Taichi

Finally, I have a formal taichi session with the instructor, D, on Sunday. It is usually 2 sets of qigong first, then taichi.

My left knee was still creaking while doing the knee twisting part during qigong. And when we were 'rolling our heads', I was feeling a little woozy since I have vertigo as a result of the fall last year. Some years back, I had a fall that resulted in vertigo, but it had disappeared when I took up qigong two years ago. Now, I am hoping that the qigong will solve my vertigo problem again.

Bai Da Gong - We had a session of Bai Da Gong. This involves slapping ourselves on the full length of 4 sides of all 4 limbs - arms and legs. With each slap, you are supposed to feel the sting on the skin, such that at the end of it, your skin is supposed to turn red. It felt a little like self-torture, but it was supposed to be good for blood circulation.

Taichi - With D's instructions, and with much shifting and adjusting of hands and legs, I think I managed somewhat to do some taichi. There is another set of taichi movements that requires a sword. The length of the sword is not standard and is specially ordered to suit each individual, unless you buy the extendable one. I am skipping that for the time being as I think I have more than enough for my currently muddled brain to handle. Also, the handle of the sword is quite heavy and I am not sure if it will be too much of a strain for my lymphedemic right arm.

On the whole, I felt very good after Sunday's exercise.

D and his wife, A, are very passionate about helping people to improve their health through qigong and taichi. The sessions are free, and they welcome anybody who is interested to join them every Sunday morning at 7.30, unless it rains. The location is somewhere between the beach and carpark D at East Coast Park. Nice sea breeze, cool morning, fresh air, free instructions to get the joints and muscles in good working order and good blood circulation, what more can we want!