Look Who’s Talking

TAI CHI STUDENT HAS AN EPIPHANY!

Student P (immediately following a tai chi session)
I feel as if I just went to the chiropractor. I was all stiff before, and now I am so relaxed.

Teacher D
Tai chi is a method of manipulating your bones and organs from the inside out, rather than someone else’s doing the manipulating for you.

Student P
Well, it worked. Thank you.

posted 3.18.14

DAVID KATZ, MD, YALE, PROPOSES INCREASED VALUE OF FOOD STAMPS FOR HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES

Around the time former Mayor Bloomberg advocated for certain stores not being able to sell giant sodas, David Katz, MD, head of Yale Prevention Research Center, spoke out about allowing food stamp coupons to carry more dollar value if consumers bought nutritional food than if they bought nutrition-empty food. Example: if we bought broccoli, our food stamp coupon would be worth. $2. If we bought soda, the same food stamp coupon would be worth $1. To sum this up, if we bought healthy foods, we could have $100 worth of coupons; if we bought foods with little nutrition, that same coupon book would be worth $50.

This strategy would create healthier citizens using money as the motivator and our government as the educator.

posted 2.25.14, D

A WARRIORSOFWEIGHT SUBSCRIBER TALKS TO HER SISTER

I met this woman [Diane Gold, founder, WarriorsOfWeight.com] last year just before I moved….I was really bummed because she actually teaches Tai Chi on the beach in Boca at sunrise …. among other classes – I would give anything to have been able to participate…I get her articles every week….no cost no strings attached …just good information….

…I thought you would appreciate some of her articles…. her other articles usually have some very great information ….I have been meaning to send these to you for a long time…So here you go….you can sign up at the bottom if you choose to….I actually created a file in my [email] account and just add them weekly so if I want I can go back and review them if I do not have the time to read them.

M. 2/5/14, subscriber’s letter to her relative

REMEMBERING ADVICE FROM DIANE GOLD

I’ve been really grateful for some advice you gave me years ago. My children were younger and two that were around 9 and 10 were fighting on either side of me. One had a broom and one had a mop. You said I might not be able to control what they were doing but I could control my reaction.
I said,

“Are you kidding?”

As the years progressed, I remembered that and began to see the wisdom of that advice. I’ve used it in my own life, passed it to others and even used it with 5th grade special ed students on occasion!

K, 7/22/13, friend, mother of seven, urban public school teaching role

NUTRITION QUOTE

In the 34 years I’ve been in the field of nutrition, I have watched real food disappear from large areas of the supermarket and from much of the rest of the eating world.” … “products constructed largely around commerce and hope, supported by frighteningly little actual knowledge.”

Joan Gussow, nutritionist, in a speech c. >1995, quoted in Michael Pollan’s In Defense Of Food.

PHILOSOPHY FOR THOUGHT

The error of stoicism is that you can always do what you can sometimes do.

G. K. Chesterton, English philosopher, author, famous for making his point through popular sayings. b. 1874, d. 1936.

[This Comment By Diane Gold] This simple comment, though said in the context of martial arts, can apply to any task. Having one success should not fool us into thinking we have conquered everything. This is not a belittlement of any achievement; it is just a statement which reminds us to stay aware and not to expect success or failure but to do the task at hand, regardless, be it dieting to lose weight or lifting 300 pounds.

EXERCISE QUOTE

The side effects of exercise are way better than the side effects of medication.

Ken Bohannon, Health & Fitness Journalist, Palm Beach Post & Fitness Blog and World Tai Chi Day inquirer.

PHILOSOPHY

Inspirational thought wears off. Aspirational thought lingers.

Frank McKinney, real estate mogul, author and 135-mile Badwater marathon runner.

WARRIORSOFWEIGHT READER COMMENT

Your Warriors Of Weight is wonderful. My daughter and I are going to do it [the techniques and exercises recommended] together for a New Year’s Resolution.

Orly, organic cook, restauranteur and mother

QUOTE FROM A TAI CHI STUDENT

I find Diane Gold to have a mind blowing knowledge of body mechanics.
She has ways of doing the smallest things that get amazing results.

A. A., avid tai chi student

PUBLISHER PHILOSOPHY

When we use personal failure and the judgment of others as building blocks, stepping stones and learning tools; we are never lacking in opportunities to succeed.

D, optimist

PROUD AND GRATEFUL MOM OF KUNG FU STUDENT

As a result of Diane’s mentoring and teaching, our daughter has demonstrated a much higher level of self-awareness and self-esteem, as she continues to learn that kung fu is a philosophy of life that can be implemented in everything, not just the physical aspects.

Our daughter is much more self-assured, knowing that what she learns from her teacher will carry her through her life with more poise and inner (and outer) strength.

We are both so grateful for the wisdom and compassion Diane shows towards us as we learn new ways of thinking and moving through life on our journey. When being taught by Diane, it is as if we are the only students she has, as she devotes her time, even out of sessions, to be there for her students. She is an amazing role model for people of all ages, and we are extremely grateful that she came into our lives.

DT, proud mom of a student

TAI CHI STUDENT COMMENT

What a nice learning experience this was for me … You truly are a fabulous teacher.”

MS, tai chi student

WRITTEN BY FAITHFUL STUDENT, CARLOS S.

Two years ago I had been stricken by an almost tragedy. I was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor. Usually people react different ways (shock, denial, etc.). I decided to fight and establish a plan on several fronts:

1-Top medicine available, I was lucky because the Jackson Memorial Hospital in MIAMI has a very sophisticated and talented team of neurosurgeons

2-Faith in Jesus

3-Practice Kung Fu, for building strength, balance and self-confidence and Tai Chi for peace, balance and concentration.

For number 1, I encountered very professional and talented medical practitioners and Ph.Ds of the University of Miami. For number 2, I had Jesus. And number 3, I was blessed to meet Si Jei Diane Gold, who, in addition to her outstanding martial arts capabilities, is an excellent advisor/friend and coach for success in life. I enjoy everything I learn from Si Jei Diane.

Now even the doctors are advising their other patients to practice Tai Chi to help in their treatments.

____________________________________________________

[Comment By Diane Gold] Carlos S. was a faithful kung fu and tai chi student who practiced daily and had lessons every other day for two years with Diane Gold. This testimonial serves as a dedication to his commitment to personal growth. He passed on January 3, 2010.

____________________________________________________