|
|
Harvard University Medical School has just published a report on “The Health Benefits of Tai Chi” that calls Tai Chi “medication in motion.” Since Tai Chi is a subset of Qigong, all of this information applies to Qigong as well. It cites research for “No Pain, Big Gains” including improvements in muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and aerobic conditioning. Under the category “Tai Chi for Medical Conditions” it recommends Tai Chi as complementary therapy for arthritis, low bone density, breast cancer, heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, sleep problems, and stroke.
This article is written in plain English, not medical jargon.
And I can testify that these claims are true. I’ve been taking classes and practicing for about 5 years. We do the Yang form; my teacher trained under Grandmaster William C.C. Chen in New York, USA, and others. I was lucky enough to attend a weekend workshop with him in 2007 in Phoenix. 
I love this class. I would say that my biggest gains from this would be in flexibility and balance, but I also see gains in lower body strength and Much less fear of falling. I have chronic spinal issues, and though it has not been ‘officially’ diagnosed, I suspect that arthritis is creeping into my hip joints. A few times through the form in the morning helps tremendously in getting past that morning stiffness. Also, my regular breathing is deeper and slower, and I am able to relax much more completely. Just the body awareness alone is worth the exercise. And I even walk a little differently now: more confidently and relaxed.
There are many ways to learn. The article referenced here even mentions books and video, but I would strongly recommend a real live teacher. If that is not available to you, then I suggest something like Lee Holden’s DVD on QiGong for Seniors. We have this loaded into our home DVD player and also my laptop for when we travel.
I’m going to put a couple of YouTube links in this post, but there are nuances that you just won’t catch all by yourself. And most of the videos I’ve found are showing people in positions that might be inappropriate for some individuals, or just slightly too low or stretched; and of course, they cannot take into consideration any of your physical issues in the way that a live teacher can. And in one of my favorite videos the teacher, Tiffany Chen, is performing a mirror-image version of the words she is speaking. You might want to watch this one with the sound off!
This video is of Grandmaster William Chen leading a repetition of the first few moves. (mirror image again)
There are literally tons of tai chi videos available on YouTube; some are good, some not, and in most cases, I just don’t have the experience to comment. I have had onlytwo teachers so far, and practiced only one style: Grandmaster W.C.C. Chen’s version of the Yang form. Have fun if you go exploring.
The other day, I met someone who could be the poster child for senior health. First off, it was hard to tell she was actually a senior, but I did take her word for it.
Lifelong Cranford resident, Holly Phillips, takes care of her health assiduously, takes vitamins and calcium to keep her bones strong, and has an exceptionally positive attitude. In terms of her daily diet, she eats everything in moderation, mostly modest portions of fish and chicken. Because of her diligent efforts, she doesn’t need to take any medications. In short, she’s doing everything right to live long, and to live well.
So what does a senior need to do to work toward this kind of optimal health?
Well, the first step may well be to take a cue – or even a class – from Phillips. She’s the tai chi instructor at the Cranford Center, and the exercise program has made a world of difference for her.
“Initially, when I first learned, my teacher was talking about feeling the ‘chi’ or energy, and I wasn’t feeling it, but now I do. Even now, just talking about it, I can feel the energy flowing. If I’m in a hyper state, tai chi will mellow me out. If I’m lethargic, it will give me a little more energy. I feel it kind of balances me out,” said Phillips.
Very few other activity programs offer the benefits that tai chi does, according to Phillips. “For the seniors, it’s so helpful, just in terms of getting out with other people and socializing, and it improves balance, which is very important as you get older.”
When first starting out, Phillips suggests keeping an eye on what others in the class are doing. “In tai chi, especially with beginners, it’s helpful to have someone at different points in the room to follow, because you’re turning constantly. It’s a moving meditation.”
Cranford senior Bill Koellner has been attending tai chi classes for over ten years. “In karate, you start with a white belt, and move up through different colors. In tai chi, you always have a white belt,” he explained.
For Koellner, what some refer to as “the zone” or the flow of “chi” is very real. “If you focus your mind, you can reach a point where your hands feel as if (they) have opposing magnets. Sounds like mumbo-jumbo until you feel it. Many people believe that studying that energy could (provide) potential breakthroughs in medicine.”
“For me, it’s a tingly sensation and it feels fantastic,” Phillips agreed.
