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WorldTaiChiDay.org News . . .
A Premiere Global Ezine Tai Chi & Qigong Magazine,
another free service from www.WorldTaiChiDay.org
Dear World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Supporters,
Are you searching for a Tai Chi or Qigong class in your area? Did you know that WorldTaiChiDay.org offers a worldwide teachers and schools directory you can search by city, state, nation or zip code to find a list of teachers in your area?
We are dedicated to connecting people worldwide with the wide array of Tai Chi and Qigong treasures in their local areas:
http://listings.worldtaichiday.org/
Are you or a loved one dealing with a health challenge, or just curious about the stunning and profound amount of medical research coming out on Tai Chi and Qigong? WorldTaiChiDay.org has collected articles on such medical research for nearly 15 years. See below article on Tai Chi and Qigong Medical Research which we run in each newsletter, and share it with those you care about who are dealing with health challenges.
Here's the latest.
Yours in Qi,
Bill Douglas, Founder of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
REMINDER: If you receive "text" versions of our Ezine Magazine, we HIGHLY recommend you go to WorldTaiChiDay.org and "Join Our Free Email List" AGAIN, to sign up for the "html" edition. You are missing some gorgeous art, photos, videos, and illustrations.
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Is There a Tai Chi & Qigong Community, or a Circular Firing Squad?!
Okay, a little tongue in cheek drama in this article's title, but seriously ... a call out for a little support ...
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Have you seen the 4th edition of my tai chi book?
Would you be interested in writing a review of it?
I get notes from individuals and teachers of many styles from time to time, telling us how much this book has meant to their Tai Chi or Qigong journey or teaching.
I need your reviews of this book, not just the reviews of those who want it to fail.
When a new edition comes out, it starts from scratch, depending on new reviewers, and just a few negative reviews can kill the baby in the crib.
Over a decade ago I wrote the 1st edition of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qigong" with the focused purposes of 1) Expanding awareness of these arts to the general public
2) Cataloguing the medical research proving Tai Chi & Qigong's benefits
3) Helping people get through the challenges of learning Tai Chi & Qigong to encourage them to "stick with their local classes," and NOT blaming challenges on their teachers, and
3) Connecting readers to Tai Chi and Qigong teachers and schools worldwide, promoting ALL styles of Tai Chi and Qigong as valuable assets to society.
Even though an overwhelming number of reviewers have lauded past editions, including by many of the world's top experts in the field, ... lately with this new edition, which is only better than the editions many of you loved, is being dismissed by fellow "tai chi'ers."
Its been a bit of a bummer to see tai chi people cutting down my book, in one case because it "didn't focus on the particular Tai Chi style" of one reader, and in the other case reviewing it poorly because it was "too enthusiastic in listing tai chi's benefits." [Note: All claims of Tai Chi & QG benefits in my book are backed up by medical research.]
So, if you are someone who's seen value in this book being out there promoting these arts, and promoting all the teachers of all styles, then it needs your reviews to balance out the few by people who are dissing it.
If you've enjoyed this book that so many of you have lauded with wonderful reviews, then this new edition needs your review. And this 4th edition is vastly improved over even the other 3 editions so many loved and raved about.
Thanks for believing in our work, as we've believed in the work of the worldwide tai chi & qigong community for the last 15 years.
See, being in the position that we are in, we have seen Tai Chi from a completely different angle. We have seen more support for this book, which comes more from a Guang Ping Tai Chi angle (since that's my grounding in Tai Chi), get more support from masters of the "Chen Style of Tai Chi," and the "Yang Style" of Tai Chi, then we've seen from our own Guang Ping Style. Which adds evidence, that it isn't "the style" so much as the "deeper understanding of all styles" that is at the heart of this issue.
Let's all open our hearts and minds to something deeper than our style. This book celebrates and promotes ALL styles of Tai Chi and Qigong as profound gifts to humanity, just as all styles of Tai Chi and Qigong are!
Bill Douglas
Past Reader Reviews of"The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qigong:""This book takes the best parts of T'ai Chi and makes them understandable [to Westerners] without requiring a grounding in Chinese culture and history." - Sifu Yijiao Hong, USA All-Tai Chi Grand Champion
CHEN STYLE MASTER
"Visionary! If you only buy one book on T'ai Chi, then this is the book. I have taught T'ai Chi for several decades myself, yet I have now read Bill's book from cover to cover seven times, and still get something new from it each time."
