Friday 15 November 2013

T'ai chi Craze Takes Octopods By Storm


It's the new exercise regime everyone in the deep is talking about: t'ai chi, a Chinese martial art dating back centuries.

"It's great", says Gladys, a ten month old mother of 47. "It's so cold and dark down here that it's easy for your arms to stiffen up. That's a big problem when you have eight of them", she chuckles. "T'ai chi keeps me nimble and lithe, and it brightens my mood every time."


Video: oceanexplorergov
Gladys demonstrates the slow, graceful dance of t'ai chi

No-one knows for sure how t'ai chi found its way into the abyss but many believe it was introduced by Brian, the Giant Pacific Octopus who found fame in the 70's when he escaped Germany's Aquarium Berlin. His journey to the Atlantic Ocean is the stuff of legend, with his famous bucket of sea water resting on his trusty skateboard.

However it got here, t'ai chi seems set to stay. "I'll be doing this till the day I die", Gladys' chitinous beak beams a mischievous smile, "at least a month or two!"

2 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

oh, dear... you've gone into the deep end.

Joseph JG said...

:P The water's lovely!