Better Health with the

Practice of Tai Ji

A Personal Testimony

 

 

The practice of Tai Ji (Tai Chi) has given me much better health than what I would have without it.

When I was a kid back in the 1960's, I would visit the doctor once a week or a fortnight; a sickly boy. When I was twelve years old in 1971, my mother brought me to Sin Kwang Tai Chi Athletic Association in Singapore to learn the soft martial art under the instruction of Master Lee Bar Chwee. After 3 months of practice, I no longer needed to see the doctor regularly. After 6 months of practising, my strength was so great, I could begin to take up active sports, including cross country race and soccer. My health since then was never the same, and I am very grateful to be able to learn and practice Tai Ji.

 

Tai Ji was originally developed to improve the health of Toaist disciples who sat around too much, as well as martial arts for self-defence. The moments activate the vital energies, and balance the Yin and Yang forces, thus removing much toxin from the body, rejuvenate the organs, slowing down the effects of aging. There have been many records of claims of health benefits with the practice of Tai Ji by both Eastern and Western practitioners of medicine from improving blood circulations, relieving body aches, arthritis and rheumatism, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, reducing the risk of heart attack, helps recuperation from illness, etc. (Readers may like to refer to some websites – quoting LONDON, June 12, 1996 (Reuter) at ttp://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/heart-attack.html EzyTaiChi at http://www.ezytaichi.com/forms3health.htm, etc.)

 

The exercise of Tai Ji is far less demanding than the various active sports including aerobic exercises. For the beginners, it is even less strenuous than learning some Yoga movements or exercises in the gym. Tai Ji movements are soft, relaxed and slow, yet if done correctly with proper instructions, will make one perspire greatly, gain bodily energy and mental alertness at the end of the practice, instead of filling exhausted after a strenuous exercise.

 

I was therefore delighted to be able to help Master Lee in the teaching of Tai Ji in Singapore, and be one of the committee members of the Sin Kwang Athletic Association, Singapore, previously. Master Lee and his group of instructors, hold classes in various community centres and venues in Singapore. Please feel free to contact me if you are in Singapore and need more information, as I will be glad to introduce you to them.

 

Knowing that I would be settling down with my family in Western Australia, Master Lee has encouraged me to continue to teach the art as a way of improving the health of people, young and old.

 

The philosophical Tao teachings originally used in Tai Ji such as Yin & Yang principals, connecting with energies from the cosmos, etc are natural understandings of the created universe from emptiness, ancient observed physiological and physical principles in harmony with natural forces that remain highly relevant today. I do not subscribe to the deified versions of Tao by the folk practices of some Chinese or others, and the spiritualising of Tai Ji. Also I do not teach Tai Ji as a profession, but do it as my hobby and physical sports.

 

 

Dr. BAY, Joo Hwa,

PhD Architecture (TUDelft)

Doubleview, Western Australia

[email protected]

 

 

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