Personal stories of health recovery

Sample personal stories about the many health benefits of Taoist Tai Chi™ internal arts

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, this document presents a sampling of the many health benefits that our members have experienced. Members tell in their own words of the remarkable range of benefical effects they have gained from the diligent practice of Taoist Tai Chi™ internal arts of health.

For more background on these personal stories, see this media release about the 40th Anniversary of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society


Gen X and Y say Taoist Tai Chi™ arts make fitness a meaningful challenge

A recent focus group of young enthusiasts of the Taoist Tai Chi™ internal arts of health revealed that they value the “meaningful fitness” integral to the practice of these arts. Read the full story here.


More personal stories

Over the years many practitioners of Taoist Tai Chi Society™ arts of health have experienced profound health benefits which they attribute to this art. Follow the links below to read their stories.

You can also view more health recovery stories on video here.


'Last year I didn't have a single multiple sclerosis attack. My immune system is stronger, my balance has improved' - Mariette Swagerman, Netherlands

Hello, my name is Mariette Swagerman. I am a member of the Taoistische Tai Chi Vereniging Nederland and I have multiple sclerosis. A decade ago I made my living as an artist and gallery owner plus I led an active life working and living on a farm. It was during this time I experienced my first debilitating MS attack which left me paralysed on the right side of my body. On 17 December 2002 I was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS. Read the full story

'My health and my life are much stronger and richer' - Samantha Albert, Canada

Taoist Tai Chi™ arts of health have helped me deal with a critical blood disorder called Amyloidosis. I was diagnosed with the disease in 2000 and have been working hard on my Tai Chi every since, in concert with conventional medical treatment. Regular and focused practice with experienced instructors and with other members of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society has given me more energy, has helped me to become stronger and has helped to mitigate the side effects from strong medications. As a result of this illness I have an enlarged liver and regular Tai Chi practice has helped to loosen soft tissue to accommodate this change in my body. Read the full story

Tai Chi practice yields 'health credits' - Helen Gaunt, Australia

My Tai Chi life started about 13 years ago after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Although discovered early enough and not likely to be fatal, after undergoing treatment I set about the path of improving my lifestyle. Thanks to my friends Sandra and Rodney Giblett being my catalyst, I was able to get going and start a Tai Chi class with the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Western Australia. I can honestly say I didn't enjoy Tai Chi classes much in the early days, as I had to learn to still the mind, something at which I had never been very good. But with time, persistence and encouragement from Linde, my instructor, I kept going. Read the full story