its aim is to promote practices of Tai Chi and Qigong. In particular, followers¹ of Tai Chi and Qigong hope to educate the world about the health benefits of the two exercises. The World Tai Chi Day website says it is also a day to help put people in touch with teachers and healing centres, to find out more about these two traditional Chinese disciplines. The annual event, which started in 1999, joins people in over 65 countries. That number grows every year as Tai Chi becomes better known. Celebrations include Tai Chi exhibitions and free classes in most participating cities around the world. The day is recognized by the World Health Organization.

每年4月的最后一个周六为“世界太极拳和气功日”。该节日的设立目的是要弘扬太极拳和气功。参与者希望将强身健体功效弘扬全世界。太极日官网表示，人们可以通过与导师，康复中心沟通，了解更多关于中国太极拳和气功理念。太极拳日发起于1999年，每年一次，遍及国家超过65个。随着太极拳的不断推广，这一数字还在增加。庆祝活动包括太极拳展、在太极拳人口广泛国家开展免费课堂。该节日也得到了世卫组织认可。

Tai Chi is actually a Chinese martial² art. It is called an internal martial art because it is not used for self-defence, but is instead practiced for health reasons. Doctors say it has benefits for those who have heart and blood pressure problems. Many people who practice it say it relieves stress and makes you live longer. Tai Chi is famous around the world for its followers doing their morning slow motion routines in parks. Traditionalists say that Tai Chi is a mixture of self defence and health and that these represent the two opposing forces of yin and yang. A form of Tai Chi with just 42 movements, called wushu, was a sport in the 11th Asian Games in 1990. There are attempts to make it an Olympic event.

太极拳实为中国武术。因不是自卫武功，人们也将其称之为内功，它的实际功效为强身健体。据医生所说，太极拳有助于心脏病和高血压病患者。许多太极拳爱好者表示，太极拳可缓解压力，延年益寿。太极拳因招式缓慢轻灵得名，爱好者通常会在公园进行晨练。传统主义者认为，太极拳既能防身，又有助健康，它注重阴阳平衡。在1990年第11届亚运会上，42式太极拳是武术比赛项目。并争取将其变为奥运比赛项目。

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。