Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group TAI CHI ?????

As my condition worsenes and what seems to be my only hope that i can see is possibly a drug such as enbrel ( which, by the way, i know now , i wont be able to afford it, even if it is given to me by my Rhumey in Aug) I've been doing the diet thing and there has been very little change. Now maybe i'm not giving it enough time , i dont know but i'm really not doing so well. My depressions is getting worse! which is frustrating for me , Cause i've always been such a positive person, i've always taken pride in myself in that i could find the silver lining in any cloud. But now i've lost that! And i want it back!. Anyway i'm rambling here .
My question is has anyone tried TAI CHI ? I've been reading a couple of personal stories from other AS sufferers, they were sent to me by a friend who knows them. And if these stories are true! then what are we all doing here? We all should be taken part in TAI CHI ! Anyway, i just wanted to check and see if anyone has tried it, still doing it or knows anyone that has . thanks

Keep on Kicking

Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"

I tried Tai Chi many years back and enjoyed it immensely, but dropped many things like that and yoga as inflammation increased and ROM decreased in my right knee...
Silly mistake.
All styles of low impact movement are right for us - i'd place Tai Chi between dance and defensive martial art.

I am back doing far more exercise than before, but instead of Tai Chi i picked up Chi Gung which i feel is more wholistic in its approach as it ties in seemlessly with TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and meditation/relaxation - the usual thing happened - they say that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
I was, he did!

Ted

I've got Crohn’s disease...
...and he's got mine...
Spike Milligan

I was watching television last night, and there is a current advertisment with a woman doing Tai Chi, and I thought: Hmmm. Movement excercise, relieving stress - that looks ace. I'm going to look into this.

Hi Martin,
My hubby did Tai Chi for years. He and Gianna [my oldest] used to practice at our old home in the back yard. He loved it. He said it was not only good exercise but it helped him when his family doc told him as a teen that he was going to end up with ulcers [back when they felt ulcers due to stress] b/c he had a terrible temper. He loved it. As a matter of fact we were watching "Crouching Tiger..." movie last night and were talking about Tai Chi and when he was going to make time for it again. I'll ask him what he knows about it or any good books or videos that he might recommend if you'd like.

Take care!


Buggy

Thanks for the reply Ted and yes the low impact stuff is just about all i could handle at this point. I just learned last night of a gentilmen in our area that teaches Tai Chi so i'm going to give him a call. thanks again.

Keep on Kicking

Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"

Thanks for your reply Shane. I think this is something i'm going to give a try. I now it cant be as bad for me as some of the drugs i'm taken right now. And if the personal stories i've read are true then this could be my ticket back to the active lifestyle . The stroy that intrests me the most was a lady in her early 40's that went from a wheelchair to being able to walk again, she had lost most of the movement in her neck , now her range of motion is normal!. She also stated she had lost 3 inches in height due to AS and has now regained nearly all that back. There were several other improvements she mentioned as well , but the big thing is she's now able to walk again with no pain!!.
So like i said from everything i've read and heard from others it's worth a try..
Take care

Keep on Kicking

Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"

Thanks Buggy any and all info is very much welcomed .. Take care



Keep on Kicking


Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"

ahhhh Martin.... your post gave me a grin I gotta tell ya!

See... I thought that Tai Chi would be something I could do that would a)relieve stress and b)help keep my joints mobile. But, here's where I went wrong!

I picked up one of those "learn at home" video tapes. Now .... picture this.

I'm dressed in my leotard and sweatpants (no.. don't picture that! yuk!).. so I'm looking the "part". I kick the kids outside so I can monopolize the TV and off I go. Thank goodness for the 'rewind button" as it took a while for me to master the first two movements, but master them I did, so off I ventured into movement number three. This movement required you pivoting on one foot and turning 180 deg.... this I did..... but then I had a problem.... I COULDN'T SEE THE DARN TV!!!! All I could hear was this woman 'rabbiting' away, but I hadn't got a clue what I was supposed to do!!!!

I guess if you don't have any neck involvement, it might be possible for you to look over your shoulder and actually see the picture.... but not me!!!!

I may have to risk arrest and take the tape to Wal-Mart where I can simultaneously broadcast the program onto a bank of 30 TV's..... and perform my Tai Chi right there in the electronics department!

Do you think I would be arrested????? (if you ever had the misfortune of spotting me in my leotard... you would now the answer would be a resounding YES!!! )

Handcuffs please......................

Maxine

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

Honey, first off, check with your work benefits, as they may cover it with pre-approval and proof from your rheumy that it's the only thing that'll work. Also, there may be a government plan that will help defray the cost.

I know what you mean about the depression. Like you, I tend to be positive about things, always looking for the silver lining. It's frustrating when you can't. Please, don't despair, this will ease up for you. And one of the ways you can help it is...

TAI CHI!!!

I took Tai Chi for a few years and absolutely loved it. It's perfect for us, as it is low impact, requires us to move in many different directions AND it's meditative. It is known as the moving meditation. So, you get a double whammy with it - both exercise and meditation, which will help both your mobility and your peace of mind. I say go for it.

Go to a local dojo and see if there are any classes being offered. Or there may be a Taoist Tai Chi centre somewhere near you. The classes aren't usually all that expensive and once you learn the set, you can do it at home.

I hope you do it, Martin. I know it'll be good.

Many hugs,

Kat


"I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work."- Thomas Edison

Hi Max
leotards and sweatpants !!! Oh my goodness, thats not the required active wear involved in Tia Chi is it?? I sure hope not, cause while i'm sure you look just fine in them, seeing a 38 year old man like myself, who is slightly over weight in sweatpants or loetards is not something that should, under any conditions ,be made public!! Thats right up there with over weight men in thongs at the local beach!! geeesh

take care and thanks for the smile..

Martin

"Trying to fly on broken wings"