I am Adza, a school teacher born 1/2 a century ago looking for something to fulfill my life's destiny. I believe everyone was born a good person and have a role to play regardless of their faith to make this a better world to live in. To be positive in life one must be resilient to take on the challenges with great trust in God. It is what in the heart that matters and not material things.

I like reading self-improvement books especially on health and well being. On turning 40 something, I took up aerobics and started joining one class after another namely; line dancing and even tai-chi classes. I also started jogging and brisk walking however, I found that all these exercises are either too fast or too slow thus making me more stressed. It was not what I have been looking for, but I have read a lot about Qigong and the benefits it brings to the practitioners.

I chanced on an opportunity to take up Yuanji Qigong when on one fine Sunday morning about a year ago I came across a Persatuan Yuanji Science KL/Selangor's recruitment drive banner looking for new members put up at the entrance of the Wawasan School. I went into the school compound to check it out and met Mr. Yeap who welcomed me to join as a member. He mentioned that then there was only one non-Chinese speaking member - Siti, a UiTM lecturer.

I also roped in my close friend Norto join in. With a companion at least we will be able to motivate each other. A couple of months later Azizah joined in and that makes four of us Non-Chinese speaking members of the group. The group holds its practice twice weekly; on Sundays from 6.30am to 8.30am and on Thursday from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Mr. and Mrs. Yeap as well as the other instructors have such tremendous patience and understanding in showing us the dance steps until we have mastered them. There was theory and practical classes and they are conducted in English. Although the instructions in doing the exercises are in Chinese, we managed to pick up a few words as we progress. The teachers/instructors and fellow members are very supportive and we are 'allowed' to follow the practice according to our physical capabilities and that makes learning Yuanji fun and stress free. In fact we really enjoyed the workout and we look forward to every session.

To-date we managed to follow the 'Dong Gong' which forms the core of the Yuanji exercise and the 1st and 3rd dance quite well. Practising Yuanji was definitely improved our physical coordination and made us more agile. It also helps one to de-stress amazingly and the self-massage and meditation are just rejuvenating. We will surely encourage our friends and families to take up this ancient exercise as we are all now true and strong believers of Yuanji.

At times we do feel awkward but somehow it is over powered by the deep feeling of 'sense of belonging' with the group. The group members especially Mr. Yeap made us feel so welcomed and he also went the extra mile to make us feel at home.

To the group leaders and members, we thanked you all from the bottom of heart for all the encouragement and moral support in our pursuits to master the art of Yuanji.

Nor'adza Hj Ismail
Nor Asiah Yusof
Siti
Azizah
Subang Jaya Centre

Lilian Chan Lai Sheong
Joined Yuanji for 3 years

I feel Yuanji has benefited me a lot because I do not feel any more pain below my feet after getting up from sleep and my joints are more flexible now. I can even climb up at least 2 storeys of steps easily without panting especially at my age of 68 years. Moreover, all members, irrespective of race or creed, are very friendly. We mix around as one big family.

Tay Lee Peng
Joined Yuanji since year 2000

I joined Yuanji since year 2000 for about 2 years and stopped due to busy schedule. I came back to Yuanji this year because I still enjoy the practice. I liked the music and the steps which incorporated dance as well as exercises. The stretching of the various parts of my body really benefited me especially when my age is cathing up. Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Yeap and all teachers/instructors for being so patient and dedicated and so willing to sacrifice their rime for the benefit of all Yuanji members.

Ling Poi Wong
Joined Yuanji for 3 years

After joining the Yuanji class for about 3 years, I find that Yuanji has helped me overcome some of the chronic sickness that I suffer from. Previously I can catch a cold or flu quite often and the doctor I consulted will usually prescribe anti-biotics and cold medicine. After practising Yuanji I seldom cathc a cold now and even if I havea cold I will recover rapidly without any medication. I believe Yuanji will help me improve my body immune system. Also, with the stretching exercise Yuanji Dong Gong and dances, my chronic back pain has also disappeared. I wish to thank the very dedicated teachersand instructors for their guidance. The benefits of Yuanji have encouraged me to join Yuanji as a life member.

