March, 2001

None of us has extra time. Jobs, school, families, church, clubs, friends and our Peaceful Dragon training all compete for our attention, and it really is a challenge to find enough time to meet all of our obligations. But when you say you dont have time for those things that really are important to you, you're probably not being honest with yourself. What you're really saying is not that you don't have enough time, but rather that you don't have enough time management skill.

We all have the time if we keep our priorities in sight and maintain an organized and balanced lifestyle. When it comes to your training, you already know it is valuable time. The issue is how to maximize the efficiency of that time, and how to manage the rest of your day so that your training time is always there. That's the topic of this month's student discussion (Wednesday, March 7th at 8PM) and I urge you to attend,if, of course, you have time.

Student Membership Drive Kicks In
Available to members are gift certificates to give away to friends, family or whoever else you feel would enjoy and benefit from classes at The Peaceful Dragon. These certificates are good for a month of unlimited classes, a FREE uniform and FREE registration a value of $198!

Please choose who you give these to carefully and don't just pass them out randomly. Our hope is that a significant percentage of recipients enjoy our classes and choose to continue after their free month is over, though they are under no obligation to do so. Make sure the recipients are people you would like to have as fellow students at The Peaceful Dragon', and who are in a position financially to be able to take ongoing classes after their free month expires. Finally, please read the front and back of the certificates so you understand the requirements and restrictions. If you have any questions see or call our cultural center manager, Wes Adams.

Come to Our 4th Annual Mind and Body Fitness Festival
Saturday, March 31st from 12 Noon 6PM come enjoy the demonstrations, exhibits and activities ranging from free medical examinations and consultations to free massages! Tell your friends and neighbors. And students please read the Volunteering article below. Note: There will be no classes all day.

Day Long Meditation Session Sunday, March 25th 10am 6pm
Sifu Eric Sbarge will lead a day-long meditation session on Sunday, March 25th from 10AM- 6PM. This session is open to students and the public alike, beginners and experienced meditators. Meditation is one of the single most beneficial practices you can engage in for health, energy, mental clarity and peace of mind. Especially if you are a yoga, tai chi or martial arts student at The Peaceful Dragon or elsewhere, meditation is the foundation for your progress. No student should miss this valuable training opportunity.

The early-bird price is just $19 for Peaceful Dragon students, $29 for all others. Add $10 at the door. Lunch tickets are available for $6 each, or you may bring your own vegetarian lunch. The meal will be part of the meditation session.

Note: Due to this meditation session there will be no Sunday classes.

Pakua Summer Training Camp
All students are welcome to join Master Park Bok Nams pakua training camp along with Sifu Sbarge from June 8-12. Space is very limited and will likely fill up by the end of March, so reserve your spot now with a 50% deposit. Details are posted in Studio A, or see Sifu. Also, remember to mark your calendars now for our 3rd Annual Mountain Tai Chi retreat on September 21-24.

Five Element Nutrition Sunday, March 10th 1 5pm
Learn how to choose and prepare food in accord with natural principles, using the same ancient knowledge that is the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Nutritionist Libby Prim will show you how to maintain balanced health all year. Find out what your unique food needs are! Early-bird price $29 for students and members, $39 for the public; add $10 if you just walk in.

Monthly Discussion Group
Our monthly discussion group has moved from the first Tuesday of the month to the first Wednesday at 8:00PM. The March 7th topic will be, Optimizing Your Daily Training Routine. This discussion should prove to be valuable for every Peaceful Dragon student, so try to attend if you can. Also please see the related Message From Sifu in this newsletter.

Volunteering
First, a big Thank You to all the volunteers who give a few minutes of their time to keep our kwoon clean, running smoothly and looking great.

Second, the Fourth Annual Mind & Body Fitness Festival is coming up on March 31st and this one is going to be a ton of fun. We will need a team of volunteers to help us make this years event extremely successful. We will need people to help with the following activities:

• Greeters to take door prize tickets, to hand out itineraries and to direct customers to the activity they are interested in.
• People to help with new student sign-ups.
• People who will help do demonstrations in Tai Chi, Yoga, Shaolin/Shuai Chiao and Pakua.
• Kids corner helpers will help with readings, origami, games, face painting and handing out prizes.
• Help for the tea house busing tables, help behind counter, or whatever is needed.
• Announcers to help attract people to the festival and to announce the next lecture.
• A couple of helpers for our new food booth to hand out samples of tasty Tea House food.
• As always we need people to help set up and to tear down.

We will be signing people up for one to two hour slots - or as long as you would like to help! Come stay for the duration and have some fun while you are there. Be on the look out for the sign-up sheet and put your name down!

Website store
The Peaceful Dragon is adding a storefront to our website, allowing for world-wide sales of our merchandise. Our students Dan Weaver and Kathy Crowe are the hard-working web designers in charge, but they can use some help. If you have web page expertise and a little bit of time to contribute, please contact George at The Peaceful Dragon.

Help Wanted
International distribution company needs experienced part time secretary with general secretarial skills including word processing. Must have good organizational skills, and be capable of independence. Monday through Friday from 2:30-5:00 pm. Please call Lily at 803-831-1837 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

ACUPUNCTURE AND ENERGY HEALING
COMPLETE, HOLISTIC CARE, TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS
Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Vega Testing, Modern Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Energy Medicine
Dr. Camilo Sanchez, OMD, L.AC.
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Upcoming class: Shiatsu Oriental Massage
704-281-2425

When I started going to Tai Chi classes at The Peaceful Dragon in the spring of '99, I was making a conscious effort to make my life better.

I had been suffering from depression since supporting my mother through a life-threatening bought with cancer the year before. I had tried some TaiChi movements at a church retreat, and really wanted to learn more about it. I come to daytime classes and have really enjoyed having one thing in my life that does not have a deadline to it.

As my knowledge and skills increase, the biggest lesson I learn is how much more there is to learn. With no hope of ever "mastering" such an art, I relax and enjoy class and practice, and have made both a regular part of my life. Almost without my awareness, over time my depression went away - along with my need for medication to control it. When my counselor reviewed my case at my last session, she noted that my real progress began when I started taking Tai Chi.

The best news of all is that my coping mechanisms have improved. I think I've learned to yield to life's stresses rather than trying to fight them with sheer force of will. The result is that I remain depression-free despite losing my mother to lung cancer last summer and having several other setbacks in my life. I find that the concepts I've learned in Tai Chi staying rooted, yielding and redirecting incoming power, and staying relaxed have helped me even more in life than they have in class.

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Several students shared their experiences this year, and certainly provided insights and enjoyment for many others. Will you be the next to fill this column? Length can be up to 400 words and the editor will be happy to help spruce up your creation. Give your copy to Wes or Michael, or email bmk@carolina.rr.com

Remember that we place orders from NOW Herbs and Vitamins company on the first of every month. Take advantage of 20% off their already low prices for highest quality supplements found only in the best health food stores.

To contact The Peaceful Dragon:

Call: (704)-544-1012

Write: The Peaceful Dragon
8324 Pineville-Matthews Road No.509
McMullen Creek Market
Charlotte, NC 28226

E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com