Dr Paul Lam's visit to Singapore last year on 28 September 2009

Below were some photos when I attended Dr Paul Lam's talk at Yio Chu Kang Community Club last year in September 2009.

This is Dr Paul Lam, he is a world leader in the field of Tai Chi for Health Improvement. He is a family physician in Sydney, Australia.  He combined traditional Tai Chi with modern knowledge with a team of Tai Chi experts and medical specialist, and created the "Tai Chi for Health" Programs. The program is designed to make it safe and easy to learn.

Dr Paul Lam mentioned Tai Chi was an effective mind-body exercises. The movements are slow, smooth and continuous. There are many forms of Tai Chi with significant differences between them.
In his "Tai Chi for Health" program, 3 types of Tai Chi courses were been introduced to us. Our People's Association in Singapore is currently offering these 3 courses. They are:

1. Tai Chi for Osteoporosis
2. Tai Chi for Arthritis
3. Tai Chi for Diabetes.

His programs are supported by organisation including Arthritis foundation in USA and Australia, Arthritis Care of UK, Diabetes Australia and Osteoporosis Australia. There were scientific studies that have shown Tai Chi to improve health, balance and quality of life.

Tai Chi demonstration by the students in Yio Chu Kang CC, lead by local trainer Jennifer Chung.

From left to right: Our local trainer Ms Gladys Tan, Ms Jennifer Chung, Dr Paul Lam and Dr Lau Tang Ching from National Arthritis Foundation. 

As I browse through the internet, I find out that Dr Paul Lam also offered other courses:

• For trainers who are teaching Tai Chi, click here to find out on Teaching Tai Chi Effectively
• For busy working adults, click to see how you can do Tai Chi at work.
• For people who are frequently travelling, here's a book "Tai Chi in Flight", to prevent thrombosis, fatigue and improve flexibility for people who sit for a long period of time.  

Dr Paul Lam to visit Singapore on 15 May 2010

I got excited when I happened to find the below link: http://www.lifeskillslifestyle.org.sg/images/main/PAtaiji_SimplyHer.pdf

Dr Paul Lam is coming to Singapore to lead a wellness event, "Tai Chi for Health" on 15 May 2010 at People's Association (PA) Headquarter. The event is Free Of Charge!!

I asked Gladys, my instructor and she confirmed to me about the event. She told me on that day, there will be mass workout display, talk by Dr Paul Lam and also healthy cooking demonstration.

I'm more curious about the Tai Chi Rhythm ball demonstration stated in the flyers. My classmates who had attended a previous Tai Chi event, watched this demonstration. They feedback that this Tai Chi Rhythm ball demonstration was  an eye opening to them, their skills were incredible, it's exciting and interesting.

I'm not sure if I can make it to attend this event on 15 May 2010 (Saturday). Well, if you gonna miss the wellness event on 15 May 2010,  Gladys told me Dr Paul Lam is also going to give a talk session at Yio Chu Kang Community Centre on 16 May 2010, Sunday afternoon at 2pm but there will be no mass workout display then.

Venue for the Mass Display on Singapore 13 Style Tai Chi

Now I am confused. In my earlier post, I found a site that stated the venue of the mass display on Singapore 13 style Tai Chi to be perform at the Chinese Garden. I found another site that stated the venue of the mass display to be performed at Anchorvale CC at Sengkang.

So, where actually is the location????!!!!!

MCYS Press Release on Keeping Seniors Active Through Taichi and Qigong

There is this press release on 19 March 2010 from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport (MCYS) that mentioned the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation (SWDLDF) to kick off the launch of a mass display on the Singapore 13 style Tai Chi that they had developed.

Here is an extract from the press release on Singapore 13 style Tai Chi:

Tai Chi for All

In the first half of 2010, SWDLDF will kick off the launch of the Taichi platform with a mass taichi display. SWDLDF has developed a simplified 13-step Taichi style, ''Taichi for All'', incorporating moves from each of Singapore's five taichi associations. This will add to the menu of Taichi options available for our seniors. Details on the mass display would be announced closer to the date of the event.

Click on the following link to read the full media release
http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/corp_press_story.asp?szMod=corp&szSubMod=press&qid=5653

3000 people to perform Singapore 13 style Tai Chi on 4 April 2010

While I surf the internet, there is a website informing that there will be a 3000 people to perform the Singapore 13 style Tai Chi on 4 April 2010 at the Singapore Chinese Garden.

This event is organised by the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation.

Click here to see the official translation of the steps for the routine on Singapore 13 style Tai Chi.

So now I learn the more appropriate translation for step 9 is called "tucking in robes" and step 10 is called "push down".

Steps to perform the Singapore Integrated 13 Style Tai Chi for Fitness 新加坡综合健身太极拳十三式

I found this video on YouTube. The demonstrator presented this Singapore Integrated 13 Style Tai Chi for Fitness  新加坡综合健身太极拳十三式 beautifully, and this video also shows the steps (in chinese subtitle). When I read this video information, the demonstrator is Daniel Tan, a Tai Chi master himself.



This routine was composed by the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation 新加坡武术总会,   integrating the forms abstracted from Chen style陈式, Yang Style杨式, Wu style吴氏, Wu style 武式, and Sun style 孙式. The routine was introduced to all the instructors in Singapore that it was easy to learn because there were less forms to memorize, smooth, fluent, and it took shorter duration of only less than 3 minutes to perform. I've translated the various forms as follow:

Form 1 - Commencing {Wu Style}起势 (武式)
Form 2 - Left Brush Knee and Twist Step {Yang Style} 左搂膝拗步(杨式)
Form 3 - Strum the Lute {Yang Style} 手揮琵琶(杨式）
Form 4 - Forward Parry and Punch {Sun Style} 進步搬拦捶(孫式)
Form 5 - Apparent Close Up {Sun Style} 如封似闭(孫式）
Form 6 - Open and Close Hand {Sun Style} 开合手(孫式）
Form 7 - Flying Obliquely {Yang Style} 钭飞势 (杨式)
Form 8 - Hide Hand and Strike Fist {Chen Style} 掩手肱捶 (陈式）
Form 9 - Leisurely tie coat on both sides {Wu Style} 右左懒扎衣(武式）
Form 10 - Needle at the bottom {Wu Style} 按式(武式）
Form 11 - Flash Arm {Chen Style} 闪通背(陈式）
Form 12 - Work at shuttles on both sides {Wu Style}右左玉女穿梭(吳式)
Form 13 - Closing {Wu Style} 收势(吳式)