West Roxbury resident Ramel Rones in a Tai Chi form.

Eastern ideas take root in Parkway

Jeff Gilbride
Staff Reporter

February 22, 2007

WEST ROXBURY — Parkway martial arts master Ramel Rones has applied the discipline and techniques he's learned over an extensive career to battle illnesses such as cancer and medical conditions like arthritis.

Since his early days in the Israeli Army, Rones has lived a life of discipline and study.

Rones moved from Israel to Boston in 1983 and moved to the Parkway about 12 years ago.

"I came from Israel to study here with this renowned Chinese teacher that taught external martial arts - White Crane and Long Fist as well as internal martial arts as Tai Chi and Chi Quong mediation," Rones said. "I finished the Israeli army, and then I just packed a suitcase and came to study with him. My original plan was to study with him for a year or two and then open a school in Israel."

But after realizing the depth of his interest in martial arts and Eastern Philosophy, Rones decided to extend his stay in America.

"I decided to stay and learn until I could master the art so I' 11 be able to compose whatever I want to design and answer questions for whatever people need," Rones said.

Rones, a Stratford Street resident, is currently working as a Scientific Consultant of Mind and Body Therapies at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and at Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools. He is also the co-author of numerous scientific publications.

"I've been working passionately with elders since I learned the depths of my arts," Rones said. "When I was 28 or 30 I started looking for other challenges to utilize my mind and body and I ended up working with younger kids. I started working with Down Syndrome kids and elders to try and compliment their quality of life with martial arts."

Rones treats many elders, some through private teachings in their own homes.

"With the elders it totally changes their quality of life because you are improving agility, circulation and balance," Rones said. "They don't lose their muscle mass as much. I found out through the principles of martial arts, it helps a lot of elders to age gracefully. I have many, many students in their 80s and 90s and I've worked in nursing homes. It's amazing what a modified mind-body approach can do to the quality of life of the aging population." Armed with a new book that will soon be available on the Internet, Rones has undertaken a new challenge of explaining the inner workings of Tai Chi to the general public.

Sunrise Tai Chi is an introduction to the exercises and practices that increase circulation and breathing.

"The body, the breath, the mind and energetic system and the spirit," Rones said. "It tries to show how exercise should embody all of those elements. This book shows or introduces you to the basic visualizing, strengthening and developing of the lungs."

For more information about Sunrise Tai Chi or Rones visit www.ramerones.com

"Deeply versed, passionate and informed, Mr. Rones is a committed and caring teacher of the Asian Mind-Body arts including Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga." Ted Kaptchuk, Harvard Medical School, Author of The Web That Has No Weaver