" Well, everybody does something, some people race cars, others collect stamps, I find tai chi to be philosophically, ,aesthetically,physically and spiritually fascinating." Lou Reed
1. Can we talk about your Cancer diagnosis? My cancer diagnosis, I was 25 at the time which really messed with my mental energy as that was the same age my mother died from cancer. I spent every third week in a hospital bed getting pumped with chemotherapy then tried to create some sort of normalcy for the other weeks between the jobs and college. It was a November evening as I attended a fundraiser for the AIDS charity Nashville CARES. During the evening I felt pain in my groin and chalked it up too much walking or dancing, but it became worse. I decided to visit a doctor and then I was sent to an Oncologist where I underwent testing and was then diagnosed with testicular cancer. My doctor told me the kind of cancer I had, had a 98% cure rate and I was determined to be in the 98%. In the same breath he said, “If the cancer comes back, it would be quick” and quickly it did, only a few months after my surgery the CAT scan revealed it was back and my doctor called to inform me so. There is so much more to tell but I will save that for my book. 2. What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi also know as Tai chi Chuan is an ancient discipline that was originally practiced as a martial art but in the early 20th century became more about well-being practices. In what is called an elevator speech when others ask me about Tai Chi this is my answer. “Tai Chi is a slow, fluid, relaxing, dynamic movement that allows you to focus on the inside as you let go of the world around you, ultimately helping you find peace in place. 3. What is your background in Martial Arts? I began my martial arts in high school as my father was tired of me running through the house doing jumping front kicks, I watched on Kung Fu theatre and then I watched the TV series Kung Fu to find inspiration. My father registered me at the local YMCA for Taekwondo which I still practice and teach to this day. Ultimately, I earned my 3rd Dan black belt along the way and was introduced to boxing as a form of therapy for my cancer recovery, found a Muay Thai teacher who also taught us a small amount of Jeet Kune Do that enhanced the skills from the two previous fighting styles I was training in. I have always been a fan of weaponry as well, That’s the Kung Fu theatre’s fault. I found a passion for the nunchaku, throwing stars, tonfa and bow staff but the nunchaku is still as part of me and currently teach that as part of my offerings. Tai Chi Chuan became the most prevalent martial art in my life as now this is what I teach day in and day out, sometimes 19 hours, 7 days a week with over 100 students around the world I have the opportunity to share Tai Chi with. In all 40 something years I have had the honor and privilege to teach, learn and demonstrate my life’s purposeful passion of these arts. 4. What are some things people can do at home to improve their health? Some of the things people can do at home to improve their health is Tai Chi and Qigong but also to dance to a song you love, sing the words out loud, watch the sun rise or at least spend some time outside to gain its benefits, focus on nutritious foods and avoid as much added sugar as possible. Why dance? Like Tai Chi it moves the body. Why sing? It benefits your respiratory system. Why nutritious foods, your body understands them better and through these suggestions they can help you find your Taiji, the Grand Ultimate version of you. 5. How did you end up writing a book? I began my book due to interviews from other like-minded professionals and each interviewer said “That sounds like a good book” So I began to search for experts to guide me in this writing to bring my story to book form. 6. Where can people get your book and if they want to do Tai Chi with you how can they? You can find my book on Amazon, just type my full name ”Jacob Glassmeyer” or “Finding your Taiji, the Grand Ultimate Version of You” and if you would like to join me for Taiji practice please contact me via email at [email protected]. I offer online sessions 4 days a week and available for private sessions. My current online sessions are Monday 8pm EST, Tuesday 9:30am EST, Thursdays 5pm EST and Friday 9am EST. Each session is $10 Written by David Thomas at NewBreak Global Human Rights Journalist with Wall Street News Agency and United Nations working under and with Vincent Lyn. Mental Health Case Manager and author of In Crisis, a guide for crisis intervention as well as Symptoms Hells Angel Vampire. |
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