Newsletter #33 - April 2004
In this issue:
-- From Dr Paul Lam
-- Tai Chi for Back Pain by Paul Lam
-- Tai Chi for Arthritis Leader's Workshop by Ralph Dehner
-- An Idea for Balance by Tim Duehring
-- My Trip in Cambodia and Vietnam by Paul Lam
-- My Experience by David Dean
-- First Aid for Burns by Your_Health Medical Newsletter
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Have you noticed more publicity on tai chi lately? CNN headline news, Reader's Digest and New York Times just to name a few over last few weeks. Tai chi is gaining more recognition because of its many health benefits. It would not be possible without the tireless works of many tai chi enthusiasts over the years. For example: pioneers like T T Liang, Bill Douglas who has created the World Tai Chi Day, Dr Tensen Xu on tai chi research and publishers of the Tai Chi magazines. In appreciation of their effort I would like to invite you to write about someone you know who has bought tai chi to more people's awareness.
Remember the World Tai Chi Day is tomorrow 24th April from 10 am, and the World Tai Chi for Arthritis Day from 11 am. I would be looking forward to see you there. You can view your local event at http://www.taichiproductions.com/events/arthday.php
or the World Tai Chi Day site at http://www.worldtaichiday.org
I would like to thank every one who has entered your event on this site.
Tai Chi for Back Pain is based on the program Tai Chi for Arthritis. It is designed with different kinds of disabilities in mind so that learners can start with a sitting, standing or lying down position. It incorporates up-to-date medical research for back pain and is suitable for wheelchair bound and other chronic conditions. This introductory article includes an exercise from the program. A more detailed and medically orientated article of this topic would be published in the new journal "Medical Paradigm" soon, to subscript this journal please go to its website: http://medical-paradigm.com/journal/
The instructional videos and DVDs of Tai Chi for Back Pin in PAL system (for UK, Europe and Australia) are now available; the same for NTSC system (USA and Canada) will be ready shortly although you can place your orders now if you don't mind waiting a few weeks. We will make these our feature product of the month. Click on the link for the product information. https://www.taichiproductions.com/shop/product.php?category=1
Ralph Dehner is a tai chi teacher and occupational therapist who has excellent skill and enthusiasm for Tai Chi for Arthritis. He has a fullfilling experience organised a workshop for TCA leaders. Tim Duehring has found a different way to practice the TCA program with his students.
This month I visited Cambodia and Vietnam with my family. I hope you can join me for this enjoyable experience.
Hope to see many of you in Monterey; CA. Below is a list of my coming workshops. For more information go to this link: http://www.taichiproductions.com/workshops/index.php
-- May 1 - May 2, 2004 . Sydney, Australia _ FULL
Tai Chi for Back Pain Instructor's Training
This program is the result of much research. I'm excited to find that modern medical approaches to back pain work in well with essential tai chi principles. On the other hand, the medical understanding helps tai chi training.
-- May 14 - May 15, 2004 Hong Kong
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor's Training Workshop
-- May 16 -May 17, 2004 Hong Kong
Tai Chi for Arthritis Part II and Update Workshop
-- May 22 - May 23, 2004 . Greater Manchester, United Kingdom - FULL
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor's, Update and Part II.
-- May 24 - May 25, 2004 , Greater Manchester, UK - FULL
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training
-- June 5 - June 6, 2004 . Portrush, Northern Ireland - FULL
Tai Chi for Arthritis Instructor's
-- June 10 - June 11, 2004 . Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training Workshop
-- June 12 - June 13, 2004 . Thunder Bay, Canada
Tai Chi for Arthritis Update and Part II
-- June 21 - June 27, 2004 . Monterey, California, USA
One Week Tai Chi Workshop USA
-- July 31 - August 1, 2004, London, Ontario, Canada
Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor's Training workshop
Yours sincerely,
Paul Lam
http://www.taichiproductions.com
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Back Pain and Tai Chi by Paul Lam
Back pain is a common problem. About 90 percent of people experience it at one stage of their lives and the pain often recurs. Recent medical studies have shown that dysfunction or weakness of the deep stabilising muscles play an important role in back pain. In a study of the National Competitive Level athletes, it was found that that those who have weak stabilising muscles suffer from back pain. There are a significant number of athletes who suffer from back pain despite all the training they went through. From this, we can postulate that conventional athletic training is different from the training of deep muscles which is confirmed by studies. The tai chi training, especially the breathing method and the qi cultivating method of the dan tian, are similar to the training of the deep muscles.
