3 comments about Scott Cole: Discover Tai Chi for Back Care Gentle Workout.

1. Excellent video for beginners. Plus even those that may have some knowledge of Tai Chi, it would be good for them also. Does lots of concentration of relaxing, especially back muscles, strengthening, stretching, for the lower back as well as neck and cervical spine.



2. This is a nice Tai Chi set that really loosens your back. Great for a stiff back after sitting at work all day.



3. This DVD is an excellant intro for biginners of all levels. The instructions reflects the values he offers. They are easily followable and more importantly they deliver. Scott Cole is charismatic and immediately likeable, non judgemental. If there is a minus it is the music accompaning the exercise, but that is debatable. I prefer solo japanese bamboo flute whenever I practice. Bottom line for those with or without osteoarthritis back pain, this is worth buying.

5 comments about Tai Chi for Beginners with Grandmaster William C.C. Chen.

1. This is not a DVD for beginners. There is no explanation of the movements. The narration says to "turn foot in" but never says which foot, or what part of the foot whether it's the heel or the toes. You're just supposed to mimic the movements shown on the screen, but it's very difficult at times to see what your feet are supposed to be doing because his pants and other leg block the view. There is absolutely no explanation as to what your hands and arms are doing. In one section all the instructions are given as "sleep" and "wake up". It's very frustrating. It's a beautiful DVD, and it's obvious that Grand Master Chen loves what he is doing, there is just no instruction, and no explanation as to what is really going on.



2. Mr Chen makes this very easy to learn and the movements are good for the mature generation. I would buy it again if necessary. Fast shipping and reasonable price.



3. When it comes to Taijiquan, a landmark name like William C C Chen tends to carry a lot of weight. For this reason, I had high expectation when I purchased this DVD. Having been a long time player in the Taiji community as well as a senior student of the late Professor Cheng Man Ching, Mr. Chen has had an impressive track record of being a competitor, accomplished author, and a scholar. Sadly, while the DVD may be useful for a complete beginner of advanced age with absolutely no prior experience in Taijiquan, I found myself somewhat disappointed by the content, and the manner in which it was presented, considering the source.
   
   In my opinion, Taijiquan has become a mere performance art, being presented as a choreographed form. The majority of Taiji related products approach it as a moving meditation (never quite going beyond Qi Gong elements,) lacking for the most part any explanation of individual techniques, breathing, weight distribution, and applications. While Mr. Chen's DVD does explain balance and breathing to some extent, his approach is no different from the dozens of average products already on the market, and far better material is available on the subject.
   
   For starters, the DVD menu is divided into several sections (instructions, step by step movements, somplete form, etc) but does not have a simple PLAY function which would play the entire DVD content sequentially. I know this is a minor nit-pick, but from the perspective of an elderly viewer (I gave this DVD as a gift to my Taiji teacher,) this would make the DVD far more difficult to navigate, requiring the use of a remote which people of advanced age may have difficulty operating.
   
   In terms of the content, I found myself quite a bit surprised at the instructions for the step by step movements. On the plus side, each set of movements is repeated 3 times, slowly, and were quite easy to follow with weight shifting instructions following each movement. The video was mirrored (left and right sides reversed) so that an average viewer could directly mimic what they were seeing on the screen rather than have to flip the movements mentally. The weight shifting and distribution were explained very well in the STEP BY STEP section of the DVD, with the names of the movements listed in the beginning. Mr. Chen's analogy of Qi, his example of a toy frog and an inflatable rubber deer (worth seeing, IMO) is definitely unique, and helps provide better understanding without getting into mystical territory (one of the reasons I loved his book, Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan.) On the down side, there was no indication which movements you were performing, no indication where one movement began and another ended, and the names of the movements were limited to the text format displayed in the beginning of the STEP BY STEP segment.
   
