stoogegirlus
New member
I'm still recovering from a bad leg , and more recently a back, injury and have been wondering if any of you have tried tai chi. A friend said it'd be good for me, and won't hurt me so much. Any thoughts on it?
Tai Chi: Thoughts?
- Thread starter stoogegirlus
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ToothlessFerret
New member
When I changed lifestyle, I wanted Tai Chi to be part of it. So I joined a class. I think that Tai Chi can be a useful activity for many people. It is certainly good for balance, posture, and mind.
However, it wasn't for me. It agitated my back pain terribly. I have that sort of back problem that isn't agitated by things like weight lifting etc - but by walking, holding my arms out, and by standing still. My Tai Chi teacher couldn't cure it, and referred me to my doctor and to a naturopath. Neither of them could cure it either, neither could the neurologist or the physio therapist - nor the acupuncturist. I've simply learned to live around it.
But I really would still like to get back to those Tai Chi classes one day. Its a beautiful activity.
However, it wasn't for me. It agitated my back pain terribly. I have that sort of back problem that isn't agitated by things like weight lifting etc - but by walking, holding my arms out, and by standing still. My Tai Chi teacher couldn't cure it, and referred me to my doctor and to a naturopath. Neither of them could cure it either, neither could the neurologist or the physio therapist - nor the acupuncturist. I've simply learned to live around it.
But I really would still like to get back to those Tai Chi classes one day. Its a beautiful activity.
Mila2
New member
I think Tai Chi is great for your soul... can't see it having a great weight loss effect, but if you are interested, why not join a class and watch? Or participate! My mom, after having cancer at 45, decided to be choice-oriental, she is all feng shui and tai chi now... it is fun!
Love, xxMilaxx (zennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn)
Love, xxMilaxx (zennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn)
sirant
New member
Tai Chi is a fantastic weight loss tool...
Don't kid yourself, Taichi looks slow and simple, but in fact you will strengthen your leg, back and core muscles more than you can imagine. I actually live in China so I have tried real taichi, and whereas it is beautiful and gracefull, when you are doing it "correctly" it is the equivelant of doing a serious squat, lunge, crunch and back workout. I am not kidding. Thats probably why Toothless had some problems if he had a bad back. Remember, those people who do it so easily and gracefully have probably been doing it for years. Increasing your lean muscle strength and mass is a proven weight loss technique. Taichi WILL do that for you. I tried real taichi a couple months back and I sweat more in 20 minutes than I do in a full on, 40 minute Taebo Cardio session. And the workout on my quads was almost unbearable. I backed off because I simply wasnt ready. And I was learning from a 70 year old man.... I look forward to once again getting back into it since I now feel strong enough to do so.
Its not for everyone. You dont bounce around and jump back and forth or use fast movements, but I guarantee you wont find it easy to start. If you do, simply put, you are doing it wrong. In weight lifitng they dont teach you to jerk your arms up and down doing curls as fast as possible. Slow and controlled is what works. Taichi is very similar. Those slow, controlled and gracefull movements are killer, and they will make you stronger.
I think about that initial session everytime I walk through the complex in the morning on the way to work and see all the seniors outside doing taichi, and I realize now that many of those grannies could probably kick my ass based on those gracefull little moves. They do it so easily and simply, where as I, a big strong strapping young man, floundered and struggled like a fool.
Good luck with it. Worth a try. Of course any exercise you can enjoy and be motivated to do is always worth the effort.....
sirant
Don't kid yourself, Taichi looks slow and simple, but in fact you will strengthen your leg, back and core muscles more than you can imagine. I actually live in China so I have tried real taichi, and whereas it is beautiful and gracefull, when you are doing it "correctly" it is the equivelant of doing a serious squat, lunge, crunch and back workout. I am not kidding. Thats probably why Toothless had some problems if he had a bad back. Remember, those people who do it so easily and gracefully have probably been doing it for years. Increasing your lean muscle strength and mass is a proven weight loss technique. Taichi WILL do that for you. I tried real taichi a couple months back and I sweat more in 20 minutes than I do in a full on, 40 minute Taebo Cardio session. And the workout on my quads was almost unbearable. I backed off because I simply wasnt ready. And I was learning from a 70 year old man.... I look forward to once again getting back into it since I now feel strong enough to do so.
Its not for everyone. You dont bounce around and jump back and forth or use fast movements, but I guarantee you wont find it easy to start. If you do, simply put, you are doing it wrong. In weight lifitng they dont teach you to jerk your arms up and down doing curls as fast as possible. Slow and controlled is what works. Taichi is very similar. Those slow, controlled and gracefull movements are killer, and they will make you stronger.
I think about that initial session everytime I walk through the complex in the morning on the way to work and see all the seniors outside doing taichi, and I realize now that many of those grannies could probably kick my ass based on those gracefull little moves. They do it so easily and simply, where as I, a big strong strapping young man, floundered and struggled like a fool.
Good luck with it. Worth a try. Of course any exercise you can enjoy and be motivated to do is always worth the effort.....
sirant
ToothlessFerret
New member
Post note: this thread made me think about trying the Tai Chi classes again. So this week, I went to my first tai chi class for 10 months 
Ok, my back did feel sore for a little while after, but I'm going to give it another go for a little while.
Ok, my back did feel sore for a little while after, but I'm going to give it another go for a little while.mycravings
New member
I also wanted to do tai chi . I have read books on it but the books say that you really need a teacher for it to have any effects.
i was actually more attracted towards the internal energy part.
Hope I get a good tai chi teacher in my area.
i was actually more attracted towards the internal energy part.
Hope I get a good tai chi teacher in my area.
There are a lot of types of exericises in Tai-chi - slow forms, aerobic forms, acrobatic forms, push hands, chi-gung etc. There is a type of chi-gung exercise based on animal movements which is now called "Zookinesis" and there is a series of chair exercises specifically for weight reduction. There are standing exercises as well in Zookinesis and they strengthen and tone the muscles, reduce weight and strengthen joints without the wild, extremely fast paced exercise you usually see in weight reduction programs.