Newsletter #127 - March 2012

In this issue:

I hope your New Years resolution is looking good and on target. Remember to put tai chi practice as your priority. Health and harmony is the most important thing in life, with that everything else will get better. Tai chi is one of the best exercises to help improve your health both mentally and physically.

In February I did six wonderful workshops in South Korea, a country known for its industrious population. Thank you Professors Song and Cheon and your colleagues for facilitating these workshops! I would like to extend a special congratulations to Professor Rhayun Song who will be the director of the Tai Chi for Health Education and Research Centre In Daejeon. I have been working with Professor Song and her colleagues for nearly ten years.  Professor Song has had significant achievements in tai chi for health education and research; she has published many brilliant research papers in prestigious journals. Professor Song is a visionary educator and researcher, it is a visionary step! 

• Mike Soric identifies that the tai chi for health program will benefit a particular interest group. He believes the program will work and continues to look for opportunities to deliver the program to them.
• Rani Hughes impresses us with her desire and effort to introduce tai chi for health training classes to health care professionals in Sri Lanka’s second largest hospital.
• Caroline Demoise describes a practice drill that she uses to prepare students for the leisurely tying coat movement in Sun 73.
• Bruce Young shares a unique experimental program that explores methods for preparing and training Senior Trainers to meet the expectations and responsibilities of that position.
• Ernie Hall explores the many ways to introduce tai chi to the community and attract a wide variety of students.
• Sonia Tidemann demonstrates how retirees and the elderly commit to tai chi and its benefits by creating a self-perpetuating group of practitioners who continue even in the absence of an instructor.

• 20% discount on full range of DVDs

 

Please quote Coupon Number 20FR0312 when ordering.

Click here for more information or to place your order.

 

Upcoming Workshops: by Dr Paul Lam

 

April 28 - 29, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Instructor Training

 

April 28 - 29, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor Training

 

April 28 - 29, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor Training

 

April 28 - 28, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Tai Chi for Arthritis Multiple Updates

 

May 22 - 23, Petra Kauniainen, Finland

Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Instructor Training

 

May 26 - 27, Stockholm, Sweden

Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis

 

June 02 - 03, Solothurn, Switzerland

Tai Chi for Energy Instructor Training

 

June 09 - June 10, Memphis, TN, United States

Tai Chi for Energy Instructor Training

 

June 11 - June 17, Memphis, TN, United States

One Week Tai Chi Workshop

 

July 08 - 08, Sydney, Australia
Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis

 

July 21 - 22, Sydney, Australia
Tai Chi for Energy Instructor Training

Aug 02-03, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis

 

Aug 04-05, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Tai Chi for Energy Instructor Training

Aug 25-26, Townsville, QLD, Australia

Exploring the Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis

Many other workshops conducted by my authorised master trainers are listed in Workshop Calendar.

 
Yours in Tai Chi,

  

Paul Lam, MD

/taichiforhealthinstitute.org/

 

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When we arrived in Townsville in February 2010, we identified early that the region has a very strong following within the Fitness Industry, Combative Martial Arts and also has a strong Army Base Culture. We asked ourselves “what is available and how could we help all those people that were not able to continue in their chosen activity, sport or career after sustaining injury?”

• Firstly to rehabilitate and encourage service personnel to return back into their existing ‘Units’ and previous roles,
• Secondly to transfer to another area of the Armed Services, and
• Thirdly to assist in discharge and help integrate back into the community.

 

We have also received approval to pose ‘Pre-evaluation’ questions to each participant as they start the tai chi for health gentle exercise program and ‘Post-evaluation’ questions to be administered to each participant every 6 weeks over the 24-week program. Although generic in nature we hope to build a statistical view of participant’s response and receptiveness to a tai chi for health gentle exercise program being part of the overall rehabilitation process. Together with the assistance of the ‘Soldier Recovery Unit’ co-ordinator we may be able to build a case for [or against] a future program.

 

The eventual aim of this pilot program is to justify a clinical trial that we hope will then justify the integration on a permanent basis of a tai chi for health program, to be delivered to all military personnel at recovery units in the three main bases located at Townsville, Brisbane and Darwin. [… still a long way to go …]

Our long-term goal is to facilitate training of key Army personnel to become Tai Chi for Health Instructor/Leaders so that they can continue to deliver a suitable Tai Chi for Health program to their own personnel. Perhaps as part of an early intervention strategy, for coping or even better still as part of a preventative technique, to help minimise the likelihood of developing debilitating effects of stress [… I might be getting a bit ahead of myself … but you never know]. The program is scheduled to start Friday 2nd March 2012. So we will keep you posted of emerging issues and hopefully be able to report on positive outcomes in the future.