   The camera angle is another serious issue that needs to be addressed. While it is helpful to see several angles of the same movement to get a better understanding of what is taking place, the camera focusing on Mr. Chen would suddenly switch angle mid-movement. This caused a lot of confusion in following what exactly he was doing. A better way to handle this would have been switching angles after each repetition (there were 3 for each segment.) This would have allowed the viewer to follow the movements each time without having to pause in confusion.
   What surprised me the most, was seeing Mr. Chen seemingly struggle through some of the motions during the demonstration. I realize he is advanced in age, that he went through several repetitions of the movements, and that he might be tired. However, it was somewhat disconcerting to see him have some difficulty while demonstrating movements like Snake Creeps Down, Kicking Out, and Needle at the Bottom of the Sea. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Chen and his accomplishments, however, in my eyes this was something that diminished the quality of the product considerably.
   
   Another problem, in my opinion, was lack of direction on the proper postures and breathing during the movements. This, in my opinion, is something that is an absolute must for every beginner product, and the lack of said instruction may lead to many bad habits that may later need to be un-learned in a formal class. The information presented in the BONUS section of the DVD should in reality have been a part of the introduction, which I found lacking and uninformative.
   
   The BONUS section covered topics like why the Taiji Quan form is performed in slow motion, what the proper ways to move are (dealing with tension, hand movement, and rooting analogies.) Again, information that should have been part of the introduction, and may have been added as a mere afterthought. What I did not see covered anywhere, is the 13 postures, which again, I feel should be required material for any beginner product, since they are very much the core of Taiji Quan. However, this DVD seems to approach Taiji simply as Qi Gong, so information on the postures may have been left out for that reason.
   
   What finally cemented my opinion, was the COMPLETE DEMO section with the 3 levels of instruction. This segment went through the entire motion of the William C C Chen style Taiji Quan, giving the viewer a choice of either BASIC, COUNTING, or ENERGY audio directions. While the BASIC was excellent, offering breathing, movement, and direction in which to turn (the latter being a bit more vague for beginners,) the COUNTING instructions left me scratching my head. The gist of it was a voice counting anywhere from 1-3, 1-4, or 1-5 with no discernable rhythm or explanation for the count. The ENERGY directions were merely "fall asleep" and "wake up," again with no explanation.
   
   I see a lot of unique and new material on this DVD that could have been implemented differently given a bit of restructuring and editing. However, in it's current state, this finished product is not particularly clear in it's overall instruction, the camera angles need better direction, and the information provided needs far more restructuring and elaboration than is provided. While Mr. Chen does insert his unique humor and personality into the presentation, it is unfortunately not enough to save this DVD from vagueness and obscurity which haunt almost every section. As such, this product fails to stand above the average book or DVD on the subject, and as I mentioned earlier, far better instructions are available.



4. This was my first time trying Tai Chi, and it was great. The instructional part was difficult for me to follow, but when I proceeded to the basic exercise, I was able to catch on very quickly. His voice is very calming, and the controlled movements will accelerate your heart rate and help you control your breathing.



5. The instruction was hard to follow. Master Chen says step to the right while he is stepping to the left, very confusing. He does not show the movement of the hands, arms, and feet clearly.

5 comments about Sunset Tai Chi (YMAA) DVD.

1. This DVD contains a seated version that is very stimulating, but easy enough to do while I'm going through chemotherapy. It's thorough and it's interesting. It helps tremendously with the anxiety I go through during the treatment periods.
   
   Easy to follow and geared to different levels. You simply do a gentler version and gradually increase your effort until you reach a gentle but vigorous workout.
   
   This workout has helped keep me positive. I'm not sitting back doing nothing during my healing process. And the results are obvious in how I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.
   
   There is also the main standing version which I plan to learn when I'm ready.



2. Ramel Rones is definitely an expert and does a great job. Sunset Tai Chi focuses on relaxation techniques which includes breathing. This is a great DVD!



