The following is from The Seattleite–a surprisingly insightful answer to a question posed by someone annoyed by those who practice Tai Chi in public.
These men may seem laughably irrelevant to whatever important thing you’re rushing off to. They may be far removed from the glittering sideshows thrown up by the media to distract us from the true state of the world. But is it not the case that wisdom may be contained in the least comely of vessels? Next time, pause for a moment to ponder the contents of these headband-sporting gray heads. Consider that, as they slowly push at the air, they are also pushing at the limitations of our culture itself. They’re urging it, and us, to slow down and feel the quiet rhythm of a healthy spirit. Indeed, for them to practice in public is an act of generosity, offered to the world with great humility.
Read the full article here.
Also in the news, and article in the Oregonian about the benefits of ChiWalking and ChiRunning.
“Injury prevention seems to be the key for many people,” [Toni Ellsworth] said. “It’s a holistic way of moving: a way of engaging the mind and the body while walking or running.”
Read the full article here.
The Montgomery Advertiser recently published an interesting article by Janet Hutto about her journey from bad health, imminent back surgery, and being dependent on pain medication to a Tai Chi instructor completely free of pain medication:
Within three years of starting Tai Chi, I was off my pain medications. The fact that I avoided another back surgery and am not relying on a daily regimen of very heavy-duty anti-inflammatory medications says a lot…Tai Chi helps me stay as healthy as I can be.
Read the full article here.
The Montgomery Advertiser also has another article on Taoist Tai Chi and Mixed Martial arts, descriptions, and how they can benefit your health. Read it here.
Tai Chi Healthways and Master Jesse Tsao recently hosted a workshop in San Diego on December 8 and 9. The workshop was attended by Grand Master Chen Zheng Lui of Henan, China.
Highlights of the workshop included detailed explanation by the Grand Master on Chen philosophy and its application in health, longevity, and self-defense. Two special performances by the Grand Master’s daughter, Chen Yuan Yuan, drew applause and appreciation by participants and guests.
Click here to read the full article. On the Tai Chi Healthways site, there is a video of the workshop (it takes a little while to load, depending on your connection speed).
An article from ThirdAge.com expounds on the benefits that arthritis sufferers receive from practicing Tai Chi.
According to an Arthritis Foundation spokesperson, “Tai Chi is the basis for one of the Arthritis Foundation’s most popular exercise programs, known as the ROM (range of motion) dance…The result is often a feeling of stimulated relaxation and pain relief.”
Make sure to take their links to the second and third pages of the article and also to their Arthritis Guide.
For those in San Antonio, Texas who would like to attend the Tai Chi Class Christmas party, it will be held at Go Hyang Jib Korean BarBQ House, 4400 Rittiman Road, (San Antonio, TX 78218) on 12/22/07. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to yongso@sbcglobal.net by December 15.
An entertaining article just appeared in the Guardian Unlimited health section. Pete Doherty, a British musician who is probably best known for his decadent lifestyle involving heavy heroin usage and public misconduct, recently completed a tour with no cancellations and surprising onstage professionalism. Apparently, Doherty has become a practitioner of chi gung and tai chi.
Doherty has thus joined the ranks of veteran alt rockers Iggy Pop, who maintains his ripped-at-60 look via daily chi gung and swimming, and Lou Reed, who spends several hours each day practising tai chi with US master Ren Guang Yi. Reed released an ambient album, Hudson River Wind Meditations, in the summer, specifically designed to accompany workouts, and refers to his impressive biceps and triceps as his “Tai Chi muscles”.
The article goes on to discuss exercise addiction: could Doherty be simply trading one addiction for another? They conclude that chi gung and tai chi work differently than other “addictive exercises”:
With an addiction, it’s all about the sympathetic nervous system; you’re stuck in it 24-7, all stress, all agitation. Chi gung does the opposite: it helps you move into the parasympathetic nervous system, it brings about relaxation and real calm.
Good news for drug rehabilitation programs then, should they choose to take note!
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association outlines a 10-step plan to help you reduce body stress and prevent back pain. Among the 10 steps is Tai Chi, for keeping you mobile and limber.
The human body is an incredible machine that adapts to the stresses we give it every day. Stresses such as poor posture, unusual movement or activities, or even a sedentary lifestyle can lead to poor mechanics and pain…Increase your muscle mobility by stretching or doing activities — such as yoga, tai chi, swimming or pilates — that help keep you limber.
Read the full article here.
In the news this week is a story about alternative therapies in the elderly. 2/3 of 33 clinical trials focusing on alternative remedies for depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances showed benefits.
Particularly promising were certain “mind-body” approaches, such as tai chi and relaxation exercises, in the treatment of sleep problems.
While many alternative therapies such as herbs, vitamins and hormones still have not proved effective for older adults, this was not so for mind-body approaches like tai chi. The article also stated that, while not yet clinically proved, mind-body therapies hold promise for treatment of depression and anxiety.
A recent Reuters about Yoga for Heart Failure Patients made a small mention of Tai Chi. It is easy why Tai Chi was also mentioned, as the two exercises work in similar manner. Too often we think of exercise as a heart-pounding, painful ordeal. But the theory behind yoga and tai chi is to relax and boost your body’s energy, rather than drain it. As both yoga and tai chi are both about tailoring the exercise to your own body’s capabilities, it is easy to see that people with low cardiac function or depressed immune systems would benefit from these exercises.
Goldberg, a professor of medicine at New York University, said heart failure patients often have trouble with exercise due to fatigue and shortness of breath caused by the heart’s reduced pumping ability.
The Tai Chi Opening Form is different for different styles of Tai Chi, but regardless of the style, each Opening Form shares some basic principles. Yin (emptiness) and Yang (fullness) govern the percentage of your weight that you place on each foot when performing any form. When you perform the Opening Tai Chi form, you first transfer all of your weight to one foot, usually your right. The fullness of weight on the right foot represents the Yang principle. The lack of any weight on your left foot represents the Yin principle of emptiness. The weight must be entirely on the right foot before you can step to the side with your left foot. Once you have stepped to the side, you transfer fifty percent of your weight to your left foot. Now Yin and Yang are in balance. Keeping these principles in mind not only helps you to perform the opening form correctly; it also helps you understand the principles of good balance.