 

We are very grateful to Dr Paul Lam and Master Trainers: Rani Hughes, Australia and Jef Morris, USA for their continued support and great assistance to us over the past 18 months in keeping us motivated to keep persevering with this ambitious project. In particular the sharing of their insights into possible issues that we might face. As always, we realise that for any project of this size and nature to succeed, requires a lot of help and support from many people. Thank you all.

 

“If you believe in it … go for it!”

 

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Next Stop, Sri Lanka……
Rani Hughes, Master Trainer, Warburton, VIC, Australia

As a master trainer in the Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) program, I have been asked many wonderful questions.

Recently I was asked my most unusual question….  How to keep a sari on during tai chi practice? 

Last year, after some personal challenges, I needed time and space to simply ‘be’ and reflect. I visited my beloved Dhamma teacher of 20 years, Bhante Kassapa, in Sri Lanka. He is a Buddhist monk and runs a meditation centre in the middle of a jungle. This was my first visit to Sri Lanka.

 

I spent many hours meditating, reflecting, practicing tai chi and simply ‘being’. After some time, I began to feel stronger within myself so asked Bhante, how can I help?  As I am an occupational therapist, Bhante took me to the local hospital. Bhante taught mindfulness to staff and patients at Kandy’s General Hospital, Sri Lanka’s second largest hospital for over 30 years. He is well loved and highly respected at this hospital.

 

Bhante introduced me to the Clinical Director of Psychiatry, Dr Wickramasinghe. He asked about the work I did in Australia. I discussed Dr Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health programs, describing the benefits gained from these tai chi programs. Intrigued, Dr Wickramasinghe invited me to provide a seminar about tai chi and the benefits for doctors as part of the continuing medical education program.

 

Driving back to the retreat centre, Bhante and I reflected on the wisdom of generating interest and enthusiasm for tai chi, without providing doctors an opportunity to refer patients on to tai chi classes.  It became clear; we needed to train the physiotherapist and occupational therapist to conduct safe and effective tai chi for health sessions.  Then doctors could refer patients onto tai chi for health classes.

 

Incredibly quickly, a Tai Chi for Arthritis workshop was organized at Kandy General Hospital. Each morning the physiotherapists saw patients, so we arranged four afternoons to complete the training.  I contacted Dr Paul Lam, requesting all workshop materials (DVD, handbooks etc) to be posted to Sri Lanka as soon as possible. Paul kindly provided 50% discount off all materials for this workshop. I paid the remaining $700 for the training materials, as the Kandy hospital and staff had no money to cover these expenses. 

 

Both the training workshop and the doctor’s seminar was a great success. Approximately 80 doctors attended the seminar and we trained 30 physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the Tai Chi for Arthritis program. It was the therapist’s first contact with tai chi. Their strong background in mindfulness (from their Buddhist culture) enabled them to quickly and easily absorb tai chi. 

 

Interestingly, one of the greatest learning’s from the workshop was exploring how therapists could work in small groups with patients. Previously all treatment in Sri Lanka was given individually to the patient by the therapist.  We explored how patients with similar chronic conditions may benefit from sharing and learning together.

 

News travels quickly in Sri Lanka. Within 48 hours, I had other hospitals, universities and the National Wushsu Coaches Council of Sri Lanka contact me, requesting more workshops. Unfortunately I had to return to Melbourne, Australia. My tai chi classes in Melbourne had already had an extra long summer break.

 

I plan to return to Sri Lanka in January 2013 to update the therapists I trained at Kandy General Hospital. I would love to offer more Tai Chi for Arthritis workshops in Sri Lanka at the other hospitals, universities and the Sri Lankan Wushsu Association. However, I need your help.  I need to raise money to buy the training materials for these workshops.  I would really appreciate it if you could donate $1, $10, $20, $50, $100 or $500 towards the costs of these workshops. I have developed a web page on indiegogo crowd funding website, please follow the link to donate or find out more information about my tai chi project in Sri Lanka. 

http://www.indiegogo.com/Tai-Chi-for-Arthritis-in-Sri-Lanka-1?a=440026

 

With gratitude Rani Hughes.  ranihughes@gmail.com

 

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Using a Practice Drill as Preparation for Teaching a Movement
Caroline Demoise, Master Trainer, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

 

Before practicing Sun 73 each day I like to include arm swings as part of my warm-up routine. This has value beyond increasing circulation to muscles and gently moving joints. With focus this becomes a meditation on weight transfer, alignment and moving your whole body from its core in a fluid fashion following the pathway of energy that begins in your feet and travels up the body in spirals, is guided by your waist and flows down your arms to your fingertips. So before you even begin the form, you are practicing tai chi principles and preparing for the first leisurely tying coat movement in Sun 73. 