3. ÜBER 30 JAHRE PRAKTIZIERE ICH JETZT KUNG FU HEILGYMNASTIK, ABER MIT DIESEM TAI CHI BUCH SUNSET UND SUNRISE BIN ICH MEHR ALS ZUFRIEDEN, DA MEINE ERGEBNISSE FANTASTISCH SIND! DANKE AN RAMEL RONES FÜR SEINE TOLLE ARBEIT!
   WAS MICH BETRIFFT, ENDECKE ICH IMMER WIEDER ZUSAMMENHÄNGE ZWISCHEN DEN SPORTARTEN! KAUFE AUCH NOCH PATTERN!
   
   GOOD LUCK RAMEL RONES!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!



4. I have had this DVD for 2 weeks and I love it. I have only been doing the exercises in order to build up confidence in my ability to do each movement before I try to put it all together. Some times I do them sitting down so I am just concentrating on the hand movements. The different views really helps to see just how each exercise is done. I also love the way the narrator tells you want the movements are doing to your body.
   
   One note of caution. If you are out of shape like I am, don't do as many repetitions as Ramel does in the beginning. Pace yourself.



5. This DVD provided me with exactly what I wanted regarding learning and practicing Tai Chi. Finding all the data and videos on the DVD was challenging as there was no written Table of Contents. I had to play the disc all the way though and then experiment with searching around to find some great additional exercises on the DVD. Search around as there is more on the DVD than you would expect. The quality of video and audio is very good. Sometimes pausing the DVD to look closer at the exercise was very helpful. Going back and forth was also helpful in getting the motion correct. The DVD was shipped and received in perfect condition and I believe is an excellent value.

5 comments about Eight Simple Qigong Exercises For Health - The Eight (8) Pieces of Brocade (YMAA) DVD.

1. I am a devout christian and weary about practicing martial arts with an element of occult worship, but this exercise DVD is very scientific and not into any other religion. So it is still a creation of God.
   
   I left the hospital with tremendous lungs problems and general weakness of my organs in general.
   
   Only practice the DVD once, I am healing, so I am doing it 3 to 4 times a days to accelerate my healing.
   
   I have been bed ridden for a long time, and now I have hope to go back to a full time job.
   
   Thanks for this well taught DVD, it is changing my life, also thank God for that.



2. I have practice The Eight (8) Pieces of Brocade for nearly 2 years now. In no doubt, I have realized how effective and beneficial the practice is. But unless I got it wrong all along, how can one just do the standing set 15 -20 minutes a day as the master himself suggested? It has been taken me an hour or more each day to complete the set. I would be really thankful if someone can educate me on something I might have missed. Any way, I want to thank Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming for helping me with a long a healthy life.



3. After doing Qi gong for many years and owning many DVDs and books, Dr. Yang's DVD is really informative and thorough. Many people get caught up in the different styles and names and unfortunately because Chinese culture is organically evolved this way. Dr. Yang has a healthy inclusive attitude about this and many teachers do not. No one style is better than another.
   
   It is important to keep it mentally simple but physically consistent. Said another way, it is in the doing not in the finding the secret style to make you indestructible or immortal.



4. The quality of the disc was very poor. It would not play in my dvd player, and played very intermittently on my computer causing a loud humming noise. The disc was obviously mis-shapen in some way. On the few snippets I was able to see, Dr. Jwing-Ming seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time advertising his other products; the reason I returned for refund rather than exchange. English subtitles are used (even though his English is acceptable) and sometimes obscure his movements. I bought this product for it's 5-star rating despite it's relatively high price. When the refund comes through I will choose a different dvd.



5. I think you'll enjoy this DVD by Dr Yang. He talks about the history of Qi Gong. He's a little hard to understand at times because he's Chinese, but one gets the impression he's very authentic. There are several segments to the DVD, and one of them is a full explanation of how Qi Gong got started thousands of years ago.
   
   There are several segments that explain how to do the sitting and standing exercises in great detail, and what the purpose of the exercise is. Then, there's another segment that has Dr Yang demonstrating the exercise for you. One will find the exercises very easy to do, and he mentions how breathing is extremely important as well. I think he realized that for many people this might be their first experience to this art, so he casually suggests that people practicing these moves concentrate on perfecting the forms, but generally speaking, with any movement that has an arm or leg extension, the individual should exhale. When bringing the arms or leg back, one should inhale, according to Dr Yang.
   
