Introduce yourself - What is your background?
Dr Paul Lam, a practicing physician and tai chi master for 30 years, is a world leader in the field of tai chi for health improvement. In collaboration with medical experts, Dr Lam has created several Tai Chi for Health programs to improve people 's wellbeing and quality of life. He is a past gold medalist in international competition and author and producer of many best-selling books and DVDs.

Can you tell us something about the positive aspects of Taiji on arthritis?
In 1997, Dr Paul Lam, a family physician and tai chi master, led a team of Tai Chi and medical specialists to design this program. It was created to be easy and enjoyable to learn, and to bring health benefits to learners safely and quickly. Since then, several medical studies have shown this program significantly reduce pain and improve many aspects of health. This is why arthritis foundations around the world support the program.

The Tai Chi for Arthritis program is based on Sun style tai chi, it includes warm-up, wind-down, Qigong breathing exercises and a set of 12 movement tai chi. It is especially effective for arthritis but also a suitable set for any beginners.

How does it work?
Health and exercise experts agree that an exercise program for people with arthritis should incorporate components that improve muscular strength, flexibility, and fitness.

Muscular strength is important for supporting and protecting joints, which will reduce pain. Flexibility exercises also help to reduce pain and stiffness, enabling you to move easier. Stamina or fitness is important for overall health and proper function of your heart, lungs, and muscles. Doing every day tasks such as climbing stairs or walking to the shops will be easier with good stamina.

Tai Chi for Arthritis can do all these and more, additional benefits include improve relaxation, balance, posture, and immunity.

Tai chi is designed to enhance Qi. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Qi is the life energy essential to good health and longevity. Tai Chi for Arthritis is especially effective for arthritis because of its powerful Qigong exercises to enhance healing.

Can you put these three words in order of importance and explain us your choice: meditation-application-health.
health is most important in life. by health it is not limited to physical health, a physically handicap person can have a very fulfilled life through building mental strength and harmony

meditation if use in a sense of being mindful, it is effective for health, personal growth and tai chi progression.

application - if you mean as a martial art - it can be intriguing, but the idea of subdueing someone is not attractive to me. I rather help people to grow.

I would like to know more about the importance of fascia regarding Taiji practise. Can you tell us something about it?
Fascia in medical term is a thick tissue between tendons and muscles. they have different functions pending on where they are, some are good stabilisers. tai chi generally stretch and strengthen the inner structure of the body - it will improve the mobility and strength of fascia.

Do you think that a piercing or tattoo has an effect on chi-flow?
Tattoo is unnatural, and people can risk getting transmitable diseases like HIV or Hepatitis. However i dont think it does anything to chi flow.

Cheers
Paul

Dr Paul Lam

4 - 6 Fisher Place, Narwee, NSW 2209, Australia

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