In my recent grief that is having suddenly lost my beloved husband who suffered a heart attack on 26 March 2006, I suddenly realized that my life has been within the radius of home and my family. How do I get myself up a week after the bereavement. My two girls have to return to work, my youngest boy to college. The vacuum... I have to pull myself up somehow, from where and how...? The mornings are especially quiet and calm this time round, it was not easy for me to move out of the house and where to... I thought why not try dropping by the field for the Yuanji exercise. I felt tremendously welcomed, acknowledged warmth and care from the fellow members. By itself they were a support group for me and this gives me the motivation to carry on.

This warm feeling similarly experienced by many other fellow members, we have found many friends who share the same interest from A to Z. It was exhilarating to hear laughter and jokes from around the field.Yuanji has by itself acted as therapy to my osteoarthritis and very prevailing has givenus the opportunity to have a sense of belonging not only in exercise but a term in fellowship. Thank you again for having jolted me out to come to terms that exercise is important for all of us and also in every aspect of our requirement.

Caroline Tai
SS2

I am Usha and I am currently working with the RHB bank. I am married with 3 children. My husband is the main contributing and motivating factor for me to enroll in Yuanji practices. I came to know about Yuanji practices from my ex-colleague working with the KLCC RHB branch who happens to be a Yuanji practitioner. Initially I had difficulty following the Yuanji exercises because of the Mandarin language barrier. But with proper guidance,motivation and encouragement from dedicated instructors and fellow members, I managed to overcome these obstacles and now I am ableto follow the instructions with ease. I love the skipping and jumping movements from the Yuanji therapeutic dances, which I find graceful and not forgetting the melodious tunes that accompanied those exercises. The music keeps me feeling relaxed, happy and more focused. Certainly I have benefited in some ways after practising Yuanji. My chronic pain on my back, which I had suffered for almost more than 2 years has gradually decreased. This pain usually runs from the back of my head and spread towards both shoulders. I did go for physiotherapy treatment for a couple of months. Coupled with Yuanji excersises, my health has gradually improved.

The most remarkable change in me after practising Yuanji is that I am feeling much better althought not 100%. Perhaps 50-60% better than from what I used to be. I believe that if I am more disciplined and constantly attend Yuanji practices, my health will definitely improve a great deal.

My fellow Yuanji members are very pleasant, supportive and always willing to guide me. Teacher Ivy usually gives me an extra helping hand which keeps me motivated. Yuanji has, to an extend, changed my perspective towards life. When I am feeling much better (from my back pain), I try to have a positive attitude towards everything that I venture into. As the saying goes, "No venture no gain". I feel the Yuanji organization can bring greater awareness to more people if there exist a Yuanji website that helps to promote Yuanji practices and Yuanji activities. This website should disseminate information on the structure of Yuanji organization and also attempt to educate readers on the benefits of performing Yuanji exercises. Additionally Yuanji activities can be mentioned in the pages of school annual magazine to create awareness among the school students and their parents. Thank you.

It was after my retirement from the Survey Department, I realized the importance of daily exercise. To me the only suitable exercise I could visualize for retirees was "walking" in the morning. With much leisure time in hand, I was employed temporarily in the pharmaceutical line. In order to keep healthy, my wife and I used to walk around the vicinity of Taman Kepong Baru. I realized that walking exercise alone did not improve my health. It was at this juncture, Mr. Tee Beng Seong, adedicated teacher of Yuanji Qigong introduced the Yuanji exercises to me in June 2003.

At the beginning I felt discourage when practising Yuanji exercise because of the various difficult steps involved. Mr. & Mrs. Tee Bee Seong encouraged my wife and I to persevere practising Yuanji exercise. Thus with perseverance my wife and I have succeeded in practising the following exercises: Yuanji Dong Gong, Yuanji TherapeuticDance, Yuanji Meditation, and Yuanji Self-Massage. In general, we have improved health wise day by day and hope to carry on a healthy lifestyle during our twilight years. We are life members now and hopefully in the near future Yuanji Qigong exercises can double its membership-roll with the participation of more husbands of sister members.

In concluding, keep listening to the soothing melodies of Yuanji music and at the same time chanting silently the Yuanji mantras of the Ten Embryonic sounds of Ahn, Jin, Mi, Pi, Ji, Ba, Ya, Yin, Hua Ding, for good health and adapt Yuanji a "Way of Life".

Chan Seng Lee
Taman Kepong Baru (Goldhill Centre)
March 2006