- Dr. Michael Steward Sr., D.MA, Ph.D., MA, Senior Coach for Team USA, Inductee of the World Sports Medicine and World Martial Arts Hall of Fame
"A superb introduction to T'ai Chi and Qigong."
- Midwest Book Review
"I highly recommend this book to all seeking to enhance their physical, mental and spiritual potential. Quantum Physics and leading edge cell biology emphasize the primal role of energy in our lives. In a user-friendly and meaningful style, Bill Douglas offers a compelling and easy to understand description of ancient Asian energy exercises that effectively reduce stress and improve health."
- Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D., Cellular Biologist & bestselling author of The Biology of Belief
"Douglas has achieved for QiGong what Apple did for the computer. He's brought it to the people ... great place to start for beginners. ... Teachers may also find this an excellent manual 'on how to explain these concepts to the general public...'"
- R. Poccia, qigong instructor, Beyond Anonymous, San Francisco
At the international Tai Chi Symposium at Vanderbilt University ALL the grandmaster of ALL the major Tai Chi styles said that ALL Tai Chi styles offered the same benefits.
Are we a family, or are we a circular firing squad?
That is the question we pose to the global tai chi and qigong family.
You can give your answer at:
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Engaging and Useful New Tai Chi Book!
Arthur Rosenfeld's new book is useful to teachers too ...
As a Tai Chi & Qigong teacher, I see tai chi book's from another angle than I did when I was a budding student. I'm still a student, and will be my entire life, learning from every single teacher I meet, as well as from my students.
But, when I saw Arthur's new book, "Tai Chi -- The Perfect Exercise," I saw a gem in it as a teacher. Arthur is not only a great tai chi student and teacher, but a great author, a powerful combination.
One part of his book that I have used over and over again in my classes is a part where he describes what "quality" ensures someone's success as a Tai Chi student, not athletic prowess, or physical strength, or speed ... but a sense of comfort with a "feeling of bewilderedness."
Arthur said something that all teachers realize they had been thinking, but were unable to articulate it. Many students get in a panicked rush, trying to push the teacher to answer all their questions in 1 hour of class, or 2 hours, or 20 hours, but that is impossible.
What we know as teachers has "sunk into" our cells, by "experiencing sensations," etc. It is not something you can hold in your mental head, let alone convey in words. We have to take our students on a journey they can never understand, until they walk down the path with us from months and years.
Thank you Arthur, for this profound book, every tai chi and qigong teacher should get it, as well as every student, which we all are.
-- Bill Douglas, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Founder
Tai Chi--The Perfect Exercise: Finding Health, Happiness, Balance, and Strength
kindle version:
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Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi - a Valuable Tool for Tai Chi & QG Teachers Worldwide!
"Highly readable and deeply informative. . . . This book has the potential of once and for all dispelling any lingering myths that Tai Chi and Qigong, and Western science's growing understanding of its uses, are anything less than a profound health revolution that can help prevent or treat the majority of health challenges, and ultimately may save society hundreds of billions if not trillions in future annual health care costs.
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi may well be that point we look back to and say, 'That was the tipping point that unleashed the building wave of Tai Chi, which has now transformed modern health care.'"
-Bill Douglas, founder of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & QiGong
"Alone we can do so little ... together
... so much."
-- Helen Keller
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Asian Week Magazine Covers World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's Global Organizing!
Article provides links to every Tai Chi and Qigong teacher of all styles worldwide via WorldTaiChiDay.org!
Earlier this year "Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi" cited World Tai Chi & Qigong Day as indicative of the global invasion of the ancient Chinese health practices of tai chi and qigong.
Harvard Medical School even held a series of Tai Chi as Medicine Conference Presentations that were released on World Tai Chi & Qigong Day this year to celebrate this global health event. World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2013 was celebrated, as it is each year, on the last Saturday of April in over 80 nations, with massive events in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Portugal, Havana Cuba, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and cities worldwide.
Euroenews, Associated Press Television, and BBC Television covered events including features of mass tai chi events held across Latin America in honor of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day.
Read entire article ... |
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A Call Out for Documentary Filmmakers from Open Circle Cinema Productions!
Tai Chi Inspired Filmmaker Wanted
Message from Open Circle Cinema Production:
We are in the process of producing a feature length documentary on the transformative power of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. The film will focus on the real life experiences of long-time practitioners as well as those just starting their journey. We will also be incorporating stories and experiences from across the globe as part of World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day. Our production team believes that the right filmmaker for this project is someone already on or directly connected to this newsletter list which is why we are beginning our search here.
If you are that person or know someone that is, please contact Jamie Rich at info@opencircleonline.com for more information and to arrange an interview.
