Don't start any exercise or fitness program, including any discussed on any of the seven websites cited above, without carefully assessing your own state of health and level of physical conditioning, without considering your age, without considering any illnesses or injuries you are recovering from, without doing some research, and without consulting with your personal physician when and where appropriate.
None of the seven websites cited
above makes any claims or promises as to
the effectiveness of the exercises described at these websites; relative to your state of health, age, or physical condition. This website gives no medical
advice or recommendations; but, does point to traditional and modern medical research that supports the
considered judgment that the practice of reasonable exercise and fitness methods can help many people
achieve good health, improved strength and flexibility, well being, and vitality.
Some of the internal martial arts
and fitness methods and practices presented and discussed at the seven
websites cited above may
be too physically or mentally demanding for some people. Readers
need to use their own discretion and good judgment before engaging in the exercises or training programs discussed at these
seven websites. When
in doubt,
please consult with your personal physician for their advice as to
your readiness for various exercise and fitness programs.
The author, publisher, or web publisher of the
seven websites
cited above shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by reading or following on their own the instructions or training programs presented at these
websites. Readers engage in all of these activities at their own
risk.
Parents of children under 18 years of age are
responsible for the actions
of their own children. They need to carefully supervise their child's activities
and
monitor what their children read. Neither the author or publisher of these
websites are accountable for your unsupervised children's actions. I
strongly
advise parents against allowing their children to practice or play with
T'ai Chi
Ch'uan or external martial arts weapons without direct and immediate instruction by qualified instructors.
The author
of the webpages at the
seven websites
cited above will not be held responsible in any way whatsoever for any injury
which may arise as a result of your choosing
to follow on your own the techniques presented on
these webpages. Readers engage in all of these activities at their own
risk.
The Taijiquan
websites
cited above include information about adults
training
with weapons such as the staff, sword or saber, etc. Training, playing, or
fighting
with weapons is a very dangerous activity. Taijiquan and martial arts
training
with weapons is for advanced adult students, careful and experienced students,
mature and sensible students, property equipped students, and for students
guided by an experienced martial arts teacher. If you hurt yourself or others by practicing
or playing
with any weapons you read about in the Taijiquan webpages cited
above, then you are to
blame and must accept the responsibility yourself. Neither the author or
the
publisher is accountable for your own actions.
Readers engage in all of these
activities at their own
risk.
Exercises that boost my energy and make me feel good, might
not
be right for you. I enjoy
walking,
strength training,
gardening, and doing the gentle arts of
Taijiquan or
Qigong or
Yoga at or near my
home. I enjoy and benefit from using the
Tehama Family Fitness Center for
strength training, aerobics training, stretching,
Pilates, cardio-kickboxing, and Yoga
classes. I enjoy doing Yoga and Qigong with my teachers and
classmates. I enjoy being a
Yoga,
Tai Chi Chuan, and
Qigong
instructor at the fitness
center and at the
Valley Spirit Center. I enjoy
learning
more about exercise and fitness and having a
daily
practice,
and improving my qualifications as a personal fitness trainer, yoga teacher, and
group fitness instructor. However,
my fitness practices are not necessarily suitable for you, nor are they recommendations
for you to follow. You practice and play at your own risk.
I have never been injured or harmed doing these
Taijiquan, Qigong, Yoga, walking and other moderate exercise activities. You, however, might crave
and need hard style wushu, kung fu or karate, marathon runs, cross country skiing, jogging, aerobic dance, backpacking and mountain climbing, kickboxing,
surfing, competitive sports, cross country bicycling, super step
aerobics, power lifting or high risk sports activities to feel physically and mentally satisfied. The more you exercise and the more you engage
in rigorous competitive sporting activities the greater your risks for injury.
You practice and play at your own risk.
Every exercise program carries some type of risk. On
the other hand, not doing any exercise or fitness activities carries a far greater risk for your loosing your good
physical and mental health, well being, vitality and happiness.
Wake Up!
Decide to Start a Good Fitness Program Today!!
Act Today!!!
Exercise Regularly!!!!
Best wishes for fitness, vitality, well being,
and peace of mind,
Mike Garofalo
April 2007
Recommendations Regarding
Exercise:
“Every American should accumulate 30 minutes or more of
moderate intensity physical activity over the course of most, preferably all,
days of the week.”