   I'm not a dentist, but there's an exercise where one has to chomp on their teeth multiple times to clear the brain. I think it might be a marvelous way to break some teeth if one isn't careful, so I'd offer a caution on doing this particular exercise.
   
   The rest of the exercises are remarkably easy, and one is left feeling refreshed after doing these brocade exercises. The musical background for the DVD is also very authentic and relaxing. I would like to highly recommend this DVD for the person looking for a DVD to start Qi Gong.

5 comments about Tai Chi For Arthritis DVD.

1. This product was sent promptly and received in good condition. The DVD is good in describing and showing the various exercises. I believe I will enjoy it for a long time. I hope.
   Vivian Carrick



2. This video is very helpful to beginners in Tai Chi. The repetition and slow motion of his moves make it very easy to follow. I found it very useful. I would definitely recommend it to everyone whether you are a beginner or an old pro in need of a refresher course.



3. Beats me? I never bought this dvd. It says it is Tai Chi for arthritis. I can picture it now...(Apply Chinese accent here) Yes, American round eye losser guy, stretch your right arm fourth and blast fourth your chi. I suffer from Arthritis and will demonstrate the proper move for you... YESSSS.... Strech your Arthritis arm like this AIEEEEEEE! YAHHHHHHH! AWWWWW!!! YAHAAAAAAAhooooo! Hai YAHHHAWEEEya! Wow, Guys that felt really good! See how much better your feel, American pig dog? Now let us try the other side... Buy this dvd and learn to yell and blast your chi fourth!



4. Having just started the study of Tai Chi, learning the basic moves is very important. Dr. Lam is a wonderful teacher, and his directions are easy to follow. The sequence of the moves, or forms, is very well thought out, and he is specific about hands, feet, and breathing. Well worth the price, this DVD will bring you the peace of a mental and physical exercise that strengthens the body and spirit. Love this DVD!



5. This dvd augments a four session class I attended at our local community college. I liked the way it showed each movement in detail. It was easy to start and stop and follow. With only four hours of class instruction and practice it was difficult to remember all the fine points of the movements. This dvd augmented my class beautifully.

5 comments about Simplified Tai chi Chuan with Applications (YMAA).

1. Good video to learn the technique. I especially like the fact that he faces away to help you learn it in the right direction. Would be enhanced with a mirror for him to face. Also think it is great for an intermediate tai chi practitioner. Beginners may have trouble learning the movements.



2. This provides the history of Tai Chi along with detailed instructions and views. Excellent choice for a beginner.



3. This is an great video for the practicing or aspiring martial artist who is interested in learning more about the history and benefits of Tai Chi. The DVD provides an ideal format for individual instruction, using short, well-labeled chapters that include each of the various postures presented at a comfortable, learnable pace. Master Liang is an exceptional teacher who provides perfect presentation of the 24 postures in appropriate detail, at a variety of angles, including specifice inhale/exhale points throughout the form. Of particular value is his solo presentation of each posture, followed by the self-defense presentation countering an attacker. For those who want more, also included is the longer 48 posture form. A must-have to complete your library!



4. Although I don't think this DVD is for the absolute beginner, it does offer a good introduction to some of the history of TaiChi, as well as give very good examples of the 24 and 48 pasture forms. I found the rear view images hard to follow until I decided to watch them over and over several times without trying to follow along. This had the added benefit of helping me to 'feel' the movements more than just intellectualize them. I also found the martial applications very informative. This may be titled "Simplified" but it would be very valuable for the intermediate student as well.



5. This video was recommended by my Tai Chi teacher...it shows deatiled instructions and then repeats them slowly for you. I would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to continue their lessons at home.

5 comments about Scott Cole: Discover Tai Chi AM/PM Workouts.

