국제 타이치 협회 폴램 박사 축하인사
Dr Lam’s Message for the
[ Tai Chi for Health Education and Research Centre ]
As a director of Tai Chi for Health Institute, I would like to congratulate you and your colleagues on starting the Tai Chi for Health Education and Research Centre. I have been working with Dr. Song for nearly ten years now. Your dedication and hard work in this field have contributed great in the field of tai chi for health education and research. Many of your published papers at prestigious journals have significant impact on Tai Chi for Health. Dr Song is a visionary educator and researcher, the center is a visionary step to impact the future.
The world is facing a health crisis in the twenty-first century. 90% of the people from the western countries suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart conditions and arthritis. The health cost has escalated and society is no longer able to meet the needs. Studies have shown that lack of exercise and unhealthy diets are the causes of most if not all of these chronic conditions. Especially relevant are studies of long term fat storage at the cellular level causing chronic inflammation which in turn causing all chronic conditions. Changing peoples’ lifestyles is a challenging task and it would be the most effective step to solve the health crisis. Good adherence is the key to changing of lifestyle. Tai Chi for Health has been shown by studies and anecdotal evidence to have good adherence and efficacy. More quality research and education on tai chi for health is needed for the program to be disseminated more widely. Right from its creation at the design stage, motivational element for better adherence were built in with all Tai Chi for Health programs. Over last twelve Tai Chi for Health have impacted millions of people around the world, attesting their efficacy and compliance. I firmly believe Tai Chi for Health programs would be coming front and centre as an important health care strategy in the future. I would like to give Dr Song and her colleagues my heartfelt congratulations and offer the strongest possible support. I am very much looking forward to working in collaboration with you and the center. Thank you, good luck and enjoy taking a positive step for the health of mankind.
March 17, 2012
Dr. Paul Lam / Director, Tai Chi for Health Institute
국제 타이치 협회 Roy Geib 박사 축하인사
Good morning, I am Roy Geib, professor at Indiana University School of Medicine I am honored to be sending you greetings from the Research Committee of the Tai Chi for Health Institute, and from my collaborators in Terre Haute, Indiana located in the Heart Land of the United States. It was a great personal and professional pleasure that I felt when I learned that Chungham National University was opening the Tai Chi for Health Education and Research Center in March of 2012. The personal pleasure that I experienced was a deep warmth in my heart as I remembered the kindness, generosity, and friendship of the Korean People that I experienced when I attended the First International Tai Chi for Health Conference in Seoul in 2006. Professor Song and every person that Erik Southard, my travel companion who is currently a professor of Advance Practice Nursing at Indiana State University, and I interacted with while we visited Korea made us feel welcome and at home.
The generosity of the Korean People – will always be remembered by both Erik and I. The professional pleasure that I experienced was again tied to my visit to Seoul. At the time, I had decided to make a change in my career and decided to move from an administrative position back into an active research career. At the time I was beginning to explore several potential research areas with the health benefits of Tai Chi being one of those possible choices. I was very impressed with the research projects being done by Dr. Song and the many researchers from so many Korean universities. As a result of those interactions in Korea, I have spent the last several years also exploring the health benefits of Tai Chi and the wisdom of our ancestors. I can truly state that I was inspired by Dr. Lam and Dr. Song and her colleagues to pursue my current line of research. Because of the inspiration of Drs. Lam and Song, my laboratory is currently exploring the effect of the Tai Chi for Health forms on the improvement of balance, changes in Heart Rate Variability, and the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. To see Dr. Song’s dream of a research center to study the health benefits is both inspiring and professionally very gratifying. Chungham National University has demonstrated great foresight in developing this Center. While modern science has had an enormous impact on the treatment of many diseases that impact humanity, a pill is not necessarily the answer to every situation. In many instances, it may be much better to combine current treatment modalities with ancient knowledge in order to develop better self-management programs for chronic diseases. On behalf to the Tai Chi for Health Institute’s research committee, I again congratulate Dr. Song, her colleagues, and Chungham National University on this great occasion. We are looking forward to collaborating with you on your efforts to improve the health of humanity using self-management programs that include Tai Chi.
Roy W. Geib, MD, PhD
International Research Committee
Indiana University, School of Medicine
USA