Tai Chi Student Shares Insights....

VJ Mohan
June 14, 2011

Health Benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong

I signed-up for our Tai Chi class in Fall 2010 out of curiosity about this Chinese art form. Since then I have come to personally experience the health and wellness benefits of practicing these exercises. After our class sessions, my body and mind feel at ease, free of stress; and I feel more confident about myself, even after having struggled to learn the forms. I think that the feeling of confidence arises from the elegant warrior-like postures. Further the movements are aesthetically appealing both to perform oneself and to watch others perform.

Ronnie Robinson, a tai chi teacher in UK, lists a number of health benefits of tai chi:[1]
It leads to a healthy body by facilitating the free flow of chi, our vital energy, through our bodies and by balancing the yin and yang energies in our bodies. It helps our internal organs function effectively and strengthens our immune system. Tai chi improves our posture by making us more aware of our body and of how it moves. It relieves stress by training us to breathe deliberately and consciously. It emphasizes letting go physically, psychologically, and emotionally as we focus on our movements. We feel more confident about ourselves as we learn to stand upright and move in a purposeful but relaxed manner. Because tai chi does not require extraordinary strength or skills to do these exercises, it is suitable for all ages including very old people. Tai chi is often called “moving meditation” and, as such, it bestows the benefits of meditation practice on its practitioners; benefits, such as, increased focus and a sense of detachment from our unceasing mental activity.

The claims above sound reasonable when examined intuitively. They also have anecdotal support. However I wanted to see if there was any objective evidence to support the claims of health benefits. I was surprised to find an article in a Harvard health newsletter[2] that lists a number of specific health benefits supported by objective scientific studies conducted in prestigious universities, such as, Stanford University, Harvard University, and Tufts University. These studies suggest that tai chi improves “muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and, to a lesser degree, aerobic conditioning.” They also show that tai chi was helpful in the following medical conditions:

1. Arthritis
2. Low bone density
3. Breast cancer
4. Heart disease
5. Heart failure
6. Hypertension
7. Parkinson’s disease
8. Sleep problems
9. Stroke.

That is an impressive list, especially for such an easy-going and beautiful exercise practice, isn’t it?

In addition, the website of the prestigious Mayo Clinic says, “preliminary evidence suggests that tai chi may offer numerous benefits beyond stress reduction, including:

o Reducing anxiety and depression
o Improving balance, flexibility and muscle strength
o Reducing falls in older adults
o Improving sleep quality
o Lowering blood pressure
o Improving cardiovascular fitness in older adult
o Relieving chronic pain
o Increasing energy, endurance and agility
o Improving overall feelings of well-being.”[3]

All this evidence should make everyone sign-up for the tai chi class right away.



[1] Ronnie Robinson, Total Tai Chi (London: Duncan Baird, 2009) 28-29.

[2] “The health benefits of tai chi,” Harvard Women's Health Watch, May 2009, http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2009/May/The-health-benefits-of-tai-chi, accessed June 13, 2011.

[3] “Tai chi: Discover the many possible health benefits,” Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087, accessed June 13, 2011.

[Posted by Douglas Young with permission of the author.]

Tai chi practices prevent falls

Here's another interesting article about how tai chi practice prevents problems, in this case by improving balance and nimbleness.  I am reminded of the importance of this for all of us after my beloved mother-in-law took a tumble on a muddy slope.  Sometimes accidents can't be prevented, but tai chi can and does help...


June 7, 2011

Tai chi moves prevent falls

By Lisa Wade Raasch Get Healthy Muskogeehttp://muskogeephoenix.com/features/x1517690868/Tai-chi-moves-prevent-falls

Tai Chi, Green Tea, and healthier bones!

Another study with pre-osteoporotic women shows that tai chi improves bone strength, with improved results in combination with moderate intake of green tea. The study also acknowledges other benefits for the two study groups that practiced tai chi.

Sources:

• Toronto Sun: Green tea, tai chi help with bone health
  
• Dr. Cutler: Combination of Green Tea and Tai Chi may Provide Health Benefits
  
• Ivanhoe: Green Tea + Tai Chi = Healthy Bones
 

TAI CHI AND QIGONG WORKSHOPS WITH SIFU VIOLA BRUMBAUGH

Feb. 18th-19th, she offers training in the following at the Grants Pass YMCA, 1000 Redwood Avenue, Grants Pass, Oregon:

                Yin Yang Medical QiGong:            Friday, Feb. 18^th, 4:30 to 6:00 pm

The Yin Yang Medical QiGong is a simple form to follow to cultivate and bring healing energy into your body. Enjoy immediate results of better breathing, energy, and relaxation.

Yang Style (24) Tai Chi:                     Friday, Feb. 18^th, 6:15 to 7:45pm

For Yang Tai Chi practitioners, gain new insights and deepen your own practice through energy and form work.

Ba Fa Pan Gen QiGong:                        Saturday, Feb. 19^th 1:30 to 3:00pm

QiGong for spiraling and cleansing the body from the inside out.  This 8 movement QiGong stretches and twines the entire body to release toxins and improve health and vigor.