1. This was my first attempt at tai chi and it had me interested and excited about it from the first steps. Only flaw is that the narrowness of the routines (only a half-dozen moves in each routine) means I am ready to move on after only a few viewings. That is less of a problem if you aren't planning to get deep into the practice.



2. Scott Cole take his time in showing the moves and then goes into the whole routine after that. It is easy to follow and I am glad I picked this DVD.



3. This is very easy to follow and provides a good stretch and workout. I am planning to try some of Scott's other DVDs.



4. This is a tremendous DVD. His routine on the beach is beautiful and effective. This routine is the perfect length... short enough that you won't think twice about doing it and long enough that you can feel invigorated. It really works... I've been a Reiki Master/Teacher for over a decade and deal with energy "Chi" on a daily basis and doing this routine literally made the "Chi" come pouring out of my palms. Very Cool :) Plus, you can literally see his aura while he is doing the workout (look just past his head and torso...the white light energy field surrounding him). He is quite profound to watch. I love this dvd...and you will too.



5. I'll admit upfront that I don't know much about Tai Chi, so I can't say whether Scott Cole teaches "authentic" Tai Chi in this video. But I can say, I really like it.
   
   I haven't done the AM workout very much. I prefer a more vigorous workout early in the morning, which this Tai Chi video is not, so I've only done it a couple times on weekends when I can get to the Y later in the morning for a "real" workout. Because I've only done it a few times, I haven't got all the movements yet and I can't do the entire flow sequence without instructions.
   
   But I absolutely LOVE the PM workout. I do it almost every night before I go to bed to relax after a day of work and kids. It leaves me feeling so peaceful and relaxed that I can go right to bed and fall deeply asleep - something that hasn't been easy for me lately.
   
   In each segment, Scott starts with a verbal introduction to Tai Chi (which I now forward through), and then talks you through each move individually while demonstrating and giving you plenty of time to practice. His explanations and demonstrations make it very easy to follow along. Then he does the entire flow sequence giving just the name and perhaps a brief explanation of each movement, and finally he does the entire flow sequence without any words. The explanation portion of each segment is filmed in a studio, while the two flow portions of each segment are filmed on a beach. In the studio, the camera angles are very good for following along in mirror pose. Once on the beach, however, Scott is filmed from a variety of angles, so if you haven't mastered the sequence from the explanation portion, you might have difficulty following along.
   
   I find Scott Cole to be a great instructor. He's very encouraging and non-judgmental. His voice is gentle, soothing and easy to listen to and he himself is easy to look at, if you know what I mean.
   
   If you're looking to shape up or lose weight, this video probably won't do much for you. But if you're looking to de-stress as well as to develop more control, both mentally and physically, as well as other health benefits of Tai Chi, then I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Sunrise Tai Chi (YMAA) DVD.

1. This was such a disappointment. Very little dialog or instruction. If you can learn just from watching the silent teacher, then you'd do ok. But I need someone to walk me through step by step and tell me the why and wherefore. Definitely not for beginners.



2. This DVD has greatly improved my quality of life. I bought it a year ago, and am so glad I did. It provided me with everything I needed to start practicing Tai Chi, and even more. Ramel Rones is an excellent teacher, down-to-earth, but passionate about his subject. His instruction is thorough, but always clear and easy to follow. He explains every movement in the form in detail. The warm-up and breathing exercises are worth the price of the DVD alone. Since beginning the program, I have found that I have grown stronger, and my balance has improved. When I started with the DVD, I had difficulty finishing the 20 minute program, but am now capable of following the 60 minute workout. The workout section offers variations for intermediate and advanced students, which has allowed me to fine-tune my practice, and grow with the DVD. Thanks Ramel Rones and YMAA for sharing the ancient Chinese healing arts!



3. I asked for beginner's Tai Chi DVDs for Christmas last year, and got a number of them, but this one is my favorite. When reading the few low ratings that this DVD got, I have to wonder, are these people watching the same DVD? I found Sunrise Tai Chi easy to navigate and the content clear and simple. There is tons of step-by-step instruction, and every move is explained in detail, providing everything you need to practice Tai Chi.



