Newsletter #32 - March 2004

In this issue:

-- From Dr Paul Lam
-- Tai Chi Workshop Poem by Kimberley Wilson
-- Opening at the Mysterious Pass - A poem by Michael P. Garofalo
-- My Experience as a Patient by Paul Lam
-- Three First Lessons based on Tai Chi for Arthritis by Paul Lam
-- A Couple with Arthritis by Chris Lewis
-- Health Quiz and Humor from Your_Health medical newsletter

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Dear Friends

The January week-long workshop has still left lingering memories. Kimberley has written a poem about her class. I always admire people who write poems. I've also included Michael's poem about Sun style tai chi.

It is only 10 weeks before the week-long workshop in Monterey, CA. We are expecting an exciting and inspiring workshop as great as Sydney's but different. Hope you can join us. If you are planning to come, please book your accommodation ASAP. Asilomar is incredibly popular. We booked a limited number of rooms 18 months ago. When those are filled, you'll have to find other accommodations outside the convention center.

For the first time in my life, I received general anaesthesia, so I'm taking this opportunity to discuss a medical topic which may be useful to you.

Many new instructors have asked me how to start teaching the first lesson. I include a guide here, but look for our forthcoming book Teach Tai Chi Effectively. I'm sure you'll find it helpful. On my other website dedicated to Tai Chi for Arthritis, you'll find "Tools for Instructors." This article is posted there along with other useful items like the "The Stepwise Progressive Teaching Method," "Suggested Waiver Forms," and "Suggested Doctors' Clearance Forms."

Tai Chi for Arthritis was featured on National News recently. You can read the Headline story on CNN. The coming program Tai Chi for Back Pain, Wheelchair Bound and Other Chronic Conditions (will be available next month) is based on this program. We will make the Tai Chi for Arthritis video or DVD our feature product of the month. Click here for the product information.

The review of the month is won by two persons (one CD each) from the same thread Mazza and carroll eyre from http://www.taichiproductions.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=341, your experiences will inspire others, please contact our staff for your free Music CD.

Hope to see many of you in Monterey; CA. Below is a list of my coming workshops. For more information go to this link: http://www.taichiproductions.com/workshops/index.php

-- May 1 - May 2, 2004 . Sydney, Australia
Tai Chi for Back Pain Instructor's Training
This program is the result of much research. I'm excited to find that modern medical approaches to back pain work in well with essential tai chi principles. On the other hand, the medical understanding helps tai chi training. Looking forward to working with you in this inaugural workshop.
-- May 16 - May 17, 2004 Hong Kong
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training Workshop
-- May 22 - May 23, 2004 . Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor's, Update and Part II.
Anyone who has completed the Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop is welcome for the Part II and Update workshops, no matter how recently or long ago you did the initial workshop.
-- May 24 - May 25, 2004 , Greater Manchester, UK
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training
Special discount for participants of both Manchester workshops.
-- June 5 - June 6, 2004 . Portrush, Northern Ireland
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor's
-- June 10 - June 11, 2004 . Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training Workshop
-- June 12 - June 13, 2004 . Thunder Bay, Canada
Tai Chi for Arthritis Update and Part II
-- June 21 - June 27, 2004 . Monterey, California, USA
One Week Tai Chi Workshop USA
-- July 31 - August 1, 2004, London, Ontario, Canada
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training workshop

Yours sincerely,
Paul Lam
http://www.taichiproductions.com

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END OF NEWSLETTER
Warning: Dr. Lam does not necessarily endorse the opinion of other authors. Before practicing any program featured in this newsletter, please check with your physician or therapist, the authors and anyone involved in the production of this newsletter will not be held responsible in any way whatsoever for any injury which may arise as a result of following the instructions given in this newsletter.
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TAI CHI WORKSHOP 2004
By Kimberley Wilson, Instructor, Nelson Bay/Newcastle.

Dr Paul Lam is his name
Playing Tai Chi is his game
A workshop in Sydney, he did come
And we all joined him one by one.

Five Elements Tai Chi we are called
Teaching Tai Chi is our reward
We all come from far and near
To a Tai Chi Workshop once a year.

