Hi Bill & World Tai Chi & Qigong Day,

Thank you very much for your promotion of the Tai Chi and Qigong for the world wide. Our association, LAMAS Qi Gong Association of Canada take this opportunity to promote the Tai Chi and Qi Gong in the Capital (Ottawa) Region of Canada. We have a very suceessful community events and have other organization participated, such as Chow Qigong Ottawa association represented by Instructor Shiang Ying Dai, Tai Chi group by Instructor Sue Cavanagh, and Ottawa Chito-Kai Karate School represented by Instructor Hart MacPherson.

Philip Lai

Eight years ago in April, Bill Douglas (founder of the World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day) and 200 people in Kansas City, USA, promoted the benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises to the public. Since then, this annual event has quietly spread across the planet and is now being held on six continents in sixty countries (including fifty states in USA, seven provinces and territory in Canada). As a result, millions of people worldwide have experienced the healing benefits of practicing Tai Chi & Qigong. For details, see the website www.worldtaichiday.org.

Master Philip Lai and associates of the LAMAS Qi Gong Association of Canada will be supporting and promoting World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day by offering a free Qi Gong and Tai Chi workshop to the public on April 29, 2006 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at the Assembly Hall, McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy Street, Ottawa. Free group practice and demonstration will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Park near the recreation centre if the weather allows. Master Lai is a certified naturotherapist with 30 years experience teaching Qi Gong, Kung Fu and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To register, please e-mail philip.lai@rogers.com or call Master Lai at (613) 291-8369 by April 22. Space is limited, so it is first come, first serve. To find out more, see our website http://www.lamasqigongcanada.com/

Why are Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises growing in worldwide popularity recently? It is because the movements are easy to do, gentle, and effective yet powerful. They are economical and convenient to do since you don’t require special facilities or clothing, e.g., you can do it in office attire in any empty boardroom. This low impact exercise along with meditation helps us to calm our mind, relax our body and reduce our stress. This is important since seventy to eighty-five percent of illness is caused by stress. Actually, when we have less stress, accident will be reduced and productivity will be increased. Surprisingly, these exercises not only provide cardiovascular benefits, but also burn a huge number of calories. Qi Gong and Tai Chi are used in hospitals, business, prisons, schools, and other institutions. They have been shown in research to reduce anxiety, depression, and chronic pain conditions. In addition, they provide powerful stress management tools, and slow certain aspects of the aging process.

Actually, Qi Gong is not only the ancient root of Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Acupuncture, Acupressure and Massage therapy but is also the foundation of TCM. It was developed within the vast realm of TCM and is responsible for a multitude of health benefits. It is a powerful energy healing system that connects the body, mind and spirit. It has evolved in China over five thousand years. Qi Gong can be described as a set of breathing, gentle exercise and Qi circulation techniques that are capable of improving health, preventing illness, and strengthening the body. It is also the art and science of cultivating and manipulating one’s inner vital life force with the intentions of healing. Practitioners can gain control of and direct the healthy flow of their Qi, or life force, for self-healing.

In closing, I would like to welcome you, your friends and relatives to join this special event. Attending the free workshop will show you how you can learn to cultivate, balance and manipulate your energy, strengthen your immune system, and improve your healing abilities in order to achieve a happy, healthy and prosperous lifestyle.

The LAMAS Qi Gong Association of Canada regularly offers workshops and ongoing classes to help as many people as possible obtain health and happiness through the practice of Qi Gong. For details, see our website listed above. Classes will be held from April 13-June 15 on Thurs. from 6-7 pm for Level 1, and from April 8-June 17 on Sat. from 10:30-11:30 am for Level 2 at the Plant Recreation Centre (930 Somerset St. W. Ottawa). Classes are also held at the McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy St. Ottawa) for level 2 from 8:30-9:15 am and for Level 1 from 9:30-10:15 am every Sat. except long weekends.

The five elements palm Qi Gong workshop provides a powerful and easy to learn movements to guide the Qi to open our five meridians (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) which correspond to the five elements. Also, some exercises, meditation chanting, meridian, principle of five elements and acupressure treatments will be taught which will help to balance your body, mind and spirit, reduce stress, treat sports injuries, control pain, manage headaches, alleviate allergies, and sooth irritated eyes. It will be held in the Assembly Hall of McNabb Community Centre on Sat. May 6 & 13 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and June 3 & 17 from 8:30-10:15 am. Master Lai will also provide a group treatment by emitting healing energy to the participants. To register or for more information, call (613) 291-8369, e-mail Master Lai at philip.lai@rogers.com or visit our website at www.lamasqigongcanada.com

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