Chen (New Frame) Tai Chi:                   Saturday, Feb. 19^th 3:15 to 4:45pm

Chen Style Taijiquan’s new frame.  In this class we will focus on Part 1, refinement of sequence.   Gain better understanding of the form as a whole as well as focus and refinement of critical moves.

AND, Sunday BONUS CLASS: Special Location: Lawnridge Park, corner of Manzanita and Lawnridge in Grants Pass, OR.

                Chen Tai Chi Open Practice                 Sunday, Feb 20^th, 8:00 to 9:30am

All students are welcome to come join this practice of Chen Taiji and enjoy the camaraderie of group practice in the beautiful Lawnridge Park.  With requests for other forms welcome.

Viola Brumbaugh began her study of Tai Chi with Master David Leung in Eugene, Oregon over 17 years ago. Since that time, she has devoted herself to internal Chinese Martial Arts, particularly Tai Chi, Wing Chun & QiGong. She has traveled to China on numerous occasions and has had the privilege of training with and learning from some of the highest level living masters. In 1999, she was inducted as an indoor student of Master Leung, and then, in 2007 became a disciple of Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei, 19th generation Chen Family Taijiquan Lineage holder. Viola Brumbaugh now runs Wise Orchid Martial Arts – Tai Chi, QiGong & Kung Fu in Seattle, WA. Integrating a combination of traditional and creative teaching methods, Sifu Viola Brumbaugh’s ongoing classes are structured to help you develop flexibility, relaxation, balance and strength.

FEES:  $15.00 for the first session with additional sessions at $10.00 each.

Instructions for admittance to YMCA: YMCA members – show membership card; For non member’s contact Viola for instructions, a small one day entrance fee may be required along with a disclaimer form for entry. For more information and registration, please call 541-218-7000.

New research on the benefits of Tai Chi

Easing Ills through Tai Chi

Researchers study the benefits of this mind-body exercise. Read the article with full context here:

http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/01/researchers-study-tai-chi-benefits

This article includes some discussion of tai chi and qigong effects on the brain, immune system response, balance issues, cardiovascular and bone health. They discuss old and new research results, and ideas that may be confirmed by future research.

Some excerpts:

• For anyone who practices tai chi regularly, “brain plasticity arising from repeated training may be relevant, since we know that brain connections are ‘sculpted’ by daily experience and practice,” explains Kerr, who is investigating brain dynamics related to tai chi and mindfulness meditation.
• One study on the immune response to varicella-zoster virus (which causes shingles) suggested in 2007 that tai chi may enhance the immune system and improve overall well-being in older adults.
• Clinical trials and basic research studies on patients with heart failure “suggest tai chi may be of benefit to patients in terms of greater exercise capacity and quality of life.”
• "... greater than a 40 percent reduction in the number of falls in the group that received tai chi.”

Further information may be available from the organizations and experts quoted in the article:

• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi)
• Brookline Tai Chi school near Boston (http://brooklinetaichi.org)
• Catherine Kerr, Harvard Medical School instructor
• Marie-Helene Jouvin, Harvard Medical School instructor and pathologist 
• Peter M. Wayne, director tai chi and mind-body research program at Harvard Osher Research Center

Guest Teaching In San Jose

It was nice to see many of my friends and former tai chi students when visiting San Jose this week.  I appreciated the warm welcome at Ansgar's Thursday evening practice in the park.  We worked on the forward pouncing and turtle movements of the Ba Fa Pan Gen, then finished the practice with an uninterrupted slow execution of the Yang Style Short Form.  Thanks to all who attended and made me feel so welcome! ~Douglas

Tai Chi/ Qigong Weekend Training Opportunity in Southern Oregon

VIOLA BRUMBAUGH (Pang Huilan) HAS JUST RETURNED FROM ANOTHER 3-WEEK TRAINING SESSION IN CHINA AND WILL BE VISITING SOUTHERN OREGON THIS WEEKEND OFFERING TWO AFTERNOONS OF TAI CHI AND QIGONG WORKSHOPS.

THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY, she offers training in the following at the
Grants Pass YMCA,1000 Redwood Avenue, Grants Pass, Oregon:

Yin Yang Medical QiGong: Friday, Oct 15 4:30 to 5:30 pm

The Yin Yang Medical QiGong is a simple form to follow and enjoy immediate results of better breathing, energy, relaxation.

Yang Style (24) Tai Chi: Friday, Oct 15 5:30 to 6:30 pm

For Yang practitioners, gain new insights on your own practice.

Ba Fa Pan Gen: Sat., Oct 16, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

QiGong for spiraling and cleansing the body from the inside out.

Chen (New Frame) Tai Chi: Sat., Oct 16, 3:00 to 4:00 pm

For more information and registration, please call 541-218-7000.

FEES: $12.00 for individual session; $20.00 for 2 sessions w/additional hours @$10.00 each.

Instructions for admittance to YMCA: YMCA members – show membership card; OSU Tai Chi class members-show your orange October pass card. For non member’s contact Viola for instructions, a small one day entrance fee may be required along with a disclaimer form for entry.

Viola Brumbaugh
Wise Orchid Martial Arts - Taijiquan, Qigong & Kung Fu