Beverly Street the Downtown and Greater Winnipeg Area
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SEPT/OCT. 2006 VOL. 12, NO. 1 FREE Passionate about Tai Chi by Cal Wiebe ast September my friend Sean invited me to join him to L check out a Tai Chi class on Agnes Street. Tai Chi is a Chinese form of exercise consisting of very slow and deliberate movements. I had been to a few classes before and had always enjoyed them but had never stuck with the program very long. This year has been different. I think it is because of our instructor, Master Shao Lei. He has a passion for Tai Chi which he exudes in every class. He brings with him a detailed knowledge of the benefits of Tai Chi and an understanding of the philosophy behind the movements. He began studying martial arts in China at the age of 8. At 19 he was attracted to Tai Chi and since that time has been very disciplined in his training and practice of this art. He came to Canada a few years ago to teach Tai Chi, and to give people in the West an introduction to an authentic style of Tai Chi as it is practiced in China. One of the first things I noticed about the class was how slowly we went through each of the moves, to learn them. The goal was not to get through the series of movements quickly so Usman Mohammed (left), Samir Hassan and a friend at the Winnipeg Central Mosque. that we could say we had mastered a certain form. Instead, the goal seemed to be to understand why we moved in a certain way both from a health Strengthening our Spiritual Fabric perspective and from a martial Tai Chi is a good by Omar Siddiqui fourth generation Canadian Muslims. The arts perspective. exercise for older WCM offers classes for all ages every Saturday It has been very interesting to ccording to the 2001 Census, there are on how to read the Quran (Islamic holy text me that movements, which look people who want A 4800 Muslims living in Winnipeg. From which is in Arabic), religious learning circles, so slow and graceful, could to develop strength 1991 to 2001, there was a 48% increase in the is open for community dinners and events and actually be a form of exercise. But number of Winnipeg Muslims. The median is developing a library, food bank and other and balance I only had to go to a few classes age of Muslims in Manitoba is 28 years. community services to meet the spiritual before I started coming home with tired legs. The reason for Newcomers often initially settle in needs of the Muslim community. this is because when you do the movement slowly you develop downtown Winnipeg and as of 2004 there The WCM is also open to people of other was no urban mosque, Muslim religious faith traditions to come and learn about the a lot of leg strength as you shift your body weight from one leg centre, to meet their spiritual needs. Islamic way of life. We regularly offer to the other. As your legs become fatigued your heart starts to Muslims working and studying downtown seminars to faith groups, high school and work harder to rush blood and oxygen to the tired muscles. also found the current places for Friday university students, and recently participated This increases your heart rate without putting a lot of wear and congregational prayer often crowded and in the CBC sponsored “Spiritual Bus Tour” on tear on your joints. This is why Tai Chi is such a good exercise inadequate to accommodate large groups. Multiculturalism Day this past summer. for older people. It allows them to exercise and helps them To address this growing concern, Winnipeg During the month of Ramadan, our holy develop strength and balance. Central Mosque (WCM) was established at month of fasting, we also hold an open house I was surprised to see how relaxed I was after my classes. 715 Ellice Avenue as a new addition to the so our friends of other faith traditions can One of the benefits of tai chi is that it puts you into a calmer urban life of Winnipeggers. break the fast with us. frame of mind. It actually cultivates a mental tranquility. I Located at the corner of Toronto Street and The WCM is managed by a Council of think I have found this to be the most helpful part of my tai Ellice Avenue (the old Bamboo Hut restaurant) dedicated volunteers who work with the the mosque, or “masjid” in Arabic, was community to ensure the spiritual needs of chi training. It seems that I am always on the go and anything officially opened in October 2004. However, urban Muslims are addressed. With that helps me slow down and relax is a helpful discipline. the property itself was acquired in February community support and help we hope to This relaxation, of course, has many health benefits to people 2004 and the Muslim contribute positively to the who suffer from heart problems, high blood pressure, high community, under the The concept of community cultural and spiritual fabric of cholesterol, obesity and anxiety. leadership of local Muslim is integral to the lives the urban community. Our class has recently moved from Agnes Street to the new elder Dr. Mujibur Rahman and of all Muslims. The concept of ‘community’ City Oasis Gym at 435 Cumberland. Anyone interested in his wonderful family, is integral to the lives of all attending one of the classes can phone Terence at 228-5250. renovated the building over the subsequent Muslims, as is the importance Islam places on months, to make it suitable as a place for the taking care of one’s neighbours. In this way, Cal Wiebe lives on Toronto Street. Muslim community to gather and offer daily community development is something we as congregational prayers. The work was hard Muslims in Winnipeg feel very strongly about. and required gutting the interior of the Whether it is renovating the building, keeping building, repainting and refurnishing. the car park and pavements clean, having The focus street this issue is: While it is still a work in progress, today the fundraising activities or inviting members of mosque is open daily for prayers, and is other faith and cultural communities to come attended by hundreds of Muslims from both to our mosque to learn, initiate dialogue, or Beverly Street the downtown and greater Winnipeg area. break bread with us, WCM is proud to The WCM serves as a religious centre for a contribute to the health, vitality, and diversity Next issue (Nov/Dec): St. Matthews Avenue multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic of the West End neighborhood. Please phone or drop by with any story ideas community of both new and established Omar Siddiqui is the chair of the Winnipeg Deadline for submissions: November 8 immigrants, students and second, third and Central Mosque. 2 September/October, 2006 – West Central STREETS Welcome to the opinion page September/October issue of West Central STREETS STREETS is a non-profit community paper based in the community School and Society bounded by Notre Dame, Carlton, Portage and Arlington. Its purpose is by Erik Berg to give voice to the interests, struggles and achievements of people in the community. Almost every weekday I open my eyes at 6:30 and think to myself how boring school is and For publication, the viewpoints and stories of people who live in the how little I want to wake up. Maybe I’m alone in this but judging by the tired and bored faces community take precedence over those of people from groups who have I always see… I doubt it. Why do we hate school? Is it genetic? Was it invented to take up an interest in but do not live in the community, such as some agencies, time and bore us? Is it a fault of our own, do we just not apply ourselves? Or what? churches and businesses. Their role is primarily to support and facilitate the participation of local residents in STREETS. I used to think it was a prison. My father would tell me ‘I did the crime, I gotta do the time.’ When I asked him what my crime was he would reply, ‘You were born… that was enough.’ All submissions may be edited for length and style. The Publishing Committee reserves the right to not publish submissions. He and I would look at my school and describe it as a jail. After all, the resemblance is striking. The plain brick walls with few windows except rows of plexiglass and barred panes. The Publishing Committee makes decisions about any honorariums If you could imagine the basketball nets were searchlights the image would be complete. for contributors. Contributors who work but do not live in the community, and people whose contribution is part of their job, do When I observed my peers and myself, I noticed the infinite bliss when we were given a not receive honorariums. mere 15 minutes of recess. Is this why we grumble nearly every morning—because we are West Central STREETS will not knowingly print anything, which is theoretically being locked up until 11:45, or is it more than that? unjustly discriminatory. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect I slowly developed my image into a factory. Do you know what product we’re part of? It’s the views of the Publishing Committee. called society, but each of us are only nuts and bolts. We are all being developed into self- centered, conceited machines used to further propel the greed of the human race.