There are two systems. An internal system with muscles close to the spine, these are the deep stabilizing muscles whose function is to protect the spine. The other muscles that move the body are the visible muscles that belong to the external system. This is similar to the internal and external concepts in tai chi. (Please read my article "What is internal".)
I will describe my method that will strengthen the deep stabilising muscle and at the same time cultivate qi. You can do this either sitting down or standing up. Starting with your body being upright, tuck your chin in slightly, relax your shoulders, and concentrate on the area just below the belly button or the dan tian. Be constantly aware of your posture. Hold your posture and co-ordinate your movements with your breathing. As you breathe in, imagine air travelling through your nose, filling up your lungs, and expanding your lower abdomen at the dan tian. As you breathe out, imagine air emptying from your lower abdomen with lower abdomen contracts and gently squeezes air out from your abdomen to your lungs and out through your nose.
As you breathe out, gently contract your lower abdominal muscle. To test if you were doing this correctly: Put one hand below your belly button and one above and try to feel a gentle contraction in the dan tain. Do the contractions gently and at the same time try not to move the muscles above the belly button. As you're contracting the lower abdomen, contract your pelvic floor muscles. Use your mind to direct this gentle contraction; just thinking about it would be sufficient. Don't use harsh force. Imagine that you're bringing your pelvic floor up a little bit closer to your belly button and then as you breathe out, allow those areas to relax about 90 percent while still keeping 10 9 percent of the contraction of the lower abdomen.
It is important to always be aware of this practice and maintain it throughout your tai chi forms and daily activities.
Do this breathing method gently and slowly. Don't make an intentionally strong effort. Take your time to appreciate it and keep your body upright always because maintaining the posture and using the breathing are both effective to activate the deep stable muscles and improving your qi.
A detailed scientific paper of this topic by myself will be published on the new medical journal "Medical Paradigm".
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TCA Workshop, Cincinnati, Ohio, USAby Ralph Dehner
March 6 & 7, 2004
Planning and organizing a TCA workshop was both exciting and scary! Dr. Lam asked me to write a little something about the process of organizing a TCA workshop, what worked and what didn't and the overall experience of the participants and yours truly.
Master/Trainer Nancy Kieffer had taken me under her wing and agreed to come in from California to do the training. Nancy's help along the way made a difficult endeavor very doable.
STEPS
1. Location -- local colleges with Occupational and/or Physical Therapy programs or even Nursing Programs were my first thoughts.
We needed a site to accommodate about 30 participants.
Xavier University offered the use of their OT department for the event free of charge (as long as their program appeared on all advertising as a cosponsor - not a problem!)!!
2. Setting a date. After agreeing on a date that would work for Xavier (during semester
break), Nancy and myself the real fun began.
3. Advertising was the next step. Free ads in Tai Chi Magazine, Qi Journal and Dr.
Lam's web site got things rolling.
I applied to the Ohio Occupational Therapy Board for continuing education credits and got it approved for 12.75 CEU's. There was no charge for this either! 
The next step was to list the event on the Ohio State Occupational Therapy web site and monthly e-mail newsletter - both free of charge.
The Ohio Physical Therapy Board said they wold grant CEU's but wanted $200 to pre approve it for us. Thanks anyway.
However, I did get an ad placed on the National Physical Therapy Web site for half that amount.
Printing flyers was next on the list and this was not cheap! However, I did learn to print limited amounts of the "release", Instructors certificate" and "product order form" and send these only upon request for registration. This saves a lot of postage.
I did a mailing to health care professionals in the Tri-state area. This was a high cost item as well.
Posting the workshop on our website at the center I manage (www.mightyvine.com) was also helpful. We also made arrangements so that our web site would take online credit card registrations.
Dr. Lam's web site was a big help with getting the word out. The web listings for OT's and PT's were also very helpful. The direct mail was only somewhat helpful.
My personal and Work-site (a cosponsor - Mighty Vine Wellness Club) e-mails lists also bore fruit.
Our first registration was from Manchester, England (she said she would be living in the "States" by the time of the workshop)!!!!
We ended up with people from Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, New York, Missouri, Michigan, West Virginia as well as all over the state of Ohio. We were a very diverse and traveled group.