Pots Point Sydney we did arrive
Saturday afternoon, nearing five
The situation was getting hot
No parking in Sydney, what a shock!

We did ChenTai Chi for seven days
At times our minds were one big haze
Master Kam Chen Chi tried his best
This class for him was one big test.

Sink, straight back, relax! he yelled
Again and again until we fell
Once we started, we could not stop
At the end of day 4, we'd learned the lot.

Master Kam Chen Chi delivered the force
The force, no-one knew about it of course
So we tried and tried but in 40 degree heat
We all dropped dead at our poor Master's feet.

Day by day and hour by hour
The class got stronger, you could feel the power
May the force be with you, Master Kam did say
As we strutted our stuff on demo day.

The Workshop was a huge sucess
Paul, his instructors, simply the best
Tai Chi friendships full of cheer
Ready to meet same time next year.

The Workshop's over and everyone's gone
But the memories will live on and on
Laughter, relaxation ad harmony -
And the friendships formed from playing Tai Chi.

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Opening at the Mysterious Pass by Michael P. Garofalo

From the author to Dr Lam:
I thought you might enjoy a quote from Sun Lu Tang and my short poem.
The allusions and imagery used in my poem, as they relate to the opening
hands and closing hands move in the Sun style of Taijiquan, are drawn from a 13th century anthology from the Taoist School of Complete Reality :
"Qi spreads without breathing as a result of the open and closing, movement and
stillness, in this martial art. This is the root of this Qi and how it is created. The
subtleties of letting go and expanding, receiving and contracting, are from this Qi
going out. Opening makes expanding and moving. Closing makes receiving,
contracting, and stillness. Opening makes yang. Closing makes yin. Letting go,
expanding, and movement makes yang. Receiving, contracting and stillness makes
yin. Opening and closing are the shapes of the one Qi cycling through yin and yang.
That is Taiji - the one Qi."
- Sun Lu Tang, 1921, Study of Taiji Boxing
Translated by Joseph Crandall, Taijiquan Xue, 2000, p. 8

Opening Hands and Closing Hands
Opening Hands, Closing Hands
Standing at the Mysterious Pass
Centered in the Eternal Now,
Balanced in Body and Open in Mind,
Rooted into the Sacred Space,
Motionless as the Golden Mountain,
Fingers around the Primeval Sphere.
Dragons and Tigers are still dreaming -
Ready for Rebirth.
I breathe in, the World Breathes Out.
The Gate of Space opens;
Heaven moves and Yang is born.
The hands move out, embracing the One.
The mind settles and is clear.
The Dragon Howls,
Ravens fill the Vast Cauldron,
Mind forms melt like mercury,
Spirit rises in the Clouds of Eternity.
Yin appears like the moon at dusk.
I breathe out, the World Breathes In.
The Doors of Emptiness close;
Earth quiets and Yin is born.
The hands move in, entering the One.
The body settles and becomes whole.
The Tiger Roars,
The Great Ox is nourished by the Valley Spirit,
Substances spark from flaming furnaces,
Essence roots in the Watery Flesh.
Yang appears like the sun at dawn.
Dragons and Tigers
Transformed within the Mysterious Pass -
Chanting and Purring.
Awakened,
Peaceful,
Free.

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My Experience as a Patient by Paul Lam

I spent several months traveling around the world. Somehow my bowels did not recognize the time zone differences and my bowel habits changed. At this point, I am going to start with a little background about colonoscopies and bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is relatively common and even more so with the Chinese population. It can present itself with no symptoms until the very late stage. However, the common symptoms are change of bowel habits, loss of weight, bowel discomfort, anemia, and tiredness.

Colonoscopy is a procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the bowel from the anus. This gives the specialist surgeon a clear look at the bowel. It's a relatively simple procedure in experienced hands. The good thing about having a colonoscopy is that pre-cancerous conditions such as a polyp (a small and initially harmless growth from the lining of the bowel) can be detected. You might remember when Ronald Reagan was the USA president. During his term of office, he had a routine colonoscopy and pre-cancerous growth was detected. You might not remember but the stock market around the world took a little shaking just from that. In any case, a pre-cancerous polyp was removed and I have not heard of any other problem from his bowel since. So the beauty of it is that the procedure can be used as a preventative measure. It actually can remove a pre-cancerous polyp before it changes into real cancer.