If you’re put off by the notion of memorizing intricate movements, Phillips says that it simply takes time and patience to learn Tai Chi. “It’s not that it’s hard, but it does take time to learn, and we’re in a society of ‘learn it right away.’ You don’t (get it) right away; you learn continually,” said Phillips.
Tai Chi classes are offered at the Cranford Center free to residents over age 60, although Phillips is somewhat concerned that budget cuts may impinge upon the program. “There is no charge for the seniors, and I’m hoping that (despite) budget issues, it continues that way.”
Seniors with physical challenges may also benefit from this low-impact form of exercise. “Even people with disabilities can participate. They can sit in a chair and do whatever moves (they’re capable of),” said Phillips. “Younger people learning Tai Chi want to perfect the positions, but the older students may have some arthritic problems, so they do (the best) they can.”
For the last several years, Cranford senior Madeline Spitz has participated in the class. “It invigorates me,” she said. “I come here every week and I feel energized. It’s lowered my blood pressure and has given me a more positive outlook.”
The Tai Chi class members have grown closer through the years, forming something of a club. “This is a great group of people,” said Phillips. “It’s like a little family.”
The best advice Phillips would give to seniors trying to improve their health is to take that first step, however small it might be. “You know your body best, so listen to it.”
Introduction of Tai Chi & Qi Gong
Tai Chi and Qigong are healthily sports of Traditional Chines medicine, those be regulating Qi (energy) and blood circulation, enhance ability of body which elite stress regulate behavior and relax body. In a stressful society such as in America, that is especially important. The benefits of them are as following:
- Maintain health and treat disease
- Increased blood circulation
- Detoxification of body organs
- Better waste elimination
- Strengthen your Qi (energy)
- Enhanced ability to deal with stress
- Claim your spirit and balance emotions
- Helps mental clarity and improve intelligence
About a Master of Qi gong Tai chi
Master Xue Zhong Wang
Xue Zhong Wang has been practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong since he was sixteen years old. He learned from his family and a great master and is highly skilled in Tai Chi and Qi Gong. As a doctor of Chinese medicine, he also associates physiology and movement of Qi and Blood in the meridians, to help people achieve and enjoy longevity and renewed health. He was a martial arts instructor, and worked as a judge in Beijing, China, he received “Excellent Tai Chi Instructor 1987”. He is Vice President of Lee Tai Chi Research.
Relief for Fibromyalgia Pain: a Dose of Tai Chi
New research suggests practicing tai chi regularly can ease fibromyalgia pain
Some 5 million Americans, mostly women, have fibromyalgia, a condition that causes pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It is also a source of sleep problems, severe fatigue, physical debilitation, and sometimes depression. As with any chronic pain, fibromyalgia is managed largely with painkillers,antidepressants, and muscle relaxants, often with little success. New research, however, offers a glimmer of hope: The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi may be an effective antidote, according to a study published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
[6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia]
The study was small but well conducted: 33 volunteers with fibromyalgia were assigned to take twice-weekly tai chi classes and 33 others were assigned to twice-weekly stretching classes and educational seminars about their condition. At the end of 12 weeks, the tai chi group reported greater relief from muscle pain, better sleep, and a higher quality of life with less depression. They also performed better on tests of physical abilities. What’s more, nearly one person in three in the tai chi group was able to stop taking medications compared to fewer than one in six in the control group.
[Tai Chi and Qigong Offer Many Health Benefits]
How tai chi works to relieve fibromyalgia is unclear. It involves physical exercise, which has been shown to improve the condition. Many sufferers have a hard time hitting the gym due to the pain, but Tai chi includes gentler physical movements as well as a type of meditationthat may improve psychological well-being, increase confidence, and help sufferers overcome their fear of pain. “Controlled breathing and movements promote a restful state and mental tranquility, which may raise pain thresholds and help break the ‘pain cycle,’ ” write the Tufts Medical Center study authors, who conclude that “tai chi is potentially a useful therapy for patients with fibromyalgia.”
[Gain Against the Fibromyalgia Pain]
How to get started? Taking a class from a tai chi master is probably the best way to learn the techniques and, like yoga, tai chi classes are now offered all over the country. You can also try a DVD—Amazon.com sells dozens—though you may not know if you’re practicing the right style. Participants in the latest study learned the classic Yang style of tai chi, which included a warmup, self-massage, and a review of movements, breathing techniques, and relaxation. They also used an instructional DVD for 20 minutes a day between classes to practice their techniques. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, an arm of the National Institutes of Health, endorses tai chi as a “relatively safe practice,” but does note several precautions:
- If you overdo practice, you may have sore muscles or sprains.
