Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan is an excellent Healthcare system for individual and group therapy sessions. It is excellent for both mind and body. T'ai Chi is a martial art healthcare system that helps people develop balance and body awareness through slow, soft, graceful physical movements.
Many hospital and clinical studies from around the world support the effectiveness of Therapeutic T'ai Chi (TTC). Two of the best known studies are from the United States. They were part of a special frailty reduction program sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The reports appeared in the May, 1996 issue of The American Geriatrics Society.
Dr. Steven Wolf of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, found that older people who participated in 15-week T'ai Chi program reduced their risk of falling by 47.5%. Dr. Leslie Wolfson of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington found that older people who participated in T'ai Chi gained strength and improved their balance. The participants kept their strength and balance throughout several months of T'ai Chi practice.
Falls among older people in America are responsible for more than 12-billion dollars in health-related costs each year. The cost of physical frailty is much higher. The NIA study recommends T'ai Chi as a "low tech" way of improving the strength and balance of older people.
"The FICSIT studies have shown that a range of techniques, from the most sophisticated medical interventions to more "low tech" methods, can help older people avoid frailty and falling" says Chhanda Dutta, Ph.D., Director of Musculoskeletal Research in the NIA's Geriatrics program. "We must make sure that we look at every approach, especially inexpensive ones like Tai Chi for Seniors" says Dutta. "People can do this at home and with friends once they have had the proper training."
Therapeutic T'ai Chi has also been proven effective in helping heart-attack victims recover faster. In 1996, Sheffield University in England tested 126 heart-attack patients. Researchers had them practice T'ai Chi, do aerobic exercises or do no exercise. The British Medical Association's Postgraduate Medical Journal reported that: "Both forms of exercise reduced blood pressure, but only T'ai Chi showed a significant reduction." The researchers said exercise is important in helping heart-attack patients recover, but that many do not feel strong enough to exercise much. They said the gentle, graceful movements of T'ai Chi could be just the trick.
Steven Blair and Melissa Garcia of the world-renowned Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas are quoted as saying: "The principal advantage of T'ai Chi exercise is that it is a low-technology approach to conditioning that can be implemented at relatively low cost in widely distributed facilities through the community."
Many recent medical studies support the effectiveness of Therapeutic T'ai Chi:
Significant improvement in balance maintained (Wolfson 1996)
Most recommended aerobic exercise for coronary artery disease (Ng 1992)
Reduced tension, anxiety fatigue, depression and confusion (Jin 1989)
Improved mood states, reduction of anxiety states (Jin 1992)
Reduced falls by up to 47%, reduced fear of falling (Wolf 1996), (Wolf 1997), (Henderson, 1998) , (Myers & Weiner, 1996)
Marked increase in Blood T-Cells during and after practice (Sun 1989)
Enhanced ventilary capacity without cardiovascular stress (Brown et al, 1995)
Efficient use of ventilatory volume, efficient breathing patterns (Schneider 1991)
No exacerbation in joint symptoms of individuals with RA (Kirstens 1991)
Improved co-ordination, skeletal muscle strength (Koh 1982)
Relaxation therapy for chronically ill (Jin 1992)
The following websites contain more information about the many health benefits of Therapeutic T'ai Chi (TTC). We will continue to add to this list in the coming months. Please visit often to see what new studies are out about how T'ai Chi and Chi Kung can help you and the people you love.
Anti-aging: Health Benefits of T'ai Chi
Why Tai Chi Is The Perfect Exercise
Researchers examining how Tai Chi may benefit older people
Research Reinforces Findings That Chinese Exercises Benefit Older Adults
Traditional Chinese Exercises May Increase Efficacy of Flu Vaccine
Tai Chi Found To Improve Health Functioning In Older Adults
Tai Chi Found to Improve Health Functioning in Older Adults
Tai Chi versus brisk walking in elderly women
Effect of regular Tai Chi and jogging exercise on neuromuscular reaction in older people
Are there any health benefits from tai chi exercises?