In any case, in my mid-fifties, with a change of bowel habit and being Chinese, I thought that was enough reason to look into having a colonoscopy. I discuss this with a colorectal surgeon, Dr David Lubowsky, one of the best in this field and he felt that a colonoscopy was a good idea.

When one of my tai chi friends heard about this, his instant reaction was, "You don't need that. Tai chi cures everything!" But he was only joking.

I think the worst was the preparation. Having been through semi-starvation for two years in my childhood, starvation was an especially fearsome thing to me, but to starve for 24 hours was not as bad as I thought it would be. The worst was the preparation that you have to take. It makes you feel like you need to go to the toilet all the time, and you do go quite often. Fortunately, I took the day of preparation off and spent all my time catching up with my work and friends around the world.
I got up at 5.45 a.m. to be at the hospital by 6.30 a.m. After a shower, I had nothing to do. I couldn't eat and I didn't need to get dressed except for casual clothes, so I practiced tai chi for half an hour and then went off to the hospital.

St. George Private Hospital has a front hall almost like a hotel lobby with a very efficient and friendly staff. The day surgery is well established and runs like clockwork. I was put into a gown, and as I was lying on this spotlessly clean bed, there was the usual a long wait for something to happen. That gave me time to reflect on lots of things. It was strange for me having a general anesthetic for the first time; it was strange to be on the other side of the table. Like my tai chi friend said, tai chi had kept me very healthy.

The feeling of loss of control was not as bad as I had anticipated, maybe because I had the good fortune to have one of the very best surgeons in the field. I feel very fortunate that we live in a developed country with great medical facilities, highly skilled medical practitioners and efficient health professionals to look after us. We can also effect preventive care. Suddenly these thoughts brought back memories of my horrid childhood experience.

When I was 5 years old, a man on a bicycle ran across my ankle. I ended up in the local hospital in a Chinese village for two stitches to be inserted. Well, I don't remember how dirty and how unhygienic it was but I do remember four men holding me down, each man holding one limb while the surgeon stitched me up. That was for a small cut needing only two little stitches! However, the wound was infected for half a year until somebody from overseas sent me a little tube of antibiotic ointment. It cleansed it up in a few days.

For those of us who are used to friendly, caring doctors who takes time to talk to patients, it's hard to imagine what it was like for me as a child. Perhaps this is one reason why I go out of my way to be nice to my patients, to alleviate their fears. Whatever the case, we take the hygiene standard, the quality of health professionals and the effective medications for granted, not realizing even now, that most of the world population doesn't have such good fortune.

Now back to the real world and my "operation." I practiced my tai chi breathing exercise. That's really good for making you feel tranquil and serene for preparation. The procedure itself was an anti climax. The anesthetist showed me what he was going to inject into my vein; I took a gentle breath in and out and the next thing I heard was someone calling my name. "You can wake up now," a voice said. The anesthetic was very light, and I don't think that the procedure took any longer than half an hour. In no time, I was up eating breakfast and feeling back to normal.

Many patients told me about how anesthetics affect the memory. Of course, a colonoscopy is a light procedure and the general anesthetic used was very mild. Nonetheless, I occupied my time while waiting for the procedure, mainly thinking about my new book. I'm writing a new book together with Nancy and Stephanie, Teaching Tai Chi Effectively, and I was going through the first few chapters, working out and refining the introduction. I thought of at least three good ideas. Very soon after I woke up I found that all three of those ideas were still there.

Lastly, it was a great relief to hear from the surgeon that the colonoscopy was totally normal. Like my friend told me, the tai chi power would prevent me from developing any disease. I agree. But a sensible prevention is always a good idea. Seriously, if you practice tai chi 30 minutes per day and your health improves by 30 percent in three months like our recently published study has shown, then that is magic! But you must still work with your health professionals to keep well. Remember, prevention is much easier and less painful in the long run.

