{"id":5098,"date":"2011-11-15T09:00:37","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T14:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5098"},"modified":"2012-01-01T18:33:34","modified_gmt":"2012-01-01T23:33:34","slug":"tai-chi-in-your-life-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5098","title":{"rendered":"Book Review-Tai Chi in Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tai Chi in Your Life- 8 Principles That Can Change Your Life While Learning and Growing with Tai Chi<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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by Dale Napier <\/span>
\n Softcover ( 179 pages) 2010<\/span>
\n Mastersoft \u00a0Press, Houston TX\u00a0 $16.99 <\/span>
\n ISBN:\u00a0 978-1439255803<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Review written <\/strong><\/span>by Sal Casano<\/strong><\/p>\n

While browsing in a local bookstore the title of the book caught my immediate attention, along with the simple elegance of the cover photo.\u00a0 While looking through the book I found the size of the font was very appealing and I knew this was going to be an enjoyable read.\u00a0 The author uses his experiences in tai chi ,neigong and qigong to present a very informative book.\u00a0 A good deal of the content is based on the T\u2019ai Chi Classics, which gives a strong foundation to the principles discussed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book is divided into ten chapters, eight of which reflect eight principles of tai chi.\u00a0 The last chapter titled \u201cExtra: Ninth Principle-Take It to the world<\/strong>\u201d basically invites the reader to share his or her experiences in tai chi with experiences and stories that reflect these eight principles.\u00a0 In the Introduction (first chapter) the author sets the goal of \u201cmaking tai chi practice your own.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 He states on p.xvi<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMaking it your own means interpreting the essence of a technique in such a way that you do not slavishly imitate the instructor.\u00a0 Instead you make the best use of your personal experience, physical stature, abilities, and attitudes to deliver an interpretation that is faithful to the original intent.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The eight principles discussed are relaxation, intention, awareness, continuity, focus, linking to your center, accepting\/yielding, and detaching the ego.\u00a0 Each principle is discussed in terms of martial effectiveness, how the principle can work in your daily life, and exercises for self practice which are based on cultivating the qi(chi).\u00a0 There are many photographs(black and white)to help the reader in performing the exercises and\/or illustrating a concept.<\/span><\/p>\n

In discussing each principle the reader is naturally brought to an understanding of how these principles are integrated into your practices.\u00a0 As an example, the fifth principle \u201cFocus\u201d is defined by the author to be \u201cthe continuous application of intention to a task at hand.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> (p.96)\u00a0 As we practice tai chi ( whatever style ) it is vitally important to focus on the details of the individual form or posture. \u201cYou cannot practice Tai Chi while you read a book or play on the Internet or watch TV; it just does not work that way.\u201d<\/strong> Since Tai Chi is an internal art one needs to focus on what is occurring internally: inside your body, inside your mind, and inside your spirit. Our daily lives are filled with diversity, job, family, church, political or social activities, etc.\u00a0 All these activities are good and make life fun and enjoyable, however, all this diversity will cause a problem with focus, thus your tai chi will be adversely affected.\u00a0 The author provides exercises to help one improve focus.\u00a0 \u00a0He ends the chapter with \u201cLearning to turn all your attention and intention to a single topic, unceasingly, removes stress and tension from your life and improves productivity and quality. \u201c<\/strong> ( p.106)<\/span><\/p>\n

It is this approach that is used in discussing each of the remaining seven principles.\u00a0 My own personal experience with the book was to read it straight through. Afterwards, I would return to a certain principle re-read it and re-work the suggested exercises.\u00a0 This book is an asset to anyone practicing tai chi. It will encourage you to question and think, perhaps lead into the discovery of more principles. In a sense, this book is living opus with lots of good information.<\/span><\/p>\n

In summary, the discussions in this book can help add much positivity to your tai chi practice and to your daily life.\u00a0 The author has a website which you may wish to check out to get more background information. <\/span>www.TaiChiInYourLife.com<\/span><\/a> Readers of the book are invited to visit the website and to share their own personal experiences and stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

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To purchase a copy of this book click on image<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/a>[<\/span>Salvatore Casano R.N., PhD<\/strong> \u2013 a registered nurse with a PhD in Holistic Health, and is an ATCQZ certified Tai Chi and Qigong instructor. His Tai Chi and Qigong journey began over 20 years ago while working as a chemistry instructor, when he felt the need for a more holistic approach to health care. Participating in many programs and projects relating to health, Dr. Casano educates the community on living a healthier lifestyle to avoid obesity and diabetes, and as a way to reduce stress. Over the years, he has learned from many masters including Bill Philips, Marc Issacs, Richard Chu, as well as two ATCQA\u00a0advisers, Dr. Roger Jahnke, and Bill Douglas. Dr. Casano, along with his wife Veronica, often sojourn together on his healing path, as they use their skills in helping others connect the mind, body, and spirit. They have four adult children, seven grandchildren, and a cat, \u201cTiger.\u201d]
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