- American College of Sports Medicine, Center for Disease Control, National
Institute of Health, and the Surgeon General of the United States
“The Health Benefits of Physical Activity and Fitness” by Robert G. Holly, Ph.D., Professor at the University of California at Davis
“It is safe for most adults older than 65 years to exercise. Even patients with
chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and
arthritis, can exercise safely. Many of these conditions are improved with
exercise. If you are not sure if exercise is safe for you or if you are
currently inactive, ask your doctor.”
- The American
Academy of Family Physicians
Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, California
Valley
Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Club
Red Bluff, Tehama County,
North Sacramento Valley, Northern Central California, U.S.A.
Cities in the area: Oroville, Paradise, Durham, Chico, Hamilton City, Orland,
Willows,
Corning,
Rancho Tehama, Los Molinos, Tehama, Proberta, Gerber, Manton, Cottonwood,
Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, and Redding, CA, California.
Valley
Spirit Fitness and Well Being Practice and Studies Journal
Paths to Fitness and Well Being
T'ai Chi Ch'uan - Internal Marital Art
Subject Index to Cloud Hands Website
© Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2007
Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo
Paths to Fitness and Well Being
Alphabetical Subject Index
Cloud Hands Website
Taijiquan, Qigong, Taoism, Classics, Weapons: Sword and
Staff
Fitness
and Well Being Website
Gardening, Meditation,
Walking, Yoga, Strength Training,
Fitness for Older Persons, Aerobics, Relaxation
The Spirit of Gardening
2,700 Quotes Arranged by 130 Topics,
History, Guides,
Psycho-Spiritual Aspects of Gardening
Green
Way Research
Online Publishing, Research, Indexing,
and Services
By Michael P. Garofalo
Red Bluff, California
Valley
Spirit Center
Michael and Karen Garofalo
Red Bluff, California
Web Guides, Bibliographies, Links, Directories, Lessons, Quotes, Notes
Alphabetical Subject Index
Alphabetical Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Ancient Goddesses - Quotations, Poems, Sayings, Prayers, Songs
Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi): Tiger, Bear, Crane, Deer, and Monkey
Arthritis Therapy - Exercise: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Kung
Bagua Zhang (Eight Trigrams Boxing)
Bear, Standing Bear, Level 1 Ranking, Valley Spirit Taijiquan
The Bear: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Bicycling in Northern California
Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Blog - Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong by Michael P. Garofalo
Blog - Green Way by Michael P. Garofalo
Blog - Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo
Book of Changes (I Ching) and Qigong (Dao-yin)
Breathing Practices: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotes
Buddhism - Tibetan: Shambhala Warriorship, Tantra, Yoga
California (Northern) T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information
Charkas (Energy Centers of the Subtle Body)
Chi Kung (Qigong) and Yoga Classes, Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Mike Garofalo.
Ch'i Kung: Bibliography and Links
Ch'i Kung Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California
Chi Kung: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Circle Walking - Bagua Zhang (Eight Trigrams Boxing)
Classes, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Instructional Program
Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Ch'i Kung
Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan Journal
Comments and Notes on the Yang Style Taijiquan
Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu) (551 - 479 BCE)
Correct Taijiquan Practice Principles
Crane - Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Crane, Soaring Crane, Intermediate Program, Level 3, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Cuttings: Short Poems by Michael P. Garofalo
The Deer: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Diabetes Therapy - Exercise: Taijiquan and Qigong
Direction of Movements in Taijiquan and Qigong
Disclaimer of the Cloud Hands Website
Dragon Gate - Taoism - Wudang Mountain Qigong
Eight Ox Herding Songs - A Ch'an/Zen Parable
Eight Section Brocade Ch'i Kung
Eight Trigrams Boxing (Bagua Zhang, Pa Kua Quan)
Embrace the One - Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree
Entering Tranquility (Ru Jing) Meditation
Essentials of Taijiquan Movement Art
Exercise - Diabetes Therapy - Taijiquan and Qigong
External and Internal Aspects of Chinese Martial Arts
Feedback, Kudos and Reviews for the Cloud Hand's Website
Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi): Tiger, Bear, Crane, Deer, and Monkey
Five Elements (Wu-Xing) and Taijiquan
Five Stepping Movements of Taijiquan
Five Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Metal)
Gardening: Quotes, Poems, History, Sayings
Gardening: Quips and Maxims by Michael P. Garofalo
The Four Gates: Grasping the Sparrow's Tail
Michael P. Garofalo's Biography
Michael P. Garofalo's T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Practice
Glossary of Taijiquan Terms in English and Chinese (Pinyin)
The Goddess - Quotations, Poems, Sayings, Prayers, Songs
Goose - Bird - Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Green Way Research - Taijiquan and Qigong
Gu Shen (Valley Spirit) Taijiquan Instructional Program
Health and Fitness - T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Hexagrams and Trigrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes)
Hidden Tiger, Beginning Program, Level 2, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan
I Ching (Book of Changes) and Taijiquan and Qigong
Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Indoor Cycling, Stationary Bicycling, Spinning
Instructional Program, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Internal and External Aspects of Chinese Martial Arts
Journal - Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo
Kudos for the Cloud Hands Website
Kundalini (Coiled Serpent) Energy
Kwang Ping Taijiquan of Kuo Lien Ying
Learning and Teaching Taijiquan, Qigong and Yoga
Links and Bibliography: Qigong
Links and Bibliography: Taijiquan
Long Form 108 Yang Style Taijiquan
Massage: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Master Chang San-Feng (circa 1350)
Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing (1901 - 1975)
Master Kuo Lien Ying (1895-1984)
Master Sun Lu-Tang (1861-1932)
Master Yang Cheng-Fu (1883-1936)
Mastery, Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Will Power, Strength of Character
Meditation Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California
Meditation Methods and Techniques
Meditation - Standing Like A Tree
Meditation - Standing - General
Meditation - Wu Ji - The Edge of Emptiness
Michael P. Garofalo - Brief Biography
Michael P. Garofalo - Internal Martial Arts Practice History
Michael P. Garofalo - T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Practice
Months of the Year: Quotes, Poems, Links
Mountain Biking in Northern California
Movement Direction Instructions for Taijiquan and Qigong Forms
Moving Hands Like Clouds: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong
Northern California Taijiquan and Qigong News in Cloud Hands Blog
Northern California T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information
Northwestern U.S. Tajiquan and Qigong News in Cloud Hands Blog
Notes and Comments on the Yang Style Taijiquan
Nine Movement Temple Ch'i Kung Exercise Set
Older Persons Exercise and Wellness Programs
Oregon T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information
Original Waving Hands Like Clouds URL
Pa Kua Chang (Eight Trigrams Boxing)
Photography - Valley Spirit Photography Gallery
Pilates: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes
Pranayama: Breathing Techniques from Yoga
Principles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Movement Art
Private Instruction by Michael P. Garofalo, Instructional Programs
Pulling Onions: The Quips and Maxims of a Gardener
Qigong (GWRW)
Qigong (GDW)
Qigong: Bibliography and Links
Qigong, Ch'i Kung - Chinese Mind-Body Exercises
Qigong and Yoga Classes, Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Mike Garofalo.
Qigong Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California
Questions and Answers in Cloud Hands Blog
Red Bluff, California, Qigong Classes
Red Bluff, California, Yoga Classes
Red Bluff, California: Valley Spirit Center
Red Bluff, Valley Spirit Taijiquan Instructional Program
Reiki (Ushi Shiki Ryoho) - Karen Garofalo, Reiki Practitioner
Reiki: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Resolve, Will. Willpower, Self Control, Self Discipline
Reviews of the Cloud Hand's Website
RSS Feed for the Cloud Hands Blog
Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Will Power
Senior Citizens Fitness Programs
Senior Fitness - Red Bluff, CA
Sensing Hands: Push Hands - T'ui Shou
Shambhala Warriorship: Tibetan Buddhism
Shoong, Sung, Song - Loose, Relaxed, Open, Yielding, Responsive
Short Form, Yang Style, Beijing Simplified 24
Simplified 24 From, Yang Style
Soaring Crane, Intermediate Program, Level 3, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Speaking to the Spirit Meditation
Staff Weapons: Jo, Bo, Can, Staff, Spear
Standard 32 Sword (Jian) Form - Yang Style Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Notes.