- It’s not a good idea to practice tai chi right after a meal, or when you’re extremely fatigued or sick with an infection.
- If you’re pregnant, have a hernia, joint problems, back pain, fractures, or severeosteoporosis, check with your doctor to see whether you need to modify or avoid certain tai chi postures. And, yes, do tell your tai chi master if you have fibromyalgia.
Lisa Moore
Elixir Qigong is a unique sequence of exercises to develop one’s qi, or life force, and utilizes passive and dynamic exercises for self-healing. Camilo Sanchez, who created Elixir Qigong, teaches ongoing classes at his center. Photo courtesy of Ramsay Mead
Growing up in Bogota, Colombia, Camilo Sanchez enjoyed exploring the potential of the human mind and body.
His curiosity led him to India in his early 20s, where he lived in ashrams and studied yoga with gurus. Although he had studied movement arts like tai chi and qigong, he never had a genuine teacher.
Today, Sanchez is a tai chi and qigong instructor who has studied with notable masters around the world and has developed his own style to facilitate self-healing.
Sanchez, 49, is a licensed acupuncturist and a certified Oriental Medicine Doctor – one of several in Charlotte – in the Ballantyne area. He had the opportunity to learn tai chi and qigong during acupuncture school in 1986 and was immediately taken with the flowing movements and concealed power of these healing arts.
“It is the feeling you get after a good workout but without being drained, having the sensation of being relaxed and not drowsy but energized, and feeling quiet or still in the mind but aware,” said Sanchez.
Qigong consists of individual exercises or repetitions of movements used for energy balance and mind-body health.
Tai chi is a martial art that involves learning a form or sequence of pre-arranged movements and techniques. It is more dynamic than qigong and a good practice for fitness and maintaining health.
In Chinese philosophy, qi (pronounced “chi”), or circulating life-force energy, is believed to be inherent in all things and essential for good health. Qigong and tai chi invigorate qi, the natural resistance to disease, and help the body heal itself by balancing the active (yang) and passive (yin) energies, thus improving the physiological and metabolic functions of internal organs.
There is growing scientific research and evidence that supports the self-healing effect of qigong and tai chi.
Research has shown that holding a qigong stance for 15 minutes can markedly increase the white blood cell count, thus strengthening the immune system. A recent review published in the American Journal of Health Promotion highlights a study involving 6,410 qigong and tai chi participants. Evidence indicated better bone health, immunity, cardio-respiratory fitness, balance, quality of life, physical function fall prevention and psychological benefits.
Sanchez said he believes there must be a shift in mainstream health-care practices because traditional medicine typically controls symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of health disorders.
“We need to realize that health is not in a pill, but that all healing comes from inside the body,” he said. “The true medicine is a strong, working immune system and the body’s capacity for self-healing.”
Sanchez developed his Elixir Qigong method based on Taoist Qigong and his studies of yoga, tai chi, qigong and Chinese medicine for the last 25 years.
“It differs from other forms in that it follows a step-by-step method and a unique sequence of exercises to develop one’s qi, utilizes passive and dynamic exercises and is both a method of self-healing and healing others with qi,” said Sanchez.
In addition to weekly classes, he offers yearlong Elixir Qigong certification trainings for those interested in becoming a practitioner or learning the techniques for self-healing.
Jackie Burleson, 46, a graduate of the program, experienced a transformation on many levels and lost 45 pounds in the first eight months of training.
“Qigong helped break up energy blockages in my body, which improved how my body functioned, increasing my metabolism and energy level. It also gave me more body awareness so I began to make better food choices,” said Burleson, a software project manager who now teaches qigong.
She said she has noticed an emotional and spiritual impact as well and feels more calm and centered as a result of her practice.
“Qigong has made me more kind and accepting of people. I tend to judge people less than I used to because I now recognize their energy or qi and can see past their personalities.”
Burleson said Sanchez is a kind, loving spirit as a teacher and an example of what qigong can do for a person.
“The first thing I noticed about Camilo when I met him was his calm, peaceful energy. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know who this guy is or what qigong is, but I want that.’”
Through his work at Elixir Qigong Center, Sanchez said, he is determined to bring his passion to the mainstream.
