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BANGALORE, INDIA, November 4, 2002: There is a growing number of young professionals from Bangalore and Chennai taking to Tai Chi, a Chinese contemplative exercise program, which they believe helps them stay focused amid the frenetic world of computer technology. While yoga has always been popular, Tai Chi has recently begun drawing a following in South India mainly due to the efforts of Taiji Master George Thomas in Chennai, and his sister, Cicily Thomas in Bangalore. Mr. Thomas, who started out as a karate instructor, took up Tai Chi in 1995. The 43-year-old, who qualified as a Tai Chi master from Australia-based grand master Fu Sheng Yuan, is the only authorized Tai Chi master in India. Ms Thomas, 33, who learned under her brother, takes one class a day and has some 15 students at any given time, but at special demonstrations up to 200 turn up. Ms Thomas reports many of her students say they have noticed relief from stress, hypertension, insomnia and even heart conditions. Her brother now also oversees two more branches for his Tai Chi academy, in Hyderabad and Coimbatore, and hopes to start chapters in New Delhi and Mumbai, where Tai Chi is yet to arrive.

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