Student Testimonial Articles
ilkleygazette.co.uk, wharfedaleobserver.co.uk
Thursday, October 30, 2008
AN ex-prisoner found love, a man afraid to leave his home gained newconfidence and a successful businessman discovered his softer side with the help of Rainbow T’aichi.
Based on the historic Chinese arts of health and relaxation, the combination of gentle physical exercises and focus on emotional, mental and spiritual balance are already helping Wharfedale people in their everyday lives. Rainbow t’ai chi – so called because it blends techniques learned from seven teachers, there being seven colours in a rainbow – was developed by Chinese-Malaysian Peter Chin Kean Choy. Choy is today the chief instructor at the Rainbow T’ai-Chi-Chi Kung School and Chi for Self-Healing Centre in Devon. Now one of his pupils, Frances Powell, has brought the art to Wharfedale in the hope of showing more people how rainbow t’ai chi can change their lives.
A self-employed reflexologist and t’ai chi chi-kung teacher, Frances says people attending her Thursday morning classes are already feeling the benefits – and her past students have achieved major transformations in their lives.
Frances, 47, only started out on her own journey in recent years. “I discovered Rainbow T’ai chi over six years ago, following a disastrous year for me,” said Frances. “I learned to slow down and seek inner and outer balance in my life using the Rainbow T’ai chi. My friends and family notice I am softer, more gentle, more confident, peaceful and happy. I have had the support of the rainbow t’ai chi to help me as a single mum, student and self-employed reflexologist and t’ai-chichi kung teacher. “My sons have left home now, happy and confident; I feel my practice has given me invaluable support in giving the best of myself to me, my sons, and my students.
I have even found a singing voice within me and have written songs and produced CDs!” She has been running successful courses at Kildwick, near Skipton. Frances says her students over the years have benefited greatly from learning rainbowt’ai chi. She says one student, an ex-prisoner, found love, a new life and happiness as the result of learning the art. Another young man who had been at home, afraid to go out for 18 months, has now found work he enjoys, is studying and also has a new love in his life. Another of her past pupils, a nurse who came to see Frances full of torment and fear two years ago, has now moved to Devon to train directly with Choy. “I’m so proud of my students and the work we’ve done” she said.
But the practice is not only of benefit to people with serious problems in their lives – Frances believes it can benefit those suffering everyday work and family stress, or even those who do not see any problem with their life, but do not have balance between the different and opposing elements of their personality.
Another of her students was a confident, successful businessman, who nevertheless found a new, softer side to himself with the help of rainbow t’ai chi. The art works onusing the combination of physical and mental exercises to de-clutter the mind of the torrent of thoughts which bombard most people in modern lifestyles.
The Wharfedale venue – at Church House, next to All Saints Parish Church, Ilkley – was chosen specially because of its proximity to the park and river, areas which promote natural relaxation. The spiritual focus of the art comes in the form of understanding the flow of ‘chi’ or energy through the body, based on thousand-year-old Taoist teachings from China.
Although the ten-week course in Ilkley is already under way, students can still sign up. For more information, telephone Frances on 01535 634023.