“My mission is to increase the public awareness and education about the profound mind-body benefits of qigong and to provide unique training programs of qigong locally, nationwide and worldwide,” said Sanchez.
Lisa Moore is a freelance writer for South Charlotte News. Have a story idea for Lisa? E-mail her at LisaMooreNC@gmail.com.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/04/1591932/he-believes-in-the-elixir-of-a.html#ixzz0vlilVZcV
Qigong is not only the exercise: Although it appears that modern qigong today is just another new age exercise FAD, which is traditional Qigong Qigong practitioners regarded as a lifestyle which implies much more: food, exercise, herbs and Chinese medicine – in fact, everything that worked to complete the health and well-being. So I mentioned earlier, qigong practices in these and other articles are not the modern practice of Qigong that membership in a New-Age Fan Club, but the traditional practice of health as preventive and holistic.
In this context, I would like to discuss the fifth qigong / chi kung practice for hypertension – hydration by drinking plenty of water. Water cleans the body of toxins and provides much needed oxygen. We know we should drink at least six glasses of water per day to ten, but what kind of water? Only the cleanest, purest Art Why not mineral water or spring? Because it contains minerals that our body can digest and creates mineral deposits that lead to all sorts of diseases such as arthritis and pain of the sciatic nerve.
These add to the stress of toxins in our bodies, leading to hypertension and other diseases. There are two types of minerals: minerals, organic and come from factories that we can digest, and inorganic soil. She did not eat the rust to get your iron you? Because that is what inorganic minerals – minerals that our body can absorb. Instead, they accumulate and are deposited in our joints, bones and in our organs and muscle tissue, which causes all sorts of difficulties, and stressed our bodies. Organic minerals come from fruits and vegetables, plants that use photosynthesis to convert inorganic minerals in soil organic compounds and elements that our body can not digest. has been to drink only the purest water, the water distillation or reverse osmosis. water distillation is a process where water is heated and compressed, so that contaminants back. The filtration of distilled water is still suffering through carbon dioxide charcoal to other particles that escape distillation can not remove the water is 99. 99% pure. Another way to get pure water is reverse osmosis: water through a membrane that filters out impurities and then pushed further treated with carbon dioxide, coal, again leaving clean water is 99% pure. How drinking water is to reduce hypertension? With moisturizing body, providing oxygen to the cells dry, encouraging cell renewal. It cleanses the body of toxins and soft chairs for disposal. Detoxification helps to know the stress load on the body of toxins, toxins that would otherwise stress the body has normal functions that would reduce, and we all know that stress is a major consequence of the hypertension. Thus, the body with oxygen to flush toxins and relieve stress and reduce blood pressure.
Article Source:Health Guidance
Tai Chii is catching on inside a pretty big way in Western culture. If you’re considering starting it, it is necessary to remember that it requires the same level of discipline that any other martial art will. It’s not some thing that’s easy to teach to yourself, and you will most likely require to enlist inside the aid of the master instructor in order to be successful. Nevertheless, the enlightening journey inward is worth whateverr natural health expenses you may well incur.p
Tai Chi is one of these softer martial arts. It is 1 that focuses a lot more seriously on internal strength. While disciplined series of standardized forms and styles of movement are still common with Tai Chi, the overall philosophy behind its effectiveness being a self-defense art are much different than other fighting styles. Tai Chi is low impact, and focuses on enabling the user to be in a position to direct their flow of Chi energy in order to strengthen particular aspects of their entire body, or to heighten their resistance to injury during fights.
When most individuals think about the martial arts, they consider kung fu movies where fighters are doing back-flips over just one an additional, or breaking difficult objects with various parts of their system. They think of prolific stars like Jackie Chan or Jet Li. They picture tough, intense physical training and years of disciplined practice. What a lot of people are just now beginning to discover is always that there is really a softer, a lot more spiritual side to Chinese martial arts, but 1 that even now teaches practitioners a lot of valuable lessons about self defense, and the physics from the entire body.
As being a martial arts discipline, Tai Chi focuses around the iconic principles of yin and yang. Rather than confronting any challenge with overwhelming physical force, it teaches fighters being soft and yielding at times to give themselves a tactical advantage in the fight. As an opponent attacks, you recede as though you were a retreating coastal tide. As your opponent withdraws, you go on the offensive. Being able to feel the exchange of energy between your self and your opponent helps to raise your sensitivity, so that you can judge timing with far better precision. From a fighting perspective, Tai Chi shares plenty of principles with Jujitsu – going with the flow, and utilizing motion and momentum that already exist around you to your advantage.
