This colorfully illustrated 15-minute exercise routine introduces readers to the basics of the ancient ""bodymind"" art of Tai Chi. The author approaches Tai Chi with fun and simplicity, making this a practice anyone can engage in and enjoy. Tai Chi, the ancient Chinese art of mind-body harmony, is designed to achieve a balance of mental and physical fitness. It combines elements of calming, focusing, strengthening, toning, and balance. Tai Chi is popular among all age groups, especially seniors, because of its low physical impact and tremendously positive impact on vitality. Bright-Fey has developed and trademarked a revolutionary way to teach Tai Chi, called the New Forest Way. This simple method makes the art of Tai Chi easy for people of all ages to learn and use daily to improve their health.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John Bright-Fey is a 40-year veteran of the Chinese Health Exercise and Martial Arts. He is a highly accomplished Master Instructor, and a world-renowned expert and authority on Tai Chi. John established his practice in California before moving to Alabama in 1990 with his wife. A year later, he opened the Blue Dragon Academy in Hoover, Alabama, where he began teaching Tai Chi and other Chinese disciplines. He is also the author of A Morning Cup of Meditation, A Morning Cup of Qigong, and numerous top-selling Tai Chi videos.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exercize that has changed my life,
By
This review is from: A Morning Cup of Tai Chi (The Morning Cup series) (Spiral-bound)
Very often I have read tai chi books that explain the art of tai chi using Chinese metaphors, like snake creeps down, making it very difficult for me to comprehend and use them in my daily exercize. The genius of John Fey is his ability to use simple American concepts which I am familiar as the basis of his routines. For example draw a circle with your hand. I am amazed at the benefit I have achieved by using John's previous books and tapes. I am 65 years old and move and have the energy of a 40 year old. Do not be fooled by the simplicity of the book. Practicing the tai chi routines have a powerful effect on the mind/body.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A few comments,
By magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: A Morning Cup of Tai Chi (The Morning Cup series) (Spiral-bound)
Although this is a cute and fun idea, and I like the author's integrated and eclectic approach, unfortunately, I have to say that this is not tai chi by any traditional standard of tai chi performance that I know. The tai chi set presented here has you performing the numbers 1 through 10 in the air, and at the end of each number, you trace the tai chi yin/yang pattern in the air. Although this results in your doing something akin to chi gung or tai chi, they are not the actual chi gung movements or tai chi movements, either. If you are looking for something like tai chi that isn't tai chi, then perhaps this book is for you. Otherwise you could simply make up your own movements and you'd be about as well off. This is because the original chi gung and tai chi movements are based on very specific Chinese taoist and medical principles and the body mechanics and alignments are extremely detailed and meticulous. Sorry to criticize the book and disagree with the other reviewers here, who are quite well meaning, but they don't sound like they really know what tai chi is about, either.
I just Googled John Bright-Fey's name and found his webpage, which says he is a legitimate lineage inheritor and master and knows tai chi, ba gua, and hsing i, the three internal boxing arts, as well as other areas of eastern philosophy, medicine and knowledge. This is quite impressive, as there are very few people who have have truly learned all three internal arts, such as Sun Lu Tang, one of the most famous figures in the history of the Chinese martial arts. He died in 1930 and was also the inventor of the Sun style of tai chi. Even granting such a rarified distinction and level of erudition to the author, nevertheless, the movements presented in the book aren't tai chi. There is some value in the other information, such as visualization, relaxation, and meditative concepts, but again, that doesn't obviate the fact that the shown movements aren't actual tai chi. Tai chi is also a martial art and there is no mention of those applications. I realize some people may only want to do tai chi for health purposes, which is fine, but then they should go to the trouble of learning the real art, at least one of the shorter short forms, which range from 24 to 88 movements. The author says that he invented this method since many people couldn't learn the actual form. Well, the shortest short form I know of is only 24 movements. This is shorter than many karate or tae kwon do forms (although not all), significantly shorter than your typical kung fu form of 50-75 movements, and a lot shorter than the usual tai chi long form, which, depending on the style of tai chi (Yang, Wu, W'u, You, Sun, Wu Dang, or Lu) can be anywhere from about 80 to over 300 movements in the case of the Yang Cheng Fu form, and even more if you're doing the original Yang Lu Chan form. If someone can't learn the short form then they should just stick with one of the less demanding methods of chi gung. And finally, the more traditionally oriented instructors have reservations about even the very popular short forms, since they feel they still don't reflect the true art or chi principles. It's all ultimately based on chi, and the shorter forms are thought to be too brief to build up and cultivate chi. Hence, one should only learn the short forms as a stepping stone to finally learning the original long form of any of the traditional styles. I also went to the trouble of downloading the video clip that shows people doing the set and also has testamonials by many of his students, including a physician. This is fine, and the form looks quite pleasing and aesthetic to the eye, and it contains a variety of movements that I suspect may be useful and healthy as a form of, shall we say, slow and soft calisthenics. But again, these are not the actual tai chi movements, otherwise, any sufficiently slow and graceful looking sequence of movements could claim to be "tai chi." In that case, why not ballet, or synchonized water dancing such as in the Olympic sport? I give the book 3 stars for effort and for creativity, and in recognition of the author's overall qualifications (I'm assuming they are all legit) but be advised that the movements here are a significant departure from the true tai chi art. Perhaps the best way to use this book would be as a stepping stone to learning the actual art.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 15-minute audio CD is included,
This review is from: A Morning Cup of Tai Chi (The Morning Cup series) (Spiral-bound)
If a person wants to be at their best
then they should pattern themselves after water ~Selection from the Tao Te Ching John Bright-Fey is a natural teacher who takes simplicity to new levels of brilliance. When you learn other styles of T'ai Chi, you have to be so concerned about each movement and you can almost feel your inner perfectionist becoming frustrated. With New Forest T'ai Chi, you are freed from perfectionism and finally you can express your creativity and personalize the flowing sequence of healing motion. To me, learning New Forest T'ai Chi was like learning how to paint imaginary calligraphy with my hands. Not only is this form of T'ai Chi easy to remember, it heats the body, gives you an excellent workout and calms the nervous system. You also don't have to buy any special equipment. Some of the benefits I noticed almost immediately was more flexibility. Grandmaster John Bright-Fey takes you through a series of exercises on the CD and all the exercises are featured in whimsical drawings with additional instruction and notes. He also covers topics like breathing, traditional Chinese medicine and has even translated four chapters from The Tao Te Ching. After reading the book, your workout will have a new depth of creativity. I'd like to say this was "one, two, three" T'ai Chi. However, I think it is much more like calligraphy in motion. You paint numbers with your hands and this makes the movements super easy to remember. Highly recommended for all ages. This gets you moving and it is truly a fun routine that you will never forget. The spiritual elements come from your own experience while doing the exercises and your peace of mind will last long after the routine has been completed. I felt happier, as if I had let my creative child out to play. I'm looking forward to reading all of John A. Bright-Fey's creative and healing books. Also look for John A. Bright-Fey's video or DVD. I think this book is a beautiful companion to the DVD or Video. ~The Rebecca Review
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