Standing Bear, Level 1 Ranking, Valley Spirit Taijiquan
Standing Like A Tree - Zhan Zhuang
Stork - Bird - Five Animal Frolics
Subject Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Sun Lu-Tang's (1861-1933) Biography
Sun Lu-Tang (1861-1933): Baguaquan, Hsingyiquan, and Taijiquan Grandmaster
Swordsmanship and T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Sword 32 Standard Sword (Jian) Form - Yang Style Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Notes.
Tai Chi Chuan (GWR)
T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Bibliography and Links
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory:
Instructors, Schools, Information, Workshops
Northern California,
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia
T'ai Chi Ch'uan Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California
T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Red Bluff, CA
T'ai Chi Ch'uan Short Form, Beijing Simplified 24, Yang Style
T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Links and Bibliography
T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Taijiquan: Bibliography and Links
Taijiquan For Good Health, Fitness and Vitality
Taijiquan Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo in Red Bluff, California
Taijiquan - Princiles of Practice
Taijiquan: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Taming the Ox - A Zen Allegory or Parable
Tantric Buddhism: Shambhala Warriorship, Yoga
Taoism, Nature Mysticism, Alchemy
Teaching and Learning Taijiquan, Qigong and Yoga
Temple Qigong - A Nine Movement Exercise Set
Thirteen Postures: 8 Gates and 5 Steps
32 Standard Sword (Jian) Form - Yang Style Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Notes.
The 300 Missing Poems of Han Shan
Tibetan Buddhism: Shambhala Warriorship, Yoga, Tantra
The Tiger: The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)
Tiger, Hidden Tiger, Beginning Program, Level 2, Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Tree Qigong - Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree
Trees - Quotations, Poems, Lore, Wisdom
Trees - Lore, Magick, Myths, Magick
Trigrams and Hexagrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes)
Twelve Animals of Chinese Yoga
Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Valley Spirit Fitness and Well Being Website
Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo (May 2003-July 2005)
Valley Spirit Journal by Michael P. Garofalo (August 2005- )
Valley Spirit Photography Gallery - Old
Valley Spirit Photography Gallery - New - Coppermine
Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan Club
Valley Spirit Taijiquan Instructional Program
Valley Spirit - Green Way Blog
Valley Spirit Taijiquan and Qigong Journal (5/2003-7/2005) by Michael P. Garofalo
Valley Spirit Taijiquan and Qigong Journal (8/2005-) by Michael P. Garofalo
Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Qigong, and Yoga
Vancouver, B.C., T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools
Walking - Eight Ways of Walking Qigong
Walking - General Fitness Exercise
Walking: Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California
Washington T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong Directory: Instructors, Schools, Information
Waving Hands Like Clouds: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Qigong
Will Power, Self Control, Self Mastery, Choices, Strength of Character
Wudang Mountain - Taoism, Taijiquan and Qigong
Yoga Class, TFFC, Red Bluff, CA
Yang Family Taijiquan Genealogy
Yand Style Push Hands and Da Lu
Yang Style Traditional Taijiquan Long Form 108 Movements
Yang Style Taijiquan - Notes and Comments
Yang Style Taijiquan Short Form 24 Movements
Yin-Yang Sensitivity Training: Sticking Hands - T'ui Shou
Yoga Class, Red Bluff, CA - Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo
Yoga and Qigong Classes, Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Mike Garofalo.
Yogalates: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes
Zhan Zhuang - Standing Like A Tree
Valley Spirit Internal Martial Arts Club
Valley Spirit Center - Red Bluff, California
Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, Northern California, U.S.A.
Cities and small towns in the area: Oroville, Paradise, Durham, Chico, Hamilton City,
Corning, Rancho Tehama, Los Molinos, Vina, Tehama, Proberta, Gerber,
Manton,
Cottonwood, Olinda, Cloverdale, Dairyville, Bend, Centerville, Summit City
Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, Igo, Ono, Redding, Shasta, Colusa, Willows,
Richfield, Fall River, Montgomery Creek, Alturas, McCloud, Dunsmuir, Yreka, Happy Camp,
Shingletown, Burney, Mt. Shasta City, Weaverville, Williams, Chester, Orland,
Susanville, Weed, Gridley, Marysville, Yuba City, NorCalifia, CA, California.
December 10, 2006
Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Ch'i Kung
Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong Blog
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