Russian master follows tai chi to ancient roots

In the pale light of dawn, a solitary figure stands in a courtyard in Chenjiagou village of Wenxian county, Henan province. With her legs bent and arms encircling the air, Svetlana Kobiakova, 59, from Russia's Yakutsk, holds a zhanzhuang (standing meditation) posture.

Several minutes later, she flows into the Chen-style taijiquan (tai chi boxing) routine. Her movements are silk-smooth, her breath deep.

Kobiakova, a disciple of Chenstyle tai chi, has immersed herself in tai chi practice for 15 years. She now serves as a master at Chenjiagou Taijiquan School.

At a glance, you might mistake her for a local. Known by her Chinese name, Chen Yimei, Kobiakova belongs to the Sakha (Yakut) ethnic group of Russia, a people with ancient Siberian roots who share striking physical similarities with East Asians.

Over the years, she has visited Chenjiagou, the birthplace of Chenstyle tai chi, 13 times. Last September, she started her longest journey, a full year of immersion in the village that has become her spiritual home.

"The philosophy, technique, and internal energy of tai chi have endless layers waiting for me to explore," she says.

Before tai chi, her life was a model of rationality. She worked as a physics teacher, a researcher at an institute, and a specialist studying the physical properties of diamonds. Her world was governed by data and logic.

She had tried other martial arts, such as karate and taekwondo, but none touched her heart.

Her introduction to tai chi came when she accidentally witnessed someone practicing the art, and she then learned the basics from a practitioner in Russia. However, she soon found herself unable to make progress.

"I reached a clear conclusion, to learn real tai chi, you must go to its root," she says.

So, she emailed the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and received a warm invitation. Arriving there in 2011, she found something unexpected.

"I felt an unexplainable sensation of peace and joy," she says softly. "Tai chi gets deeper the more you learn. It's like climbing endless mountains. Every time you reach one peak, you see a higher one ahead. There is never an end to progress — and that is its greatest charm.

"I used to suffer from bronchitis. Practicing tai chi has helped me feel more balanced and relaxed physically," she says.

"I think tai chi also reshaped my temperament, making me calm, positive, and peaceful."