Welcome to Tai Chi for Living! Let me introduce myself. I am Richard Link, Master Trainer with the Tai Chi for Health Institute. The purpose of my website is multifaceted.  Primarily, it is to introduce you to tai chi and qigong in such a way as to help you understand the health benefits each can bring to your life.

In the first video below, I speak personally to the health benefits tai chi has had on my life. In the second video, Dr. Paul Lam, Director of the Tai Chi for Health Institute and family physician, shares his tai chi journey to increase health and wellness for himself, his patients and those he helps through the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Dr. Lam begins by talking about his own struggle with arthritis and how much tai chi helped him to overcome his pain. He explains “the tai chi principles are so effective in improving health and wellness because they are based on the laws of nature and Chinese traditional medicine” which integrate the principles  of “moving mindfully and slow (that) help to integrate body and mind…to improve many aspects of health and relaxation…moving smoothly (also) brings a feeling of serenity (and) practicing tai chi often brings us to a mental state of “jing”…or mental quietness which is like being in a mental state similar to flow”. “Flow”, according to Dr. Lam, happens when “people are so engaged in the activity they are doing that they are not aware of space or time and when they are fully engaged in the flow stage people do better than their very best and…their lives are happier and more fulfilled, just like when they do tai chi more they are happier and more fulfilled”.

He also refers to tai chi as helping the stabilizers which are important to treating back pain and that “practicing tai chi will not only reduce the pain but make you able to do more in your daily life and feel better about yourself”. Furthermore, Dr. Lam speaks of tai chi being important to improving balance by practicing being mindful of weight transference which has been proven in many studies to help in preventing falls. He points out that in the U.S., The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.CDC.gov) has recommended his Tai Chi for Arthritis Program for fall prevention. Addressing whether it is difficult to learn these principles, Dr. Lam says, “the beauty of these  principles (is that) they are almost embedded in tai chi (and by following) the movements, especially the tai chi for health programs… it’s very easy (as) gradually the principles will develop within you”.

The information contained in my website pages are as follows. I have provided a separate page each for describing the essentials of tai chi and that of qigong and a brief biography on the Instructor page.  The Classes and Workshop page lists the schedule and location of my classes and upcoming workshops as well as those of other instructors. Please come to a class or join us at a workshop.  You never know where your journey will lead you. I can guarantee you will be thankful that you did. My Media page with its photographs and video all witness to the fun we have in our classes and workshops. It is a great time of teaching and learning. Additionally, I have put together a Resources page with a list books, DVDs and articles for your perusal. It is my hope that my blog will provide you with interesting anecdotes and information related to the teaching and practice of tai chi and qigong. Join me in a conversation by commenting on my entries. Finally, if you have any questions please contact me by phone, email, or by using the Contact form. I look forward to hearing from you.