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ABC World News - 40% of Americans Exposed to Meditation, Including US Marines!
 | | ABC World News - Meditation |
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WorldTaiChiDay.org Comment:
Tai Chi is the most powerful mind-body meditative practice in the world, because it brings the higher focused effortless consciousness of meditation into our physical movement and physical lives.
The medical research on Tai Chi is astounding, and these news reports on meditation should be including Tai Chi and Qigong mentions.
When you read an article or see a news report on mind-body, that does not include Tai Chi and Qigong, write them or call them. Send them the link to our WorldTaiChiDay.org Tai Chi Medical Research Library, or copy and paste text and links from it to send them.
We've done the hard work of collecting all the medical research to make it easy for you to forward on and share.
WorldTaiChiDay.org Medical Research Library:
http://www.worldtaichiday.org/WTCQDHlthBenft.html
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World Tai Chi & QG Day 2013 Events!
FEATURED VIDEO OF THE WEEK!
Auckland, New Zealand ... BEAUTIFUL!
 | | World Tai Chi Day Auckland 2013 |
Share widely!
"One World ... One Breath."
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Tai Chi & Qigong Medical Research Library! Cardiac Rehab. and Tai Chi
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Tai Chi
Great news for those rehabilitating from cardiac related illness! And for everyone else! The BBC reported on a US study of 30 patients which found regular Tai Chi classes gave patients better movement and reduced BNP levels, a measure of heart failure. The British Heart Foundation said the study was "excellent news" and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future. In fact, another study in The Harvard Women's Health Watch, reported, "studies support Tai Chi [use] for heart-attack and cardiac-bypass patients, to improve cardio-respiratory function and reduce blood pressure." While, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine reported that Tai Chi "results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect."
This lowering of high blood pressure and creating more favorable lipid levels bodes well for all of us. A study in the Journal of American Geriatrics reported data substantiating that practicing T'ai Chi regularly may delay the decline of cardioresperatory function in older individuals. In addition, Tai Chi may be prescribed as a suitable aerobics exercise for older adults.
Tai Chi is shown to lower high blood pressure in several studies. An article in WebMD explains that the anger-associated hormones coming from the adrenal gland, located on or near the kidneys when over stimulated result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They reported that William H. Mueller, PhD (Behavioural epidemiologist and professor of behavioural sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Texas in Houston), explained that Tai Chi is documented to calm those "fight or flight" chemicals and promote healing.
Once we realize that heart disease, like most illness, is caused by stress it is easy to see why Tai Chi is such an effective preventative or rehabilitative therapy for heart disease and health (Kaiser Permente 20 year study found 70 to 85% of illness sending patients to their doctors were caused by stress). At the Institute of Psychology, Academia Sinica, a research study found that Tai Chi and QiGong practice can positively affect the states of mind of subjects to lessen the incidence of Type-A behavior patterns, believed to increase the risk of heart disease. As early as 1989, the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, reported on a study finding that "Relative to measurement beforehand, practice of T'ai Chi raised heart rate, increased nonadrenaline excretion in urine, and decreased salivary cortisol concentration. Relative to baseline levels, [Test Subjects] reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and state-anxiety; they felt more vigorous, and in general they had less total mood disturbance."
Read entire article ...
Are you aware of Worldtaichiday.org's globally popular Tai Chi Medical Research Library? A collection of medical research article links from popular health and media publications, showing how Tai Chi and Qigong can help with nearly 100 common health challenges.
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NQA Call Out for Public Tai Chi & Qigong Demos on October 5th!!
On October 5th, the National Qigong Association is encouraging everyone to get out and do some Tai Chi and Qigong in public. You might consider doing a Tai Chi or Qigong Flashmob, like World Tai Chi & Qigong Day participants in Antwerp, Belgium did. See below video. It's really beautiful how they just "stopped the rat race" for a few magical moments.
If you do a Tai Chi or Qigong flashmob, be sure and video it from many angles, a lot of the new smartphones have HD video cameras, and if you don't know that your kids and their friends probably do. See if you can recruit a dozen young folks to video, not just the movements, but the faces of those watching, and to shoot from many different angles. The below video is a perfect example of Tai Chi flashmob cinematography.
See NQA's facebook page to see or post updates on this event:
https://www.facebook.com/National.Qigong.Association.
 | | Taichi Flashmob Antwerpen 2013 |
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Contact:
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
10100 Roe Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66207
913-648-2256
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THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR'S
FEATURED DVD:
Chow Qigong System, Volume 1
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