The enrichment of a person’s Chi flow that takes location during Tai Chi exercises is part with the reason why many persons who aren’t truly that interested in martial arts as a whole have taken up Tai Chi being a hobby. There’s a good deal that a particular person can find out about the flow of their own bodies, too as in the universe that surrounds them without ever having to engage another individual in combat. Since it doesn’t place many strain on the joints, it makes a fantastic form of exercise for persons who are older, or suffering from one thing that may well weaken their overall skeletal integrity. Better blood circulation is encouraged, as is physical coordination.
Celebrating 40 Years in 2010 – Profound benefits for a wide range of health conditions attributed to Taoist Tai Chi(TM) internal arts
TORONTO, July 29 /PRNewswire/ - Dimitri Granovski, a Russian immigrant to Canada, says that after 20 years of chronic migraines, he’s become painkiller-free by practising these arts for only three months. Samantha Albert of Stratford, Ontario, says they help her deal with the effects of a critical blood disorder called amyloidosis. Helen Gaunt a wine producer in Margaret River, Australia, attributes her smooth recovery from thyroid and breast cancer to their practice. Klaartje Timmerman, of Holland, was stiff and afraid to move due to the pain from a herniated disk – she is now more flexible, more bold, and no longer suffers constant nerve pain in her leg, thanks to the practice of these arts.
They all praise the Taoist Tai Chi(TM) internal arts of health. And the above are just a handful of stories from the 40,000 members of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society who reap the benefits to health and well-being afforded by their regular practice. Most stories are not about recovery from critical conditions – the majority of members just enjoy staying fit and managing every-day aches and pains.
“People come to our Society for various reasons, most often initially just to learn the 108-move Tai Chi set,” says Dr. Karen Laughlin, president of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society, “but, behind everyone who stays, there is a story of improved health and enhanced quality of life.”
Celebrating 40 years around the world
Founded in Toronto in 1970 by the late Master Moy Lin-shin, a Taoist monk who immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong, the International Taoist Tai Chi Society is the world’s largest nonprofit Tai Chi organization with branches in 26 countries. The Society is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
To celebrate this important anniversary, thousands of members around the world — including in many cities in Canada – will simultaneously complete the 108 moves of the Society’s Tai Chi set on August 14, at 2 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time (10 a.m. EDT).
Sure, one can always do the set alone, but completing it with others- whether in regular classes or at various festivals and workshops throughout the year-is an integral and powerful part of the Society’s practice. August 14th promises the largest group in the history of the organization to be completing the set at the same time.
Research and education
Master Moy refined the instructional methods of the arts he had mastered from his teachers in the East to maximize the health-promoting qualities. Today the Society continues research into the healing effects of the Taoist Tai Chi tm internal arts of health on the body and mind.
The Society’s medical advisor, Dr. Bruce McFarlane, contributes a regular series of articles explaining the anatomy and physiology in relation with these arts on the Society’s popular blog, www.thetigersmouth.org.
In addition to maintenance of general health and well-being, the Society offers a robust program of health recovery classes for people whose quality of life is seriously compromised by illness or injury at its main campus near Orangeville, Ontario, and at other locations in its global organization.
- Visit www.taoist.org for more information about the International
Taoist Tai Chi Society, its locations, and the 40th anniversary
celebrations.
- Go to www.taoist.org/files/pdf/40thKeydates.pdf for key dates in the
Society's development.
- Go to www.taoist.org/content/standard.asp?name=
Testimonials_Summary for a sampling of brief testimonials on the health
benefits of these arts.
- Go to the blog at www.thetigersmouth.org for the most current event and
community information.
- For specific information about the worldwide demonstration on August
14, 2010, contact 416-656-2110.
Media news archive and photo bank for this organization at: http://www.newswire.ca/en/search/index.cgi?Flags=31&Submit=GO&query=taoist+tai+chi&GO=Go&x=19&y=12
SOURCE TAOIST TAI CHI SOCIETY OF CANADA
Slow moves to battle body pain
Modern medicine enlists gentle exercise of qigong
Published On Sun Jul 25 2010
Five patients whose lives have been trimmed or gutted by pain stand before their petite class leader at Bridgepoint Health, eyes closed, minds focused on the soft music and instructions to breathe deeply and move slowly.
