As humanity continues on a journey through this current worldwide pandemic, health and medical related topics are at the top of most news media headlines everyday with no end in sight.  To add insult to injury doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals are being burnt out at an alarming rate across the country posing a growing problem right before our eyes.

While out driving the other day I noticed a lot going on around me on the highway.   Things going on like, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 15 or more miles per hour; cars jumping from lane to lane as well as tailgaters so close to the car in front of them you would think their car was being towed.  Also as I looked a little closer at some of the drivers in those cars some of their facial expressions as well as supportive body language ranged from anger and hostility to a lot of other not so good things in-between.  The supportive negative body language and hand gestures those drivers displayed toward other drivers spelled out various degrees of disagreements, anger, road rage and internal turmoil of the worst kind.

While sitting at a table in my favorite tea shop a man walked in and passed by my table. Passing he slowed glanced down to see the book I was reading. The book cover was a bright orange that spelled out Tai Chi Ch’uan in Chinese calligraphy. The man stared down at my book then looked up at me and said, in broken English, “you read this book?” I answered; “Yes, I can read this book”.

I remember years ago when computers were the newest trend on the job market. Taking a computer class was a little costly then.

However, for me to avoid the cost of a computer training class this is what I did back in the day. I went to a local Radio Shack store and asked a salesperson about buying a computer and how to operate it. After the salesperson gave me a computer demonstration and a long sales talk, I had a very good idea about how to operate a computer.

Later I went to several other computer stores including other Radio Shack stores asking their sales and technical personnel basically the same questions. After they told me all about their respective computers, I had completed a very good, “FREE” computer training class. That creative self-made computer training class really saved me some money back in the day as well as got me some hands-on experience.

Never have I considered myself immune from sickness; I made it a priority to live healthy in order to avoid getting ill and being hospitalized. For nearly 78 years I have maintained the picture of health mentally, physically, and spiritually. However, in 2021 there was a whirlwind that evolved into a tsunami which headed directly for me, and I didn’t see it coming. The following is my story, may you be inspired to share!

Tai Chi has been on the mainstream of exercise, techniques and healing for years.  I have been teaching Tai Chi, Qi Gong and associated martial arts over the past 40 plus years.  Teaching has afforded me the opportunity to meet a vast array of personalities and a mixture of people with different backgrounds.  Assisted living sites, cancer centers, hospitals, private sessions, parks and recreation centers as well as roof top settings to name a few places for my classroom settings.

Most of us over the age of 40 have heard about, “The Silent Killer”.  And if you haven’t continue reading and make some notes about ways to avoid it. 

The silent killer is also known as high blood pressure.  If your doctor or another medical professional ever told you that your blood pressure was extremely high, you more than likely got somewhat concerned or even a little scared.  You might have even raised your blood pressure count a little higher.

I was sitting in a coffee/tea shop enjoying a nice cup of hot peppermint green tea with honey.  A group of my Tai Chi students along with several of their friends approached me.  They were very apologetic for the interruption then asked if they could ask me a question that they were at odds about within their group.  I agreed to offer my insight to the best of my knowledge for them.  The question was this; which style of Tai Chi is the best?

I have been on a lot of adventures in my life.  However, the most advantageous journey I have ever embarked upon in my life was the journey that started more than sixty (60) years ago, the journey of a healthy life-style, that turned into a holistic journey for life.

We are excited to start a new weekly series entitled “Master Woody Speaks”. This series will share Tai Chi highlights, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), creative and fun filled short stories, inspirations for life, insights and much, much, more. So without further ado, let’s dive into our first topic!