4. Registrations! This was fun (most of it). By the time I e-mailed or talked on the phone to participants and prospective participants I felt like I already knew almost everyone by the time the workshop rolled around. This made the workshop more enjoyable for me.
However, 17 of our 27 registrations came across my desk in the last ten days! This made things very exciting! 
5. Binders! Putting together the workshop binders at the last minute was also a rush.
Thanks to my daughter everything came together on time.
6. Supplies. Name tags, pens, snack foods, bottled water, herbal teas and coffee.
Recruiting help from the Xavier staff and my patient wife and daughter made the last
minute flurry of e-mails, phone calls and trips to the store manageable (if I can use
such a word to describe the last minute push).
7. EVENT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nancy and I arrived early and were soon followed by
eager TCA soon-to-be's. We had a genuinely nice group of people (aren't Tai Chi
folks just plain nice?!)
Something extra - just to spice things up a bit my daughter (who helped put herself
through art school doing this) brought her easel Sunday and did Tai Chi caricatures
for all who wanted one. She even did one of Dr. Lam from a photo, which we
e-mailed to him and a group photo/caricature as well!
We seemed to fly through the two days of training; it seemed to go so fast. Nancy did
a great job considering her elbow was "wired" together after an accident just a couple
weeks earlier! What a trouper!
It was hard to say good-by. I got to meet allot of new people who either loved Tai
Chi or learned to love it at our workshop. It was a very rewarding experience for me
personally as I got to help a group of friends learn how to share their love for Tai Chi
with people with arthritis in their communities.
I have already received e-mails from some of our participants about the classes they have started or are planning soon.
8. The next one! I have already started planning a combined workshop for November 6
& 7th, 2004. We will offer Part One and Part Two! We will be nestled in the fall
colors at St. Anne's Convent in Melbourne, KY (where they filmed part of the movie
"Rain Man").
QUOTES: the following are excerpts from e-mails I received after the workshop.
Hi Ralph - thanks for everything - it was a great workshop & certainly a
diverse crowd. Everyone at the Y is anxious to learn & I'm working on plans to
start a class or two.
Once again, I appreciate all your help & the wonderful workshop you & Nancy
presented. -- Vicki
P.S. I found your (& Nancy's) patience inspiring. You were so even tempered,
kind & professional when fielding difficult questions not always relevant to
the class. I wanted you to know your (and Nancy's) composure & sense of humor
did not go unnoticed!
Nancy,
Just a line to let you know I have scheduled a class at a YMCA here in St. Louis. It will be starting the next 7-week program cycle (probably in April).
When I presented the material to the Physical Director, her response was ...."I want to do this!!!".
Now all we have to do is fill the class before the first session.
Glad I'll be able to start teaching so soon after returning from the workshop so I can remember all the good material you gave us in Cincinnati.
Your grateful student, - Don
Hi Ralph. I was going to e-mail you. I had a great time!!!! And, I
have been using some of the Qigong exercises with my patients to
increase ROM. Thanks, BJ
Hi Ralph,
I really enjoy the TCA workshop last weekend.
Melvin
Ralph: Yes, I really did enjoy the workshop and Cincinnati! Thank you for
providing the opportunity. - Natasha
Ralph,
I agree - it was a wonderful class with a lot of great people! Thank you
For your patient teaching skills and your sharing of knowledge - you're a
gentle, caring teacher. -- Lynnette
Hi Ralph, I really enjoyed the workshop you and Nancy put on. I am close to having a class set up at the local YMCA, a fitness center that is connected with the local hospital and a senior living community that I had done some work with before. I'll let you know how things are going. Thanks again, Ed
Many Thanks Ralph for sharing your knowledge and self 🙂 I enjoyed meeting such a warm and friendly group with great enthusiasm and zest to learn.
Kind Regards Dawn
Dear Ralph and Nancy,
I would like thank both of you for a wonderful experience. I came into
the class with little to no knowledge of tai chi and a lot of experience
with arthritis as a sufferer myself and left with the knowledge and
benefit tai chi can and does have on an individual.
I am sure that you both come across many types and styles of people.
Your ability to teach everyone equally has inspired me and I thank you
from the bottom of my heart.
My hope is to continue to practice and be able to share some of my
experiences obtained during your workshop. I wish you both continued
success and much happiness.
