Practicing Wu Style Taijiquan to get back to good health.

At first I thought that learning taijiquan from a book is next to impossible. However with persistence and patience I believe I am getting some where.

After about 3 weeks since I decided to embark on my quest to study this type of taijiquan I have learnt about 50 percent of the 37 postures Wu Style taijiquan from following the text and instructions in the book. My previous background in Chen Style taijiquan probably probably help me to learn the movements in double quick time.

Perhaps the greatest motivation in learning this type of extremely slow motion taijiquan is my desire to improve my health through some form of physical exercise.

My sedentary lifstyle since my retirement from work in June had caused my blood pressure, blood sugar levels and heart beat to rise alarmingly. Sometimes I even experienced shortness of breath, head ache, dizziness, bloated stomach, excessive stomach gas and flatulence, diarrhea and even constipation. Taking too many medicines, watching TV and surfing the internet made me sleepy and lethargic all day.

Alarmed at the worsening state of my health, then one day in July I decided to do something about it. I decided to start with taijiquan exercise first thing in the morning as I felt that the slow, continuous and gentle movements accompanied by deep breathing and relaxation would not tax my low energy level too much.

After only about a month of doing taijiquan in the mornings with some sessions in the afternoons and evenings, I am beginning to feel that my strength, energy and vigour have recovered tremendously. Nowadays I don't feel so tired and sleepy as before. My blood pressure, sugar level and heart beats are now under control.

Seeing the positive effects of taiji on my health I am greatly motivated to learn the complete set by the end of Aug. In addition to taiji I am also adding other forms of physical exercises to my daily life.

Other than practicing this art to regain my health I am also paying more attention to my diet. Gone are the days when I used to load my body with all kinds of toxic foods eg red meat, coffee, tea, milk, sugary beverages, pastries, pasta, deep-fried,oily and spicy foods.

A new look

Strangely I get the feeling that people I am in contact with are paying particular attention to my looks.

My hair, or what's left of it is the first topic of conversation. It is not that I am out to make a fashion statement with my current military style hair cut.

It is just that when I asked for a short hair cut, the barber took the request literally and sheared off all the hairs at the back, the sides and the crown almost down to the skin save for the remaining 3 mm sticking out. I console myself that I won't be needing a comb and hair gel at least for the next two months.

A pleasant surprise in the mail

Apleasant surprise awaits me when I checked the mail box

Inside an envelope from Petronas Dagangan I found a Petronas Mesra Card and a refrigerator magnetic sticker attached to the envelope. Petronas Dagangan is the vendor who delivers cooking gas to my family on a regular basis.

We are happy with the home delivery service provided by this vendor. Since the day we ordered cooking gas from this vendor the company has provided uninterrupted and friendly service whenever we run out of gas. Sometimes even before we run out of gas their customer service will call inquiring if we want them to deliver gas to our house.