We work together as a KungFu Family. During this podcast I share about life here at the kwoon, what some students are doing here and abroad. Also :

I have a goal to turn on mic and record with minimal editing.

Derailing a routine

Ice and Snow has disrupted practice routines.  Even the ducks near my house are walking across the pond they usually swim in.

Being tied into house can derail a good routine.

Monday ChiKung - Nei Gong half hour being added scheduled

www.Energyqigong.com

Why did we get this domain?

Connections:

Mr. Davis from Rocky Mount wrote me: 

Jon Young sent me a wonderful text

Ryan came in and we worked on his taiji, pushhands. Posting and more. We missed his last day, because of a nasty ice storm that turned most of raleigh into a big skating ring.

Scott Bell came in twice this past week.  So good to see him. Another one of the young men that started years ago. It has been a pleasure to get to know him and see him and his family grow.

Travis, take care of yourself, we will connect this coming week.

Rachel told me she and her family was coming back to raleigh.

Shiatsu / Tui Na 5 Element Acupressure Class Audio

During this podcast there is a audio excerpt from our workshop. I am breaking the two-hour audio down into audiobook chapters so content members can download it.

We will get to do more 5 Element Acupressure this summer.

Reminder the Beach Trip Workshop is at the end of this month.  We are expecting to have a great time. www.tibetankungfu.net/beachtrip

Cleaned up the Lotus Room where Jean does her Massage

Travel around the world with her..

Thai Massage and Tui Na which is the foundation of shiatsu if you are more familiar from the Japanese culture.

Every Tuesday, during the week, and weekends now too..

If you want a massage with Jean, just contact us.

Basic Bagua Teacup exercises with private students

Update on KungFu Puppet

Kungfu Puppet Progress :

Kevin, the director and coordinator is awesome. Sent me a text he has some new video to show us. So the Tibetan Kung Fu team that worked on the film, Mr. Knox, Ms. Shelley and Mr. Borel have all been invited to see this new video :)  www.tibetankungfu.net/kungfupuppet

Evidence Map of Tai Chi :

A Published Study:

http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/management_briefs/default.cfm?ManagementBriefsMenu=eBrief-no90

Many Veterans desire complementary and alternative medicine or integrative medicine modalities, both for treatment and for the promotion of wellness. Tai Chi was developed as an ancient Chinese martial art and, today, is widely practiced for its health benefits. Results from a national survey conducted on a representative sample of adults in the U.S. estimate that approximately 2.3 million adults had practiced Tai Chi in the past 12 months. Many forms of Tai Chi exist, but in Western culture, it is most commonly taught as a series of slow, gentle, low-impact movements that integrate the breath, mind, and physical activity to achieve greater awareness and a sense of inner peace and well-being. 

This evidence mapping project aims to help provide guidance to VA leadership about the distribution of evidence about Tai Chi to inform policy and clinical decision-making. Investigators with the Evidence-based Synthesis Program located in West Los Angeles reviewed the literature and identified 107 systematic reviews. Investigators created a bubble plot to graphically display the research field.

Most promising areas
The most promising results across existing reviews were documented for three research areas with a large research base: hypertension, fall prevention outside of institutions, and cognitive performance. There were also some reservations in the conclusions due to the quality of some the included studies and settings.

Statistically significant health effects also were reported for osteoarthritis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pain, balance confidence, depression, and muscle strength. However, review authors cautioned that the existing evidence is based on insufficient numbers of RCTs and/or poor quality RCTs, and is not strong enough to provide definitive answers on the effectiveness of Tai Chi for patient health outcomes.

VA Priority Areas related to Tai Chi include pain, PTSD, and fall prevention. 

Pain 

Pain was the primary outcome focus of four systematic reviews. The individual studies tested Tai Chi practiced from 1 to 3 times per week, and the intervention duration ranged from 6 to 15 weeks. This largest review found a positive effect of Tai Chi on self-reported pain using different assessment scales across studies.

PTSD

The effects of Tai Chi on PTSD, the second VA priority area, have not been rigorously studied. No studies in combat-related PTSD were identified.

Fall Prevention

A review found a significantly reduced risk of falling associated with Tai Chi group exercises compared to low level stretching, fall prevention brochures, waiting list, wellness education, and other comparators.

Written by: Hempel and Solloway, et al.

Bruce is working to setup the type of program to fill in questions about how the Reeling Silk Tai Ji and Qi Gong Program can address refined questions, such as helping those with PTSD.

Then Later Bruce sent me this email:

Dear Sifu

Taiji is growing with our veterans group and we are growing.  

We have added new tai chi and qigong now as well to some staff offerings. I have been certified as Whole Health Coach here and we have included some really basic qigong/taiji desk exercises. We had an eight hour retreat yesterday for staff and I used several movement periods through the day teaching these exercises. The plan now is to offer two retreats per month all year with intention to bring all staff into this training that will include the exercises.

I have chosen to offer staff free tai chi class participation if they have opportunity to participate with Veterans on Thursdays. If we get a strong response I will consider opening a second class for staff. I have 20 registered Veterans for tai chi now and marketing continues with a goal of at least 50 per class. My vision is to surpass 100 participants.

 

I will teach a group of severely injured/mental illness Veteran in March in a psychosocial rehab unit. We will make a decision after that if this will become a routine offering. And I am including the tai chi practice in my new pain clinic now as well. new clinic treats physical and emotional pain together rather than looking at these challenges as separate problems.

I am amazed at what we are creating here. I have been able to offer hypnosis, zuan zhaung meditation, taiji, along with my clinical therapies as the new pain clinic has been developed. 

 I want to have some time for us to talk about how we can add new instructors here as well as moving into other VA facilities. The work load is getting pretty large for one guy. I still plan to make the drive Saturday right now, but I want to see how driving might be Saturday morning before getting started. If not workable I will clear my weekend next week and visit a week late.

Not much work going on here today with all clinics cancelled. Looks like I may have to visit the gym and make sure the floor is in good condition to practice taiji, bagua, choi li fut, zuan zhaung etc.  I bought a shepherds hook last week when I saw it in a store. Starting to practice with it to see if I can learn to use a hooked staff with my kung fu work. it’s fun even if I look foolish trying.

Reid and Jean will get certified in reeling silk in march 2015.

Artwork : Ducks Walking on a Frozen Pond by Me

Tweet

Categories Posted in Podcasts , Style: Tai Chi
- Genre Label
** You can Listen to The Latest Podcasts on the Self Updating Stitcher Player