4. I was disappointed with this DVD. There is no instruction on movement, on what should be happening internally, or the benefit of each movement. His Taiji is just okay; definitely not master quality.
   If you are trying to learn Taiji; I would recommend Jesse Tsao or David Dorian Ross, much better teachers.
   
   I see what is on the DVD and there is a separate instruction section; which one would have to view separately from the actual practice. Just doesn't seem practical to me; one opinion. The 'classroom'
   instruction you speak of is done with a bed on set; hardly a classroom setting.



5. I have to say, this is awesome. It is worth it if only for the hour long stretch and strengthening exercises, which made me feel great from the very first time I did them. It's not hard to follow Mr. Rones. This is the best tai chi healing DVD I've ever purchased...

5 comments about Scott Cole: Discover Tai Chi For Beginners.

1. Scott does a great job of explaining and demonstrating the moves. He's very easy to follow. The DVD is 55 minutes long from start to finish, but you can choose to skip the instruction and go straight to the beach in Hawaii to follow Scott as he flows through all the moves. There's also a Special Features choice on the menu where Scott shows a number of other moves, one selection with instruction and another selection with music. I'd love to see him put all those moves together, but I guess that's a subject for another DVD.
   
   I notice that after practicing Tai Chi I find it easier and quicker to find my center when I meditate--nice bonus I wasn't expecting. I plan to get another Tai Chi DVD by Scott when I'm ready to move forward.



2. Scott Cole is very patient and breaks down the moves very well. One thing about Scott Cole is the title. It says on the title that this video is for beginners. I believe that the more advanced a person is with tai-chi, the less they will get out of it. I experienced many benefits of watching Scott Cole. I am more flexible, more relaxed, and the video has improved my reflexes and reaction. Saying this, I feel that a person with experience may not get many benefits out of it. If you are a beginner or have limited experience with Tai-chi, this is a great video. If you have many years experience, I would say to get a video that shows forms in their complete forms. For me personally, I have been doing Scott's video for about 5 years. He gave me an outstanding foundation in tai-chi.



3. This DVD more like Qikong to me and it was not worth to buy it. It isn't for beginner to learn the taichi. So don't but it.



4. In using my DVD for the first time recently, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to follow Scott Cole as he showed different Tai Chi movements. His movements were graceful and slow and I found I was able to follow them without too much confusion. Since this is my first time delving into the world of Tai Chi, I am glad I purchased this DVD and look forward to purchasing his other DVDs. Thanks!



5. I tried Scott Cole's dvd and found it very fun and relaxing, and am looking forward to getting the next level whenever I feel I am ready. Would recommend.

5 comments about Element: Tai Chi for Beginners.

1. The title says it all. I've been having balance problems & my neurologist recommended that I try Tai Chi. It will not be a fast, easy fix but I'm ready for any help I can get at this point.



2. ...Tai Chi video. It's NOT traditional Tai Chi. Heck the guy leading this video can barely balance on one leg. Do NOT buy it. Or, buy at your own risk, as you have been warned. LOL!



3. I've taken 5-6 Tai Chi lessons from 2 different instructors--so I know how training techniques vary from person to person and can gauge what I get out of each class from the quality of the instructor. Since I am a beginner, this was perfect for my level. I found the instruction to be at the right pace and explained in an easy to follow manner. I must admit though that his lung capacity must be greater than mine in that my inhales and exhales did not match his in some of the beginning exercises, but it really didn't matter--you simply adjust accordingly. Many of the postures I was not yet familiar with so this will be a good adjunct to the classes I'm taking. For some reason, I found it easier to focus on technique with the DVD. I found it very useful that he helped guide the breathing as well.



4. it is easy to understand, he tells you step by step what to do and how to do it. really enjoy this video!



5. The DVD takes you through the prepearation stages, then gets somewhat more advanced. The preparation stage is good enough to relieve a majority of your stress, then it gets better.