DVD: Sunset Tai Chi by Ramel Rones

Cool down after a long day! Master-teacher Ramel Rones gently guides you through a series of powerful mind/body exercises that will help you calm down, recuperate from the stress of the day, and use the energy of the setting sun to release tension.

The simplified, short Sunset Tai Chi sequence is practiced to both the left and right to help you develop symmetry and balance. Sunset Tai Chi was created as a comprehensive introduction to authentic Tai Chi for beginners. It includes suggestions for intermediate and advanced students, to help you grow and improve over time. A full mind/body workout is presented, which can be done sitting or standing, using restoring poses from yoga, and purifying movements and meditations from qigong and tai chi, followed by the tai chi stances, drills, and form.

Sunset Tai Chi will help you to loosen and build your muscles, tendons and ligaments, improving your circulation of blood and Qi energy. The program also teaches you to find balance between strength and flexibility, counteract the effects of stress and fatigue, and regain conscious control over your health and vitality.

This DVD compliments the bestselling Sunrise Tai Chi program, and together they present a complete mind/body regimen. Using detailed animations of the body's energy, the secrets of the ancient internal arts are taught for the first time in an easy-to-understand format.

• Relax and rejuvenate yourself after a long day.
• Incorporate mind/body exercise into your daily activities to wind down for a complete workout.
• Increase your lung capacity and increase your oxygen intake.
• Prevent injuries and boost your natural healing of chronic conditions, including Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, Osteoperosis, Sarcopenia, and Cancer.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Multiple Viewing Options: 20, 40, or 60 minute Workouts • Sitting Workout • Detailed animations of Qi inside the body • Choice of Music: Tibetan Singing Bowls or Bamboo Flute*

*Click the audio button on your DVD remote control to choose between soothing music options while you're watching.

YMAA PRODUCTION • RAMEL RONES • "SUNSET TAI CHI" • WRITTEN BY RAMEL RONES AND DAVID SILVER • PERFORMED BY RAMEL RONES • EDITED BY DAVID SILVER AND MEDIAMANIC • DVD AUTHORING BY MEDIAMANIC • PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY DAVID SILVER

AUTHOR(S)

A senior disciple of renowned teacher & author Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, PhD in Boston, MA, Ramel is a Gold medalist in Internal and External Martial Arts: Three-Time Gold Medalist in Shanghai China, for Tai Chi, External & Internal Weapons (Grand National Championship 1994) & Gold Medalist for Tai Chi & Kung Fu Sword, 1994. From 1991-1993, Ramel earned Gold Medals for Tai Chi, Pushing Hands and Tai Chi Sword in the International North American Chinese Martial Arts Competition.

REVIEWS

Herbert Benson M.D, Harvard Medical School,
Benson- Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine.
Author of the best-selling book: THE RELAXATION RESPONSE

A wonderful and practical approach to Tai Chi & Qigong that can correct stress-related illnesses, by a highly respected Master Teacher.

5 of 5 stars, Taijiquan.com Patrick Dickson,
December 2007

The exercises in this DVD focus on Qi development and, as the title states, relaxing and recharging your mind, body and spirit, through the practice of Taijiquan type moves and exercises. As the baby boomer generation ages, along with all the other generations, the demand for health enhancing routines is going to sky rocket.

Although this DVD does not cover the martial applications of the Taijiquan movements, practicing the routines/workouts presented on this DVD will certainly help in negating the effects of the less than healthy lifestyle many of us find ourselves living. One unquestionable reality is that if a person has their health, then all the other goals in their life become more attainable. Without your health, all of the riches of the world have a much reduced value.

For a DVD that focuses more on Taijiquan martial applications, I would refer one to Ramel Rones' and David Silver's "Tai Chi Energy Patterns". In that DVD he thoroughly analyzes the four core movements of the Yang Style of Taijiquan, Ward Off, Roll Back, Press and Push. However, there is a brief referencing of martial arts, when at the end of Sunset Taiji DVD, Ramel can be seen practicing the Sunset Taiji form in a more martial manner.

Ramel allegedly created this Sunset Taiji DVD in response to student's/viewer's claims that they were too stressed at the end of the day to do the form. One of the ironies in life is that when people are stressed out, they tend to think that they suddenly don't have the time or energy to practice such beneficial practices as Taijiquan. Yet at this critical time in their lives, practicing Taijiquan is one of the best things they could do to regain balance and health in their lives.

Ramel Rones is a wonderful teacher whose calmness, wisdom and obvious grasp of the material is evident when watching him on this DVD. He truly seems to live in harmony with the principles that he teaches. He appears to be someone who "walks the talk". I don't know Ramel, but I imagine he would be a very energizing person to interact with.

The first section of this DVD is a long series of "cool down" exercises that work with breathing, stretching, shaking, pulsing, visualizing, energy work and many other beneficial practices. Ironically, many of the moves taught are reminiscent of the "warm up" exercises I learned when I first began my studies of Taijiquan.

The Sunset Taiji form is then presented, beginning with good coverage of the basics, such as stances and how to move forwards or backwards. The form is not very long in comparison to the long list of cooling down exercises that are presented in the beginning. The postures in the form are done on the left and right sides. Many people can only do certain Taijiquan postures to one side, because in the form they learned the posture is only practiced on one side, for example the posture press, or crane spreads wings.

The DVD offers a choice of 20, 40 or 60 minute workout routines for either standing or sitting. The workout routines borrow movements from the cooling down exercises as well as the Sunset Taiji form.

Some of the movements in the workouts are performed in a manner that diminish the martial application and focus more on Qi development. As this is the focus of the DVD, all is well. If you are looking to learn how to fight or defend yourself using Taijiquan, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a nice series of cool down exercises and Taijiquan movements that will enhance your Qi flow, this is an excellent choice.