" 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. Alright, Jacob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?I was personal training at a facility and was doing quite well. The caveat though is that I would be there from early AM to late PM helping others take charge of their lives for better health and no time for myself. The money was good since I was one of the top trainers but inside something was missing. Let us go back in time, I started martial arts 40 years ago when my father was fed up with me doing my kicks and punches through the house, so I began my training at the YMCA in TaeKwonDo, a popular martial art from Korea. I have studied and taught multiple styles of martial arts but none so much as TaiChi.
Back to the present day, I was becoming burned out with personal training and around that time I received an email from the clubhouse at the location I was living stating TaiChi was ending in July. I anxiously went to class to meet the teacher and after a couple of classes, I was hooked. My teacher told me after months and months of studying TaiChi the only way to get better was to teach others. He said “In others, you will see the mistakes you are making” so when one teaches, two learn. I was still in personal training but the urgency in me to share TaiChi with others was far greater. The defining moment was when I discovered how TaiChi is so versatile and reaches so many more at once than being just a personal trainer. Don’t get me wrong, being a personal trainer has been and is a very rewarding career but for me, now TaiChi is the best discovery of my lifetime. As I advanced in my learning so my teaching improved as well. Today I am an International teacher, ranked as a Master Instructor, and have been inducted into the USA Martial arts Hall of Fame. Sharing my life’s purposeful passion brings me greater joy than the career path I had in personal training and I continue to make advancements in my career as a Shifu of TaiChi. I continue to look for opportunities to share this incredible ancient martial art that has become the world’s oldest form of group exercise and healing. My life statement is One life, one body, make the most of both and this I live every day. Jacob, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do? I am a US Army veteran, 2x cancer survivor, author, and accomplished, multi-award-winning instructor of Tai Chi and Qigong with 40 years of experience in martial arts and 30 years in the fitness industry. I have the honor to transform individuals, companies, and communities through movement, meditation, and renewed mindsets with the ancient disciplines I share. I got into the discipline of martial arts as a young man but TaiChi you can say found me decades later. I had been interested in this internal martial arts for years yet never could find a teacher. Now I am known as Yourtaichiguy throughout the world and after my class I will be your taichi guy always and this is how you find me throughout social media. The main information I want others to know is TaiChi is a healthy way to release stress and has been clinically proven to improve the overall health of the practitioner. I have a passion for my military veteran family and those with disabilities. I want them and you to know my life statement to live which is One life, one body, make the most of both. If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty? If I could go back in time I would choose the same profession and all the good and not good that has come with it. I am truly at peace with the journey I have traveled and proud of the business, career, and profession I have created, and am loving every step of the journey. Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience? Sharing this story of resilience could fill a book but I will abbrev it to the best of my ability. The year was 1995 and I was diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after my fiance left me and before my dog was poisoned and died. My mother who died of cancer was the same age as I was when diagnosed. I never knew my mother but have characteristics of her according to my father and grandmother. Mentioning my grandmother she passed away before I had the chance to tell her I had cancer because I was going to the hospital for chemotherapy due to the reoccurrence of the deadly disease. I held my college grades up, and worked three jobs as my world fell apart around me. I would take a week and a half off every three weeks to spend it in the hospital for treatment and recover afterward at home. I apply this life challenge to everything that may be an adversity to me and ask “Is it worse than the cancer, no, nothing I have experienced since has been worse than having cancer twice. To that I persevere, heal and march on. This past Saturday I was honored to receive 1st place at The Golden Dragon Warrior Event in Taichi forms. With this accomplishment it encourages me to improve my practice that I bring to you and many others. My question to you is what do you currently do to improve? Do you compete, take an online class, take lesson for a hobby to hone your skill? I encourage you to do so and with that live an extraordinary life so when we are gone other with know our legacy.
