Testimonials - Arthritis & Fibromyalgia
Imelda So, North Hollywood,
CA
Over the past ten years I have
been having severe pain all over
my muscles
& joints (including the
jaw bone). I saw numerous
doctors, specialists, &
physical therapists but I
didn't experience any major
improvement in my symptoms.
I felt that my body was "falling
apart" and that I was
slowly wasting away. Also
I noticed that as I grew
older I tended to trip a
lot over things.
In November, 2004 I was finally
diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which
is an inflammation of the muscles &
joints. Statistics indicate
30,000,001 Americans have
it (I'm the "1"
in the thirty million one
figure!).
My knowledgable, caring,
& highly-respected rheumatologist,
Dr. Susan Buhay of West Covina,
California recommended among
other things that I take
up a less strenuous form
of exercise like Tai Chi.
I've always heard of Tai
Chi but never really tried
to learn it. Fortunately
in January, 2005 Providence
St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank,
California announced a Tai
Chi class (under instructor
Pete Bowen) which I joined
in February, 2005 with my
two friends.
It's been a year now since I took
up Tai Chi. Nowadays I HARDLY TRIP,
and my fibromyalgia episodes have
been FEWER & LESS PAINFUL (although
when my muscles/joints swell, I
look like I gained 10 pounds!)
I thank God for introducing me
to Golden Breath American Tai Chi
not only for the above reasons
but also for the relaxation, camaraderie,
& fun times we have in
class.
Our instructor (who is younger
than most of us) is a cool but
patient guy. Unfortunately he developed
a couple of gray hairs since he
started teaching us!!! However,
if one sees the class doing the
Tai Chi movements together, one
cannot help but say "This
is Pete Bowen's creation; his work
of art". We are the living
evidence of his teachings--illness
or otherwise.
My only regret is that we didn't
have a chance (not yet) to meet
Pete's SiBok, the founder/collaborator
of Golden Breath American Tai Chi,
the individual who taught Pete
what he is currently teaching us.
I hope one day he can come to Los
Angeles, California to watch our
class in action so he can see that
his legacy, which filtered down
to Pete Bowen, is also filtering
down to us. We all look forward
to meeting SiBok in person rather
than just in cyberspace.
Sister Cecile Reiley,
Sisters of Saint Joseph
I have had rheumatoid arthritis
for 28 years, so the disease had
a long time to do its work on my
joints. To give me relief from
the pain associated with RA my
rheumatologist would see me monthly
and give me several injections
of a cortisone preparation into
whatever joints were causing the
most trouble: hips, fingers, wrists,
elbows, shoulders, knees, feet,
back.
Two years ago I met a wonderful
physical therapist who advised
me to practice Tai Chi. I began
to attend weekly classes as much
as possible. When I began classes
I had to sit on a chair because
my feet could not sustain me for
an entire period. Now, after two
years of practice, I need no chair
for class, my range of motion for
my joints has improved, and my
next visit with my rheumatologist
has been scheduled for four months
from now!
Words fail to convey the gratitude I have for SiBok who, with great expertise, instructs us faithfully and patiently to learn the principles of Tai Chi -- also called the "Dance of the Angels" and "Golden Breath."