Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Tai Chi

Hi everyone
Anybody tried Tai Chi? I've been thinking of taking this up but wondered if it might make my knee pain worse. Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks
Stephen

Hi Stephen,

I didn't take any formal Tai Chi classes. I bought one of those videos you can use at home and it did wonders for my feet. I have trouble with my achilles tendons and after a few days of doing the basic stuff on the tape I was walking better than I had in a long time. I don't know about the knees though. I don't have a lot of problems with those. I think it would be worth a try as it is very gentle exercise.

Christina

There are various threads on these forums on Yoga and Tai chi, use the search facility.
Any exercise at all is better than none and any non-jolting sport as well.
Keep moving in any way that you can, the pain gets better with exercise, but you must have a reasonably low pain level to exercise comfortably so medications or diet first - take your pick.

Ted
"Auto-immunity or self-help - no decision"

I too didn't take any formal lessons, though I did buy one of those home instruction video's.

Only problem is...... how do you keep looking at the TV when they are instructing you to face the other direction? How do you know what they are doing next? I just found that with my neck involvement, I wasn't able to keep an eye on the TV at the same time...... when I tried to twist around to look, I invariably 'fell off my perch" It wasn't a sight the kids should have seen!

Since gave it up..... it had become hazardous to my health!

Maxine

May the roof above us never fall in, and the many friends gathered below it never fall out. - Irish Blessing

That's a pity Maxine. the way i was taught Tai Chi emphasised the whole form so much that we basically memorised it in entirety then did all the movements contiguously - never learnt one at a time....
Now i'm teaching myself again, i break forms up into four movements segments and learn them as a module so the breathing remains connected, practice a few times then watch the video or read the book again to make sure.
But, you are right it's hard, and the continuous flow of tai chi is critical for any beneft...

Ted
"Auto-immunity or self-help - no decision"

Hi! I 've been following a Tai Chi Chuan class now for almost a year and I really like it! It's great being able to exercise without too much pain. And it is so good to do this Tai Chi outside, in a quiet park or garden, surrounded by nature! You really get inspired by this and you can do what you want and go as far as you can! Because every day is different...

Hi Stephen

I did try Tai Chi for about 3-4 months before I shifted .
Yes it is benefical , it seemed to losen you up and certainly helps with flexiability.
I could just touch the floor while bending over , something I haven't been able to do for a long time .

just pace yourself and don't over do it ! .


Regards
Calixto

Everyday above ground is a great day ! .
If you don't believe me try missing one .

Hi,
I tried tai chi. I was in a course for the "24". It was a nice exercise but never was able to feel the energy flow etc. I d like to go on in tai chi but cant find a suitable course. I think it must be very hard to learn it off a book or a video tape.

Hana

Hana

Hi Hana

So you've completed a beginners course ? .

The right instructor is very important , there are alot of people who run courses but aren't qualified instructors . They must at least be under a certified instructor .

Our Class was under one Instructor and he went on Hoilday and his teacher ( Learned Tai Chi from age 4 ) took over the class and man what a difference .

Just getting the postioning right of each move made a huge difference so much so the whole class decided the wanted to learn it from the beginning again . There were people who had been in class for 3yrs plus .

Regards Calixto

Everyday above ground is a great day ! .
If you don't believe me try missing one .

Hi Stephen

Yes, I just recently checked out a few videos on Tai' Chi from the local library. I could not balance properly for most of the exercises, but what I did was develop my own form of Tai' Chi with a walking stick. The exercises are painful (of course) but they do get me going and limber me a little, and I listen to my body when it says, no way. Also doing the workout (usually about ten minutes) makes me feel like I am at least trying to keep in form. I haven't been at this long enough to say how great they make me feel, yet.