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7 January 2015
To whom it may concern: My name is Bruno and I am 63 years old. I have been learning Eight Silk Brocade, a type of Tai Chi, from Sharon Liu of Fountain of Youth Qi. As the name suggests, Eight Silk Brocade comprises 8 postures that stretch and strengthen practically every part of the body - muscles as well as internal organs - in a very gentle, non-strenuous, and meditative way. I have been attending Sharon’s beginner’s class, right here in Markham, every Thursday morning, from September 2014. It was just over a year ago, that I was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease. For about two, perhaps three years prior to my diagnosis, I had been experiencing periods of depression that, most of the time, made me feel lethargic and fatigued. In addition, I was having problems with walking, especially with maintaining my balance and coordinating my physical movements. And I was also having trouble concentrating or focussing on any given task. With the diagnosis in hand, I began to earnestly learn about Parkinson’s and soon discovered that Tai Chi is at the top of the recommendation list for physical exercises that, if not cure, certainly help reduce the progression of degenerative diseases such as PD. The claim of course, is backed by a great deal of research in well-respected medical journals. To this data bank, I now add my own experience with Tai Chi as extremely positive. Having practiced Eight Silk Brocade weekly, over the past four months, I have found that my energy levels are significantly higher, my balance more stable, and my coordination much improved. In addition, I have also found that I am feeling depressed less often and, when I do get depressed or anxious, the levels of despair are not as intense as before. To be sure, my plan is to continue to learn and practice this very gentle martial art, hopefully, on a more frequent basis than just once-a-week, and to continue to reap its benefits in terms of slowing down the effects of Parkinson’s … on my body, and on my mind. In conclusion, I strongly recommend Eight Silk Brocade, as taught by Sharon Liu of Fountain of Youth Qi, not just to those burdened by disease, but to anyone that wishes to harmonize their body, mind and spirit to achieve a healthier and wholesome lifestyle! |