Debbie
Dear Ralph,
Many thanks to you for making the weekend comfortable and
enjoyable. It was especially nice for me to meet so many
wonderful people who are interested in the same kinds of things
that I am, to hear about what they are doing, and to learn
some new skills. It has sparked my enthusiasm for learning more
and has given me many things to think about.
All the Best to You -- Kathleen
Hello, Ralph
Thanks again for your devoted instruction. The 1st day of the workshop I felt Chi/Qi running from finger to finger. By the 2nd day Chi flowed over and through me to the point that I was tearful as we began our last "play" with the 12 forms.
Betsy
Dear Ralph & Nancy,
I really enjoyed the workshop and it was nice to meet you and everyone else who
attended!
Thanks,
Bethany
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A solution for balance by Tim Duehring 
A short time ago after one of my reminders on how we try to incorporate Tai Chi into everything we do in life, how we try to achieve that balance of Yin and Yang, the softness and the hardness, the left and the right, one of my students asked, "When we do the advanced section of TCA, why are there more movements to the left than to the right? Why isn't there a Punch Under Elbow on the right side?" Having learned in the past that it is best not to give comment off the top of the head I replied to the student that I didn't have an answer to why, it was simply the way the form was taught to me.
Giving the question from the student more thought, I decided to see if I could work this out. What I came up with is to add some movements to the right side to see how it would feel. It wasn't real smooth at first, but it feels pretty good.
This is how we do the form now.
After the initial 21 movements ending with Open and Close Hands instead of doing a Brush Knee and Twist Step we do a 90 degree Single Whip to the right.
Punch under right Elbow.
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Right
Stutter Step (Left heel in, right toe in to turn to the left)
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Left
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Right
Lazily Tie Coat
Turn and Open and Close Hands
90 Degree Single Whip to the Left
Punch under Left Elbow
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Left
Stutter Step
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Right
Brush Knee and Twist Step to the Left
Lazily Tie Coat
Turn and Open and Close Hands
Close
This balances out the right with the left as far as the form goes. It answered my students question. It added something new to our learning process and made us more aware. One final word of caution. If you try this with your students, be prepared for some resistance. The initial prevailing consensus was, "Why are you doing this to us? We were just getting good at doing it the original way." In a couple more weeks, with practice, they will have forgotten this small bit of turmoil in their routine and be happily chugging away again.
Remember to enjoy the experience.
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My Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam by Paul Lam
I had the good fortune to travel to Vietnam with eight other members of my family. It was an incredible, precious experience. On the way to meet my family, a good friend told me that we must see Cambodia, especially Siew Reap, the ancient capital where many unbelievable huge temples were built nearly a thousand years ago by the great kings of Cambodia. Only then do I realise that in those days Cambodia was the cultural centre for Thailand and Vietnam. 
Angkor Wat was the greatest of the temples,huge, magnificent, and surrounded by a moat. It can best be described with pictures. When you view these pictures, rest your cursor on it and you will see text explaing what it is. You can't imagine that people could build such a huge structure without any machines. Just to carry the rocks to the site let alone building it would take thousands of people many years.
The central tower of Angkor Wat is high and steep with narrow, broken steps. I had a difficult and hazardous time climbing up but climbing down was even worse. When I was up there, I saw a little girl by herself who looked about 6 years old.. First she signalled to me to take a picture of her and then to give her some money. She was amazing. She raided the garbage bins to get plastic bottles, which I imagined was to earn a few cents. She climbed up to the centre of the temple where other kids wouldn't dare to go just for a couple of little plastic bottles. (This is the place I felt was dangerous to climb.) Looking at her doing this, I couldn't imagine myself letting my children when they were 6 roam in this stone temple full of hazards, let alone let them climb up those steps with a parcel. Seeing this child really broke my heart. 
For centuries Cambodia was a heaven, a beautiful country with lush land and wonderful people. Then Pot Pol committed genocide. The people went through hell. Some of you might remember the movie "Killing Field" which describe some of the astrocity then. Despite their poverty, Cambodians are incredibly nice. They're natural and seem to be really obedient to authority. Perhaps it's the simple and nice people that are subject to the mercy of dictators.
Siew Reap has so many vast temples, I won't be able to describe all of them to you, but I can highly recommend a tour there. I am letting the photos tell you the rest of the story. Note that some of the temples are practically obliterated by trees. 
