Newsletter #82 - June 2008

In this issue:

-- From me to you, by Dr Lam

-- Tai Chi 4 Kidz, Dr Paul Lam

-- A Tai Chi Poem for Kids, Anastasia Yianni

-- Friendship Patrol, Steve Drakouli

-- Tai Chi for Health Community,

USA

, Caroline Demoise

-- TCA Instructors workshop in Camden Recreation Centre, GA,

USA

, Maureen Miller

-- Humor, laughter and radiant health, Dr Bob McBrien

Click on the title above to read the articles, this link to read all previous newsletters and here to subscribe.

Hello everyone,

We all realise that children are the future of this world. If we can help them to become happier, have greater self esteem, find more enjoyment in life then we have won the battle for a better society of the future. Tai Chi for children is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

You will find out how the Tai Chi 4 Kidz program was created. At the inaugural instructor’s training workshop April 2008 in Melbourne, Anastasia from Arthritis Victoria wrote a poem for the occasion. Her son Chris is learning Tai Chi, he came to the workshop to give us the kids’ perspective.

The day after this workshop I was back in my medical practice and Steve, a caring father brought his son to me for consultation. While we were chatting he told me this amazing story about Friendship Patrol!

The Tai Chi 4 Kidz team was interviewed by Channel Ten in Australia and will be shown at the national program "Totally Wild" at 4.00 pm, June 10, 2008. Do watch it and send the station feedback.

By the time you get this newsletter I will be on my workshop world tour. I hope to meet with some of you. Next month’s theme is the spiritual aspect of Tai Chi with a feature article from Bruce Young, a visionary Methodist pastor and a Tai Chi teacher.

In this Newsletter

Dr Lam’s care for children and his interest in their cognitive behaviour led to the creation of Tai Chi 4 Kidz.
A poem by Anastasia, especially for the inaugural TC4Kidz Instructors Training workshop in Melbourne.
Steve, a parent, tells how children not only learn from us but we can also learn from them.
Caroline would like everyone to know about the Tai Chi for Health Community and the benefits of being a part of it.
Hear what TCA Certified Instructors have to say about teaching Tai Chi for Arthritis.
Dr Bob has some fitting humour this month as many fly to Massachusetts for the June workshop

June’s Special Offer

This month you will receive a free Tai Chi Music CD when you buy both the Tai Chi 4 Kidz instructional DVD and the “Teaching Tai Chi Effectively” book.

Limit to one order per person. Click here to place your order

Upcoming workshops:

June 7-8, Bologna, Italy
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructors training workshop

June 14-15, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA
Pre-conference: Tai Chi @ Work Instructors training workshop

June 16-21, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA
One week Tai Chi Workshop with Ten Courses

August 2-3, Sydney, Australia
Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop

August 21-22, Sydney, Australia
Therapeutic Tai Chi for physiotherapists and occupational therapists

August 30-31, Wellington, New Zealand
Tai Chi for Diabetes, Instructors Training workshop

Sept 13-14, Sydney, Australia
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructors training workshop
Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Instructors training workshop

For more information about these and other workshops conducted by me or my authorised master trainers, go to the Workshop Calendar

Yours in tai chi,

Paul Lam, M.D.

http://www.taichiproductions.com

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Tai Chi 4 Kidz

By Dr Paul Lam, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Many teachers and I believe Tai Chi would be a very useful exercise for kids. It will help them meet the challenges of life more effectively because Tai Chi helps to develop body, mind and overall coordination.

When my daughter was very young I started teaching her Tai Chi. After a month or so she lost interest. Instead of pushing her to continue and run the risk of turning her off Tai Chi, I decided not to pursue, hoping one day she would come back to it. Thirteen years later, she did. I know Tai Chi can help children learn new skills faster; give them a more balanced mind so they can make the best out of their lives. Using the same method to teach children as though they are adults will not work well. After collaborating with many teachers, especially my co-creator Cheryl Lee Player, we developed the Tai Chi 4 Kidz program. With it, I now feel confident that if I were to go back in time, my daughter would have continued her Tai Chi journey without the 13 years break.

This program is designed to bring Tai Chi to the children in a way they would enjoy. It teaches them the way they learn best. For example: being more visual. The contents are designed to incorporate different teaching methods and focus on Tai Chi principles rather than the complexity of the movements.

The program is divided into several learning blocks to suit children from different age groups with varying learning capacity. The training workshop and the instructional DVD are intended for adults, teachers and children alike. I hope to see school teachers and parents take up this program as an integral part of children’s education.

