On May 22, 2021, USTB-DMU Confucius Institute (CI) soft-relaunched free Saturday Tai Chi lessons in the centre of Leicester with the City Council and Tai Chi Master Sifu Derek Frearson following Step 3 of easing the lockdown measures. This five-year old programme has been part of the CI’s contribution to the third of the UN's 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals): Good Health & Well-being.

The soft-launch gave the Tai Chi learners a chance to enjoy the reunion with their teachers and old friends. When the familiar music began, everyone was excited to start the first move after a suspense of more than six months.

Saturday Tai Chi sessions are not only a gentle form of exercise to combat the stress of daily life, but also a valuable occasion for socialising. Berner, a regular Tai Chi practitioner, said she was glad to be able to practice the martial art at Green Dragon Square because it showed life is gradually getting back to normal after three rounds of national lockdown.

Her comment was shared by the whole Tai Chi group. Everyone was happy to meet old friends after so many months of isolation. The heart-felt smiles when meeting face to face were what they missed most when they could only communicate online. It seemed that the one-hour Tai Chi session was too short for them to share their experiences during the lockdown months.

The soft-launch of the 2021 Tai Chi sessions marks the beginning of the 5th year of the programme offered free to the local people since 2017.

(Draft: WEI Zhiping; Revision: YANG Yingjun)