Vietnam
We had a total number of nine members of my family on this tour and we were fortunate to have a big bus with a tour guide and a driver to take us around. Needless to say, it was the perfect way to tour with relatives and a personal guide. The food is exotic but you need to be careful about hygiene. I will skip Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) City which is exciting but very much like a busy Asian city. Instead, let's take a look at Nha Trang, a seaside town where people are love to relax and enjoy life. Indeed when taking a walk beside the sea, you see all these wonderful young couples showing affection for each other. These people were so nice, friendly and loving, that it is hard to imagine that they take up arms. In any case, the country is at peace now and people are only interested in making a good living, caring for each other and establishing friendship. That's the kind of direction I like to see.
We went out in a boat to an island for scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming. We also visited a fishing village. The people in the village were nice but the hygiene standard didn't appeal to us.
We also went to another coastal town called Vung Tau which is just as beautiful. The pictures from the Governor's house show how beautiful the coast line is.
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Dear Paul
I am writing this to tell you how the course has affected me. Doubtless you have heard this many times before. Prior to the Tai Chi for Arthritis course I have always shied clear of Tai Chi because when trying it once a few years ago, I found that my back pains became worse. I must further explain that over the past 10 years I have had a neck fusion, C4/5,5/6, a laminectomy L4/L5,5/S1.-Total replacement of both knees and my right hip, a revision of my left knee, both shouders manipulated under anaesthetic ,carpal tunnel release both wrists.Two epidural injections for ongoing back problems and 8 injections in facet joints Plus in June last year contracting Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
Taking an Arthritis Self Management course 11 years ago, has enabled me to lead a very good lifestyle. Indeed I have conducted 32 Self Management Courses, in the last 9 years, competed in many Sailing events, City to bay walks (12 Km.) and the Masters games in the 5 & 10 Km. walking events. Always being aware that whenever I twisted my back, I would be in trouble the next day, so I lived within those parameters.
When the possibility of taking the "Tai Chi for Arthritis" training came up, I was a bit dubious. Even on the actual first day, I had self doubts. However the informality, your sincerity and enthusiam put paid to any doubts I had. I have been thoroughly converted. I did not expect to pass, but knew that if I did, (that because of my personal experience), I would be able to enthuse others to take part. In fact that is exactly what has happened, a bit like " if that silly old so and so can do it so can I" The week after completing the course, I had noticed considerable improvement in balance, certainly easing of movement and constant practise has given me confidence in starting a course. I start with two identical courses, one on Tuesday,s and one on Thursday,s and have already 20 students, so it will be ten each day. This is starting on 8th and 10th. April, for 8 weeks.
I have a sister living on Vancouver Island in Britiish Columbia who has arthritis, she is also a Tai Chi instructor, I saw on the web that a .course is being conducted in Victoria B.C. so have advised her to check it out. So at 76 I have started on another meaningfull project. I won't however, neglect my weekly stints at the Arthritis foundation as an advisor on the help line, as well as speaking engagements, co-ordinating an Arthritis support group, and.conducting Self management courses,
I know this has been long winded but feeling so gratefull to you and of course Rosemary, I just had to inform you of my appreciation. I would also like to be placed on the list of instructors, my full Name is David Dean 40 Suzanne Avenue, Morphett Vale SA.5162 Phone 8382 3604 email davedean@senet.com.au the venue for the course is Christies Sailing Club, Christies Beach SA. Please include me in the mailing list. Again thank you sincerely David Dean
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WHAT IS THE FIRST AID FOR BURNS?by the Your_Health medical newsletter
For burns or scalds, cool the burnt area with cold running tap water for at least 20 minutes (Never use ice). Then cover with a sterile, non-stick dressing or a wet dressing and seek medical advice.
If clothes are on fire, first smother the flames with a woollen blanket or something similar or roll the person along the ground until the flames are extinguished.
Do not break blisters or apply lotions, ointments or creams.
Visit: www.stjohn.org.au
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Warning: Dr. Lam does not necessarily endorse the opinion of other authors. Before practicing any program featured in this newsletter, please check with your physician or therapist, the authors and anyone involved in the production of this newsletter will not be held responsible in any way whatsoever for any injury which may arise as a result of following the instructions given in this newsletter.
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