 

Visualize a tai chi studio that looks out into a group of trees from six large windows. The landmarks of this room include an orchid in the left corner, a DVD player in the right corner, a mirror on the right wall and a sword in the back right corner. These landmarks will be used in orienting yourself to the movement leisurely-tying-coat and feeling how this movement flows out from the centre of your body as arms respond to movement initiated by the turning of your waist.

 

The most common arm swing warm-up involves turning from the waist to the right as you shift weight to the right leg allowing your left arm to swing freely beyond the weighted leg. Then turn left, shifting weight to the left leg, which swings your right arm across your body. Are you with me so far?  Now let’s try another version that is a practice drill for the weight shifts and movement into the first leisurely tying coat in the 73 form.  In this version, instead of standing with feet parallel, turn your toes inward (pigeon-toe fashion) from your shoulder width position. As your body turns to the right, weight shifts into your left leg. Your arms follow the turning of your body to the right and you sit (sink) into your left leg. With weight on the left, you are pivoting on your right heel so that your right toe turns out coordinating with the movement of your arms. As you turn back this is reversed. The right toe turns inward, weight shifts to the right leg and you sit (sink) into your right leg so that you can pivot on the left heel turning your left toe out to coordinate with your arm swing. Practice this meditation on weight transfers and coordinated waist, toe and arm movement until it becomes fluid and effortless.

 

Now let’s see how this variation on the arm swing warm-up prepares you for form two, leisurely-tying-coat in Sun 73. After commencement, you are facing the orchid corner in a follow-step position. As you turn to the right, weight shifts to your right leg and your left toe turns inward (pigeon-toed position) and your arms turn toward the DVD in the right corner.  Shift your weight (sit and sink into the left leg) and as you turn your waist, your right toe and right arm will follow to the sword corner. Smoothly turn your waist back to the DVD corner allowing your arm to follow in a circular movement and be in position to advance toward the mirrored wall as you step that direction with a follow step. Leisurely-tying-coat becomes a reflection of skilfully executed weight transfers coordinated with arms that follow and reflect the waist turns.

 

I enjoy teaching this pigeon-toed version of the arm swing warm-up in preparation for teaching leisurely-tying-coat to students.  It has helped me clarify the movement, deepen my connection to coordinated movement and practice tai chi principles. Leisurely-tying-coat is one of those coordination intensive movements that benefits from much repetition, attention and focus on weight shifts. Being in the correct follow-step position at the end of commencement is essential (follow-step not too close) to execute weight shifts without feeling crowded.  Then there is the opportunity to feel how this movement is driven by turning of the waist and how the arms follow naturally and how relaxed the body feels when this beautiful movement coordinates arms and legs. Leisurely-tying-coat is the flowing centrepiece of Sun 73.

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A New Concept in Training for Senior Trainers and Prospective Senior Trainers                   

Rev Dr Bruce M Young, Senior Trainer, Bangor, ME, USA     
                                                  

Senior Trainers and certified Tai Chi for Health instructors from along the Eastern U.S. seaboard were invited to Torrington, Connecticut on the first weekend of December 2011 for a unique experimental program.  This workshop was organized and led by Master Trainers Marty Kidder and Pat Lawson, explored methods for preparing and training Senior Trainers to meet the expectations and responsibilities of that position.

Participants engaged in discussions concerning appropriate and expected ways to support Master Trainers as they develop, prepare, and teach Tai Chi for Health workshops. The “nuts and bolts” of workshop organization, marketing, and the legal and financial aspects of leading workshops and regular classes were also discussed. It was noted that as Senior Trainers and tai chi instructors, there is a need to listen to folks who are attending tai chi classes and workshops in order to understand what is important to them, why they come; and what will bring them back.

 

There were a lot of opportunities during the two-day workshop for current Senior Trainers to share information about their experiences assisting Master Trainers; and there were opportunities for all to share their ideas about offering and promoting Tai Chi for Health classes in their local areas.  One participant indicated this workshop was an excellent chance to see how other teachers present the tai chi forms and principals, in an atmosphere where it was understood that no one approach was necessarily correct.

There was also a lively discussion concerning the question of why someone would want to become a Senior Trainer.  Some who attended were concerned that the position was viewed as merely an assistant to the Master Trainer without the esoteric or financial rewards.  This became an important question that will continue to be explored by this group and similar groups that will follow.

 

A good deal of the workshop was also devoted to perfecting the Sun 73 form.  Using the step-wise progressive method along with small group instruction lead by the Senior Trainers, Marty and Pat chose one or two forms in each section on which to concentrate.  The instruction was geared to fit the needs of all who attended, whether they were advanced in the form, or just beginning to learn it.

