Better
Health with the
Practice
of Tai Chi
A
Personal Testimony by Dr. J H Bay
The
practice of 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 Chi.
Tai
Chi was originally developed to improve health of monks 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 health benefits
with the practice of Tai Chi 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 Chi 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. Tai
Chi movements are soft 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 Chi 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. If you are interested
to know more about the new courses as part of community recreation in
Hamersley and Joondalup,
Western
Australia,
kindly click here for more
information.
Dr.
BAY, Joo Hwa,
PhD
(TUDelft)
Doubleview,
Western
Australia
philipjhbay@gmail.com
