Students stretched and flowed to the movements of an ancient tradition in the lounge at Campbell Hall on Tuesday night as part of their Faith 101 series.
The Interfaith Council is a student group works to educate students on different worldviews, perspectives and traditions.
The Faith 101 series was an idea for fall 2011 that the Interfaith Council used to help present different faiths that students knew little or nothing about.
On Tuesday, the Interfaith Council learned about Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese cultural and spiritual practice.
“I knew absolutely nothing about Tai Chi before,” said political theory and constitutional democracy senior Kevin Dean. “I was expecting more types of stretching exercises, and I didn’t know how or where the spiritual connection would affiliate with (Tai Chi).”
Elizabeth Marazita, an MSU graduate and owner of Wanderer’s Teahouse and Café, instructed participants about the history and physical movements Tai Chi presents.
Marazita had not studied or even taken a class in Tai Chi until later in her professional career.
While working in China as a banking consultant, she enrolled in educational classes to help her learn the Chinese language and culture, which included a Tai Chi class.
Tai Chi is more than just spiritual teachings and stretching. It is a way for people to keep their bodies strong through eating well, staying healthy and finding balance in their life, she said.
“I thought (Tai Chi) would be easy,” Marazita said. “But it was the was the hardest thing I ever did.”
After completing the Tai Chi class, a friend of hers suggested that she attend a medical school to study oriental medicine, which led her back to the U.S. Since then, she has incorporated Tai Chi into her busy life.
“I hope when the (Interfaith Council members) begin their first jobs that they don’t fall out like I did with my first job,” she said.
This is not the first time the Interfaith Council has worked with Marazita.
“We worked with Elizabeth on a similar event last year during our religious awareness week,” Co-chair of the Interfaith Council and interdisciplinary humanities senior Rebecca Farnum said. “I had her contact information and got in touch with her to see if she would be willing to share her knowledge.”
For some students, the event was the perfect way to relax before finals week.
“I liked the acupressure points,” Dean said. “My feet had been aching, but now they feel a lot better.”
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