 

Finally, Marty and Pat lead the group to a consensus on what the three most important aspects of the Senior Trainer’s role is.  Using survey results done prior to the workshop and the job description found on Dr Lam’s web site, small groups of attendees came to agreement and then shared their top three choices with the larger group.

The participants agreed that the three most important roles of a Senior Trainer are:

1) to assist the Master Trainer,
2) to be the local resource for area certified Tai Chi for Health instructors, available to mentor and support them,
3) to communicate the vision of Tai Chi for Health at the local level.

It was an excellent week-end, and all who attended felt that such workshops should be held on a regular basis to assist Senior Trainers and those interested in becoming Senior Trainers in understanding their role and function as part of the tai chi for health family.

 

Our thanks go to Marty and Pat for their foresight and efforts in bringing this workshop to fruition.  We look forward to the continuation of training events such as this for Senior Trainers and advanced Tai Chi for Health instructors.

For more information on organizing an ST development workshop in your area you can contact Marty at marty@oaktreetaichi.com

 

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Promoting Tai Chi for Health in the Community
Ernie Hall, Senior Trainer, St Joseph, MO, USA

As a senior trainer, new instructors often ask I how promote classes. There are as many ways to go about marketing and promoting as there are different sets we instruct and practice. TCA, TCD and TCO classes offer appropriate benefits for nearly everyone in a general population just as they can be specific to a particular group. Modifications such as Seated TCA broaden the reach even further. This is particularly true given co-mobidity across categories of chronic disease, disability and fitness level. I would like to share a few ideas tried in my community, which may generate new ways to promote Tai Chi for Health in other communities.

 

Enlist support from local agencies such as the arthritis and osteoporosis foundations and diabetes centres. Once certified, a new instructor can write a letter of introduction and arrange to meet with agency representatives. Most agencies maintain a contact list of patients, clients and caregivers and are willing to promote classes through direct mail and announcements at support group meetings. Volunteer to give a short talk and demonstration at an upcoming meeting.
 
Open lines of communication with local media. Submit a brief article to the health and fitness editor or newspaper columnist. Some newspapers publish periodicals for free distribution, and the editors are willing to feature special-interest articles. Follow up with a phone call, and don’t be surprised if the columnist contacts you. It was good to have a few “talking points” in mind when interviewed by a newspaper reporter and radio talk show host recently. These were opportunities to invite the general community to experience tai chi at the shopping mall each Tuesday morning before stores open for the day. Tai Chi for Health has been added to the electronic marquee at each mall entrance.  

 

Look for opportunities to demonstrate at health fairs and events. The Missouri coalition for fall prevention co-sponsors an annual event with local agencies on the first day of fall season, and the hospital’s diabetes centre hosts an educational event at the university each year. Between 300-500 people attended these events this past year. Tai chi class members and instructors from area towns came together to lead interactive participant demonstrations.

 

Enlist help from others, and the word gets around. Explore the many ways to introduce tai chi to the community and attract a wide variety of students.

 

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In a small retirement village in Port Lincoln, South Australia, is a group of committed, self-sustaining tai chi practitioners now into their fourth year. It began when a volunteer, Sonia Tidemann, talked to the Lincoln Grove community about the personal benefits to her, showed the benefits to others portrayed in Dr Lam’s Road to harmony DVD and did a short demonstration. From then on, it was no stopping a core group of women aged from 60 to 90. At first, they thought they’d never learn all the movements but, with continuing practice and encouragement, they now engage in tai chi for diabetes, tai chi for arthritis, yang-style 24 forms and currently are learning tai chi fan.

Maree, an Occupational Therapist who joined Dr Paul Lam’s Instructor team in 1998, has been teaching Dr Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health forms ever since.. Absorbed by tai chi and qigong, she visited China 2001. Maree was a Master Trainer with Arthritis Victoria for 6 years, and loves to share Tai Chi wherever she travels.

Not only does a good laugh promote radiant health & well-being, it also helps builds strong relationships. It makes sense to continuously work to strengthen in our relationships. Most would agree that positive forms of humor and sharing laughs helps us achieve that goal. I have many pleasant memories of the laughs we shared during the Friday night social dinners at the June Tai Chi workshops I attended over the past ten years. Sharing our tai chi experiences, good food, making new friends and laughter brought us closer together as we enjoyed the special meal that is now a tradition at the workshops.

• What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it’s all about?
• Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled.
• Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.
• What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
• I’m an agnostic dyslexic insomniac that lies awake wondering if 
  there really is a dog.
• If reality wants to get in touch, it knows where I am.
• Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
• A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
• I get enough exercise just pushing my luck.