Your Movement Video The video for this week is Taichi as we review Yang style Open the big fan. This is a favorite posture of mine so please enjoy, subscribe and share. Thank you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtCEKuWzRpQ Health and Wellness Topic I know the human body is an amazing instrument that can do so much we haven't begun to explore but listen to Jim Kwik as he describes 10 Things that Will Change Your Life Immediately 1. Brain diet 2. Killing ants 3. Exercise 4. Brain nutrients 5. Positive peer group and you'll have to watch to get the rest and killing a.n.t.s. isn't really killing ants, you'll see. https://youtu.be/3tCWngax6WE In Closing I want to thank you all and hope the activity no matter what we are doing becomes a lifestyle and in the end you pay it forward as we only have 1Life. 1Body. Make the most of Both. Are you interested in having a Taichi Demonstration for your civic organization or community? This is a great way to "pay it forward" in health and wellness. Reach me by email and we can plan your event! Attachments area Preview YouTube video Open the big fan Open the big fan Preview YouTube video Jim Kwik: 10 Things that Will Change Your Life Immediately Jim Kwik: 10 Things that Will Change Your Life Immediately One of the most important principles of Taichi practice is to keep the spine straight, and the back relaxed. The Taichi posture entices the flow of fresh blood into the muscles, generate immense energy, and allow Qi to ascend up the spine through the Governing meridian to the head, like acupuncture from the inside to every part of the body. Training the body to avoid slouching and rounding the shoulders from daily activities brings better posture and spinal alignment and reduces stress on the components of the spine. The BMI chart isn't what you should be concerned about, but the BF % chart is as it will better predict the health risks based on actual fat your body is holding onto.
In an article by Josh Hillis on www.Livestrong.com, If you are an athlete or active, you are going to have more weight in muscle than the average person, and your BMI may not accurately reflect your health and fitness, or how healthy and fit you look. Many athletes have a higher than normal scale weight, despite being active and being lean. It's not unusual for a bodybuilder, football player or basketball player to have a BMI that reads overweight or obese, despite the fact that they are obviously lean and fit. This is where body fat percentage comes in. Body fat percentage is literally measuring what percentage of your body is made up of fat. Everything else is usually referred to as "lean tissue." This gives a more accurate representation of health, fitness and leanness for someone who is physically active. Yes the last three months, the end of 2018 is fast upon us but alas we will be strong! We shall make healthy choices most of the time and on that very special day of days at the right place and time you will eat whatever you want. You must though be diligent on the portion size and when you eat. Your digestive system may fire back at you for being so good as of late.
Let's play, maintain and don't gain! It's a fun game many people across the globe set out to attain during "The last three months". So weigh yourself in the birthday suite, measure your dominate mid bicep, at your belly button and dominate mid thigh. MAINTAIN those inches and numbers through THE LAST THTREE MONTHS and the new year will be so m u c h easier for goals and fitness endeavors. Break a leg you all and let me know your obstacles and or questions so we can guarantee success. Be well. This gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life. More and more people are hearing of the clinically proven benefits of Taichi. Here is some great information for you to take advantage of before coming to the classes offered here in Celebration. Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health. In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of motions named for animal actions — for example, "white crane spreads its wings" — or martial arts moves, such as "box both ears." As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention — as in some kinds of meditation — on your bodily sensations. Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi can be easily adapted for anyone, from the most fit to people confined to wheelchairs or recovering from surgery. A meta-analysis of 40 studies on Tai Chi published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found a reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and improved self-esteem with regular Tai Chi practice. (Not to cause alarm, but stress is actually killing American women.) Taichi is adaptive as well for individuals impeded by life’s circumstances. I.E. Breast cancer recovery, paralysis, COPD, arthritis, MS, cardiac recovery, vestibular imbalances, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, ADD. Resource sited: WebMD; psychcentral.com; nationalmssociety.org; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; healthland.time.com; Harvard Women's Health Watch; www.shape.com In my classes I have seen children’s attention spans become more focused, active agers become stronger and even my doctor commented on my resting heart rate thinking I do “a lot” of cardio. Come and let us explore Taichi together. Yes it is real. You've felt it before, sometimes there is that person that when they are gone you say " Ugh! they drained my...energy, right. Consequently there is that person or persons that when you are with them revitalize you. Wow! you feel more ...energized.
Your brain fires electrical impulses between synaptic junctions, you run your feet on carpet then touch an object and you can see the electricity exchange. Qi is real! Qi translated from Chinese means energy, it's not mystic or new age, it's you and through practice you can increase your qi to improve health and wellness in your life. Welcome to Glassmeyer Health and Wellness. It is an honor to be here for you in your endeavors to better life.
There is a lot of information out there in this world on what to try, do, eat, and stay away from. It can take up your time and well, that where I come in. My knowledge and experience will take you, your staff or business to a healthier direction whether it be a personal coaching session or a weekend retreat with some great morning classes to get everyone up and going. Glassmeyer Health and Wellness will be there for you and again welcome to my and your future. It's bright, healthy, calming and exciting. Many thanks to everyone that had a hand in this as I look forward to extending mine to you, so we may positively affect any endeavors you may have. Be Well, Jacob Kyle Glassmeyer |
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