Tai Chi Moves Seniors into Healthful
Positions
Arthritis
Effect of Tai Chi in adults with rheumatoid arthritis
Tai Chi Helps Patients With Arthritis
Tai Chi Mind-Body Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
Comparing Tai Chi Chih and Relaxation
Therapy in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Balance
Health benefits of Tai Chi exercise: improved balance and blood pressure in middle-aged women
Improving Balance and Preventing Falls with Tai Chi
Effectiveness of Tai Chi on Improving Balance in Older Adults: An Evidence-based Review
T'ai Chi Improves Balance In Elderly
Gently Improve Your Balance With T'ai Chi
Cancer
Complementary and Alternative Therapies For Cancer Patients
American Cancer Society: T'ai Chi Therapy
Tai Chi Helps Patients Reach Beyond Cancer
Effect of Tai Chi Vs. Structured Exercise on Physical Fitness and Stress in Cancer Survivors
NCCAM Launches Study on Benefits of "Tai Chi" for Adult Cancer Survivors
Chronic Heart Failure
Tai Chi Mind-Body Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure
Degenerative Nerve Disease
Professor Uses Tai Chi To Fight Degenerative Nerve Disease
Fibromyalgia
Tai Chi Mind-Body Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Tai Chi May Help Alleviate Tension Headaches
Immunity
Tai-Chi boosts immunity: study
Practicing Tai Chi Boosts Immune System In Older Adults
Pain
Drug-free Treatments Offer Hope For Older People In Pain
Massage, Meditation, and Tai Chi for
Chronic Lower Back Pai
Repetitive Strain Injuries
RSI and What We Can Do About It
Shingles
Tai Chi Boosts Immunity To Shingles Virus In Older Adults
Tai Chi Helps Older People Resist Virus That Causes Shingles
Tai Chi Chih and Varicella Zoster Immunity
Stress Reduction
Tai chi: Stress reduction, balance, agility and more
Stroke
T'ai Chi is benefiting stroke sufferers
Tai Chi Chuan practice in community-dwelling persons after stroke
T'ai Chi and Recovery After Stroke
T'ai Chi Research
Selected Research on the Benefits of Tai Chi: A Martial Arts and Moving Form of Qigong
Read about more research supporting Therapeutic T'ai Chi.
Read about some of the illnesses doctors and therapists around the world have treated successfully with Therapeutic T'ai Chi.
If you are interested in learning more about Therapeutic T'ai Chi, write the Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi Healthcare Society at mmcgee@gmaf.org or P.O. Box 360383, Tampa, Florida, 33673-0383.
"Those who set out to learn the exercise, do not misjudge the value of The Chinese Five Word Song."
Verses 133-134
"The Chinese Five Word Song" was written by Master Li Tung Fung during the early part of China's Sung Dynasty. Master Li learned Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Liu Ho Pa Fa Ch'uan Fa) from Master Chen Hsi-I, creator of the martial art and health exercise. Master Li Tung Fung took refuge in the mountain of Yun, southeast from the Lok district. While living on Yun, he authored the famous Chinese Five Word Song, which serves today as the only extant treatise explaining the principles of the original Liu Ho Pa Fa.
Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan was a closed-door martial art for almost 1,000 years. Master John Chung Li opened the door to hundreds of students in China, the United States and Europe. Master Li translated The Chinese Five Word Song and added his commentary to each of the 134 verses to help students understand the truth within Internal Martial Arts.
We are extremely pleased to announce the publication of The Chinese Five Word Song. It's filled with tremendous insights into the philosophy and guiding principles of Internal Martial Arts from one of the true masters of the 20th Century.
You can purchase "The Chinese Five Word Song" from top online book sellers (Barnes and Noble, Borders Books, Amazon.com and Books A Million).
You'll also enjoy the new book by Master Glenn Newth titled "Hwa Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Five-Word Song." You can purchase this book through any of the major booksellers websites.
Copyright 1998-2008 Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Health and Wellbeing
