To promote healthy living and preserve traditional culture, a team of faculty members and students from the General Education Center at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology recently visited the Pingding Community to lead local seniors in an experiential Taijiquan session. The event was warmly held at the care center of the Nantou Pingding Community Development Association. Through gentle yet meaningful Taijiquan movements, participants experienced both physical relaxation and renewed vitality, filling the community with warmth and positive energy.

Figures 1–2. Faculty and students from YunTech engage with the Pingding Community in Caotun, Nantou.

The activity was led by Professor Ma Li-jun from the General Education Center, who organized a service-learning team of university students. The team demonstrated and guided participants through fundamental Taijiquan techniques, including warm-up exercises, breathing regulation, and simple movement sequences. This step-by-step approach enabled community seniors to gradually explore the health benefits of Taijiquan. Accompanied by smooth movements and steady breathing, participants gently stretched their bodies in an atmosphere that was both focused and enjoyable.Professor Lin Tian-jin noted that Taijiquan is not merely a form of exercise, but also a cultural practice and a philosophy of life. He explained, “Taijiquan emphasizes the integration of body and mind, and the balance between motion and stillness. Through its slow, deliberate movements, practitioners become aware of the flow of their bodies and breath. When practiced together, it fosters a shared rhythm of life and a sense of connection, allowing us to truly experience its vitality and emotional resonance.”Principal Pan Huang Jia-qi of Pingding Elementary School highlighted that the gentle and steady nature of Taijiquan makes it especially suitable for both seniors and young students. “It not only promotes physical health, but also helps develop concentration and emotional stability,” he remarked. He further emphasized that Taijiquan embodies the profound spirit of Chinese culture, and that collaboration among universities, communities, and primary schools offers valuable educational opportunities. Such initiatives not only provide seniors with opportunities for physical activity, but also introduce children to traditional culture from an early age.Community participants also shared their reflections. One senior remarked, “We rarely have opportunities like this to exercise together. The slow movements of Taijiquan make the body feel very comfortable, and afterward, my mood is much improved.”
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