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THE FIRST THREE LESSONS by Paul Lam
Based on Tai Chi for Arthritis Program

General Guidelines

1. Read the precautions before your start
2. Learn the Stepwise Progressive Teaching Method
3. Work with students; find out their needs and their physical condition. It is much better to work with them rather than talk down to them.
4. Encourage the student to practice regularly, ideally for 30 to 40 minutes a day. It can be done in separate sessions.
5. Criticism is strongly discouraged. Give two to three positive feedbacks before one point of improvement, and substantiate your positive feedback. For example, saying "You are very good" has little meaning if you don't point out what is good. Try to say something like, "Your movements are slow and gentle. That's very good."
6. Keep your talk to a minimum. Tai chi theory is very important but tai chi is an art of doing. Too much talk will not make a student understand what tai chi is, nor will it improve their health or their tai chi form.
7. Before you start, consider using a release form for your students and, if required, a doctor's clearance.
8. Remember to rehearse your lessons. Time yourself at the rehearsal.

LESSON ONE

Welcome (20 minutes)

Introduce yourself. Don't talk too much about how good you are. Give a brief introduction of your qualifications and focus on what you can do for the students. For example, the Tai Chi for Arthritis program is shown by scientific studies to improve arthritis and other health factors so your students can expect to see health improvements in at latest by three months (as shown by study).

If appropriate, introduce each student or ask them to introduce themselves. Consider using name tags.

Greetings

Explain the etiquette of greeting which should be done before the start and the finish of each class. Then explain the meaning of the greeting gesture.

* Right fist clenches to denote strength

* Left thumb bends to denote humility; right index, middle, ring and little fingers together and extended means friendship

* Two hands together with right fist on the left palm = Wushu (Chinese Martial Art) greeting.

If students arrive late or have to leave early, ask them to go to the door while facing the stage, do the greeting quietly and join in or leave without saying anything to disturb the class.

Brief Talk (5 minutes)

Tai chi is a gentle exercise that originated from an ancient Chinese martial art. It's especially beneficial to health. One of its major characteristics is control of movement so that it's important to move slowly and gently in order to generate internal strength.

Explain that some students might find our teaching is slow to start with because we believe in building a good foundation. With a good foundation, the student will gain the health benefits and improvement of tai chi skill in a shorter time in the long run. If one starts the wrong way, it's much harder to set it right later on. Patience is also part of the essential principles of tai chi.

Warm Up Exercises (15 minutes)

The Step 1-2-3 System

Movement 1 - Commencement Form (15 minutes)

Cooling down exercises (5 minutes)

" Thigh Punch
" Clench and Release
" Arm Circles

Throughout the lesson, emphasize on body alignment:
(a) Maintain, as much as possible, an upright but relaxed posture at all times.
(b) Be aware of the transference of weight.
(c) Watch out for the 'bent-knee' stance. This stance is desirable but students must work toward it gradually, starting with knees only slightly bent. Make sure the students stand up if they get too tired.

LESSON TWO

1Greetings and Warm-up
(10 minutes)

Talk (5 minutes)

Speed Control:
It's important at this beginning stage to work at the right speed.

* Slow as possible without stopping
* Continuous and yet fully execute the entire movement
* Even or same speed for all the movements

Teaching (40 minutes)

Revise Lesson One
Movement 2 - Opening and Closing Hands
Movement 3 - Single Whip

Cooling down (5 minutes)

Any problem? Suggestions

LESSON THREE

Greetings

Brief Talk
Balance

It's important to have mental and physical balance. Tai chi is especially effective for both. The "body balance" is the balance as you move as exemplified by the movement three Waving Hands where you need to maintain good balance. Maintaining good physical balance will improve muscular strength and minimise falls.

The mental balance is the serenity of the mind. At the early stage, work on focusing on what you're doing and gradually you'll improve the serenity of the mind. This will be discussed in more detail later.

Warm-up

Movement 4: Waving Hands

Cooling-down exercises.