The inaugural TC4Kidz instructors training workshop was held in Melbourne in April 2008, coordinated by Arthritis Victoria. AV is a visionary organisation which not only cares about bringing Tai Chi to children with arthritis, but also to those in the community at large. Another workshop was conducted last month in Adelaide. Channel Nine came on site to film the class and this was shown on Channel Nine News on the 18th May. If you didn’t catch that you have another chance to tune in to Channel Ten’s “Totally Wild” story of "Tai Chi for Kids", Tuesday 10th June at 4.00 pm on Network Ten. The program will be featuring children practicing Tai Chi with Cheryl Lee Player and myself at Donnelly Park, suburban Sydney. For overseas readers, it will probably be shown on YouTube or Channel Ten at http://ten.com.au/ten/tv_totallywild.html

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A Tai Chi Poem for Kids

By Anastasia Yianni, Melbourne, Vic, Australia

Anastasia is the Tai Chi Educator for Arthritis Victoria. This poem was especially written for the inaugural TC4Kidz Instructors Training workshop in Melbourne, April 2008.

Teddy Tai and Teddy Chi

Dream that they are growing strong and tall

They step one leg softly to the side

As their hands float up to hold a ball

Then the ball floats back towards their face

With a very slow pace

The ball expands in their hands

Now coming together like elastic bands

Now i want to play with teddy tai chi

My right hand stretches out to the side and eyes follow

As my left hand moves towards the elbow

I step with my left foot out wide

Then start to brush my left hand to the side

As my right hand stretches past my ear

Then pushes forward to here

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A New Concept in the School’s Playground…. Friendship Patrol

By Steve Drakoulis, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Steve and his family are patients of Dr Lam. When his son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder he became heavily involved in support groups dealing with ASD. Together with his wife’s dedication and love their son is doing amazingly well, confident that he will grow into a well functioning adult one day.

I attended a talk last year on educating children with Special Needs, and heard how the speaker, a renowned advisor to the UN and Australian government about education, came across an initiative at a school that vastly impressed her. As she was looking around the yard at the Bethany school in Werribbe, Victoria, she came across 3 small children who were hurriedly scoffing their lunch minutes before the rest of the kids were set to join them outside. She asked them what they were doing, and these kids explained something extraordinary.

"We are the Friendship Patrol" they said. They went on to tell her that as the school had a large number of children with Special Needs, their job was to patrol the playground and look for any child who appeared sad, or lonely, or not being part of a group. They would befriend them and introduce them to other children and help them be play and be happy!

The woman was astounded. In her 30 years visiting schools around the world, she had never encountered such initiative. She went to the Principal and told her how wonderful she thought she was for introducing such a fantastic scheme. The Principal told her that the idea had in fact come from the children themselves, who having been allowed to understand how some children needed extra friendship, they asked her if they could form the Friendship Patrol. Each day, 3 different children took it in turn to start their lunch early before everyone else came out, and they could commence their 'patrol'. The Principal was insightful and progressive enough to see the merit of the idea and thanks to these beautiful little children, no one was ever left abandoned or excluded in the playground.

We can all learn something from these children!

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Why Join Tai Chi for Health Community in USA?

By Caroline Demoise, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Caroline is a Master Trainer and a regular contributor to the newsletter. With the June workshop fast approaching, it is a good opportunity to introduce this organisation to those who don’t already know.

Tai Chi for Health Community (TCHC) was created in America to promote the quality of people’s lives through Tai Chi for Health programs. We support Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Back Pain, Tai Chi for Osteoporosis, and Tai Chi at Work because these programs have been shown to be safe and effective in improving the quality of people’s lives.

This nonprofits organization is dedicated to bringing tai chi to every community in America. By making local classes available to people with chronic health problems and to older people who may have wanted to enjoy the benefits of tai chi but felt that the traditional long forms were too difficult for them to learn, we can be a powerful agent of change in self-care.

Dr. Paul Lam, one of the international leaders and teachers of tai chi, is dedicated to creating simple, safe and effective tai chi programs for people of all ages and physical conditions to enjoy and to use to increase the quality of their lives. His mission has been to train tai chi exercise leaders around the world who will bring these programs to people everywhere. TCHC supports Dr. Lam and his worldwide tai chi mission by providing a national organization where you can be of service and make a difference in people’s lives. We invite you to join us and help spread the practice of tai chi.

