The ninth annual T.R.U.S.T. Health Fair brought the ancient Chinese practices of Qi Gong and Tai Chi to San Quentin to help connect the mind and body and find inner balance and peace.
On Aug. 17 on San Quentin’s Lower Yard, the men in blue received much-needed information about the different ways to improve individual health and well-being.
Ben Wang, Kasi Chakravartula, and Eddy Zheng of Oakland’s Asian Pacific Islander community brought a team that specializes in the practice of Qi Gong. Ru, Debra and Christina were some of the instructors who taught Qi Gong and Tai Chi.
Inmate Chris Scull said of Qi Gong: “It centers me, it relaxes me, and it takes me away from my everyday prison stress.”
“I didn’t believe it at first, but when I tried it, it helped me with my lower back pains and it helped me with my bad knees,” said inmate Glen “Dragon” Tufuga, 54. He added, “The moves were gentle and the exercises were not strenuous; it was exactly what I needed.”
This was the first time Tai Chi was held at the Health Fair. Similar to Qi Gong, Tai Chi is a practice of breathing exercise coordinated with movements designed to balance energy throughout the body.
One Tai Chi instructor said, “People often mistake Tai Chi as a form of martial arts; it is an exercise that helps reduce stress and improve health.” He explained that “Tai Chi gives you lots of benefits; it can increase flexibility, energy, stamina, and agility, improves muscle strength and definition, and most importantly, it brings a state of relaxation and calmness.”
“As a person who constantly does heavy exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, and squats, after a Tai Chi session, my body felt a sense of muscle relaxation that lasted all day,” said one inmate.
“After doing time in eight different prisons and recently transferred from Solano State Prison, I’ve never experienced an event like this,” said inmate Syyen Hong. “I am appreciative to be in San Quentin. Experiences like this make me feel like the outside community still cares.”
Hatha Yoga instructor James Fox said he hopes to collaborate with Tai Chi and Qi Gong instructors to conduct a class that includes all three practices.
— Phoeun You contributed to this story.