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A Couple with Arthritis by Chris Lewis

From the author to Dr Lam:
Hello Paul,
You may remember that in your last communication to me you asked if I could get David and Janet Bott, the married couple that I mentioned as having really good results with your Tai Chi for Arthritis program, to write about their experiences for your newsletter.
David and Janet attend my class at the Derbyshire Police Divisional H.Q. each week. This class is for police personnel and their families. Janet is the Chief Constable's secretary
I am attaching a verbatim report which David Bott gave to me in response to your request.

Best wishes,
Chris
___________________________________________________________________
WHERE YOUR MIND LEADS, YOUR BODY FOLLOWS

A year ago, for differing reasons, my wife and I were in real physical difficulties. The causes respectively were rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis coupled with spondylolisthesis. Neither of us could negotiate stairs or uneven terrain with ease, and as dedicated dog walkers living in hilly Derbyshire, this was a serious handicap. Our conditions had deteriorated to the extent that both needed to use a walking stick to walk with any confidence, and any walking was severely limited. Our social life was also inhibited in that it was impossible to stand for long to socialize with people at these events.

My wife was prescribed a course of drugs, and I was prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers. At the same time, my wife was invited to attend a course at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary at which she was encouraged to participate in Tai Chi for Arthritis. We had also been made aware of a weekly class held by Chris Lewis at Derby City Divisional Police Headquarters. For my wife's benefit we agreed to attend and I went along in a supportive role.

The results have been nothing short of miraculous. Neither of us now uses a stick for normal perambulation, although I still use one occasionally when walking distances with my dogs.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE STILL EXPERIENCE PAIN TO VARYING DEGREES BUT HAVE LEARNED TO MANAGE IT. NEITHER OF US TAKES ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS OR PAIN KILLERS AT ALL. I MANAGE MY CONDITION BY A DAILY WARM UP OF 14 CONSECUTIVE EXERCISES, PRACTICE OF THE ARTHRITIS SHORT FORM AND "STANDING LIKE A TREE." I CAN MANAGE SOCIAL EVENTS FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY BY GOING INTO STANDING-LIKE-A TREE-MODE. THE BENEFITS TO MY WIFE HAVE BEEN A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN HER SENSE OF WELL BEING, AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN HER PHYSICAL CONDITION. THIS COUPLED WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE IMPROVEMENT IS AN ONGOING SITUATION MEANS THAT THE FUTURE IS DYNAMIC RATHER THAN REGRESSIVE AND SHE HAS EVERYTHING TO GO FOR.

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HEALTH QUIZ
Test your knowledge on the health topics published in previous issues of Your Health.
1. What common infection in children causes a 'barking' cough?
2. How often should women over 40 have a mammogram?
3. Shingles is caused by which common childhood virus?
4. What is the safe drinking limit for men (standard alcoholic drinks per week)?
5. What nutritional supplement do women take for 1 month before pregnancy?
6. What natural product is effective in treating osteoarthritis?
7. What is the name of the blood test used to detect prostate cancer in men?
8. At what age can women stop pap tests?
9. What common eye condition causes clouding of the lens and poor vision?
10. Which medical disorder causes loud snoring and daytime sleepiness?

HEALTHY HUMOUR
Hurting all over
A young woman went to her doctor complaining of pain.
'You have to help me doc, I hurt all over', said the woman.
'What do you mean, all over?' asked the doctor. 'Can you be more specific?'
The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled, 'Ow, that hurts.' Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, 'Ouch! That hurts, too.' Then she touched her right earlobe, 'Ow, even THAT hurts', she cried.
So the doctor examined her all over and finally discovered what was wrong... 'You've got a broken finger!' he said.
The perils of surgery
A middle-aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to hospital. While on the operating table she had a near-death experience. Seeing God she asked 'Is my time up?' God answered, 'No, you have another 40 years, 2 months and 8 days to live.'
On recovery, the woman decided to stay in hospital and have a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. She also changed her hair color. She figured she may as well enjoy the extra time she had to live.
After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street, she was hit by a car and died immediately.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, 'You said I had another 40 years. Why didn't you pull me out from in front of the car?'
God replied, 'I didn't recognise you.'

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