Mary Laposta sets aside her crutches to participate. A former personal support worker, she has been disabled since a back injury in November 2008, left her in constant pain.
“It’s a relief. When you don’t move because of the pain, it gets worse, so you need to keep moving,” says Laposta, 48, a patient in the pain management program at the hospital, near Gerrard St. E. and the Don Valley Parkway.
That is where qigong comes in. The ancient Chinese martial art is being enlisted by modern medicine to battle the effects of chronic pain, cancer and cancer treatments, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis and other conditions that can severely limit mobility.
Qigong is not a cure, but it can enhance flexibility and strength among people who are too ill to exercise vigorously, or even at all.
“It’s deceptive. It seems so simple but it’s quite a powerful tool,” says Andrée Thérèse Stock, 67, who has suffered migraine headaches daily since she was a teenager and is also enrolled in the Bridgepoint program.
Qigong combines light, dance-like body movements with breathing and meditation techniques, set to soothing music.
Weekly classes have been held for patients in the pain management program since 2003, says program founder Dr. Edward Robinson.
The program accepts patients suffering from chronic pain as a result of any illness or condition, including severe arthritis and neurological disorders. The groups are sometimes so diverse that the only thing they have in common is pain.
Qigong can be adapted to any level of activity. One group had four or five members who were all in wheelchairs. “They couldn’t walk or stand, but they could do qigong,” says Robinson.
Louisa Leong, a physiotherapist and a qigong instructor at Bridgepoint, learned tai chi and qigong from her father, who is still healthy in his 80s and practicing both each day.?
There is no single qigong authority. The art is passed down from teacher to pupil. Leong has 20 different qigong movements, such as gentle pushing or reaching, that she adapts to the needs of each group.
Patients at Bridgepoint receive a CD that leads them through a 20-minute set of qigong moves they can do at home.
Wellspring cancer support centres in the GTA offer eight-week qigong courses, says Ayala Beck, a manager there.
“It helps patients release tension, focus, feel grounded and improve overall physical condition while dealing with cancer,” says Beck.
One patient with breast cancer who could not lift her arms over her head when she began the course regained a full range of movement after the course, says Beck. “It’s very popular.”
Qigong movements are similar to the movements used in tai chi and incorporate some simplified tai chi moves, at a slower, gentler pace. The emphasis in qigong is on releasing tension and preserving mobility.
Fervent disciples of the art claim qigong can result in miraculous cures. Modern science has more temperate views.
A 2007 Swedish study of the effects of qigong on 57 women with fibromyalgia found that regular practice over seven weeks had a positive and reliable effect. The researchers concluded that qigong could be a useful compliment to medical treatment for people with fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread body pain and stiffness.
Lyn McMahon leads qigong groups at Wellspring for people recovering from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She also helps lead public qigong classes at St. Andrew’s Church on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., where the fee is $7 for a class. The class is on summer break and resumes Sept. 8.
McMahon believes in the elusive concept of qi, which in Chinese philosophy is a life force that flows through the human body. Qigong promotes the proper flow of this energy and builds internal energy, strengthening the immune system, she says.
“You have to be patient and you have to do the breathing and postures and you have to challenge yourself,” says McMahon. “Making small changes will make a big difference eventually. That’s the theory we use.”
Richmond Hill physiotherapist Elliot Tse, says he uses tai chi and qigong for personal relaxation and exercise. He often recommends them to patients who want to improve balance and cardiovascular function. He thinks they offer a good alternative to more traditional exercises, which can be dull and repetitive.
“It has momentum. It makes people more willing to do it at home.”
Because studies of tai chi has shown that people over 65 with knee osteoarthritis who took tai chi exercises twice a week for 12 weeks experienced less pain and improved physical function, this form of exercise is promoted by the Arthritis Foundation.
Dr. Paul Lam, a family physician and tai chi expert, offers 12 lessons on disk for purchase. But he also is available to answer your questions.
Tai chi uses slow, deliberate, gentle, fluid and flowing circular movements that “improve the body and the mind.” It is sometimes referred to as moving meditation.
This ancient Chinese martial art improves strength, balance and flexibility in older people but it also helps with chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis and sore joints and muscles.
|
Resources
Tai Chi Styles
|