People who join TCHC get additional benefits such as access to group liability insurance rates, discounts on products and workshops from Tai Chi Productions and quarterly newsletters. Our website, www.taichiforhealthcommunity.org is a source of information about this growing service organization. But more important than what TCHC can do for us is what we what we can do for others when we unite our efforts and work together.

You can become a member of TCHC for $45.00 (USD) by completing an application and sending it to us. You can get to know us at the hospitality event at the Dr. Lam’s June tai chi workshop in Mt. Holyoke. Request a brochure by contacting us at members@taichiforhealthcommunity.org. Donations to TCHC are tax deducible.

This is an incredible mission and we need your help to make this dream a reality. We want people to be aware of the benefits of the Tai Chi for Health programs and to have access to local classes. This means networking with groups and talking about tai chi everywhere we go. It means encouraging people to become tai chi exercise leaders, offering more community classes, writing more articles about tai chi and encouraging local newspapers, magazines and newsletters to print our words. As TCHC grows in size there will be more members working to actualize the vision. Please join us in accomplishing the mission and vision of the Tai Chi for Health Community by making a tax free contribution or becoming a member of TCHC.

NOTE FROM DR LAM:

TCHC was one of the three sponsors for the breakfast meeting I mentioned last month at the 3rd International Congress for Complementary Medicine Research held in Sydney, March 2008. We appreciate your support for increase Tai Chi research, helping to improve the physical and mental health of many.

What Certified Instructors of TCA Have to Say

By Maureen Miller, St Marys, GA, USA

Maureen is a certified TCA instructor.

Lots of Qi (pronounced chee), or energy, was floating around the Camden Recreation Center this past weekend during the county’s first Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor’s workshop. Participants from Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Virginia joined locals for a fun filled, but intense Saturday and Sunday.

“This weekend, you’ll learn how teach an exercise program that’s based on Tai Chi principles; one that’s medically responsible, safe and effective,” said Master Trainer Patricia Lawson said as she opened the workshop.

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese exercise with its roots in martial arts. Nowadays, it is practiced throughout the world for its many health benefits. Medical studies have shown that its slow, continuous movements help to increase flexibility, balance and strength.

“Tai chi, like walking, accelerates the heart rate,” said Master Trainer and retired Navy submariner Marty Kidder, “but the blood oxygenation and circulation (achieved) is better than walking.”

The Tai Chi for Health programs are designed by Paul Lam, a family physician and Tai Chi Master in Australia. Based on Sun style Tai Chi, the Tai Chi for Arthritis form helps to improve mobility by using forward and backward steps in an upright position. It also contains a lot of Qigong movements. Qigong is an ancient Chinese art and science and means working with the Qi — or life energy.

“Qigong helps with breathing and relaxation,” said Lawson. “It is particularly effective for healing and repairing cartilage, inflamed joints and tendons.”

“I came for an update,” said Lynn Norris from Hamilton, Georgia. Tai Chi for Arthritis instructors must be re-certified every two years.

Physical therapist Gina Gerona, tasked with starting an exercise program at the Jacksonville nursing home where she works, found the workshop to be exactly what she was seeking.

“I wanted certification before I started teaching,” said Gerona. I’m really glad I came to this workshop. There’s a nice positive atmosphere, and it’s a beautiful facility.”

“I came to learn a different kind of martial art,” said Audrey St. John a message therapist and Black Belt martial artist from Kingsland, “but mostly (I came) to learn how to help clients who have arthritis and limited range of motion.”

Arlene Huber from St. Marys felt right at home. She’s been attending Tai Chi classes at the Recreation Center for over 18 months. With certification in hand, she’s now looking forward to helping expand this program.

Humour, Laughter and Radiant Health

By Dr. Bob McBrien, Salisbury, Maryland,

USA

With some of you coming by air to Massachusetts in June for the workshop, this dose of humour is especially fitting.

A clear pathway to radiant health is our capacity for finding humour in each day. We heal through laughter, play, having fun and experiencing joy. Is it possible to find time for fun at work? Some say never, but yes it definitely is. Working for a major airline (no not the airlines making news) offers time for fun. Qantas Air, the airline that brings folks to the annual Tai Chi Workshops in Sydney and the

USA

is such an organisation. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers.

(P = the problem logged by the pilot.)

(S = the solution and action taken by the engineers.)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Something loose in cockpit.

S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what they're there for.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

The ground crew & engineers definitely have it right. Work can be play too. Thanks to Marty Kidder for passing this on to me.

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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.

Ask Dr Lam - you can ask me anything about tai chi here.

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