Feeling better and achieving more lucid mobility means better attitude, ability to eat properly, and desire to enjoy family and life.
Seniors with Arthritis, such as Osteoarthritis, and Osteoporosis and persons with other mobility restrictions such as Multiple Schlerosis still have options to exercise. Any exercise plan should be approved by a health care professional.
Mayo Clinic endorses Tai Chi and Yoga as healthy exercises to reduce pain and increase mobility in the elderly and people suffering from chronic joint and muscle impairments.
A Tai Chi therapy has emerged from an ancient Chinese culture.
In 1997, a physician, Dr. Paul Lam developed the arthritis program on the Sun style. This approach to Tai Chi is an art geared to develop and enhance healthy minds and bodies.
Tai Chi is an excellent, safe and calming range of circular exercise that builds strength through slow, balancing movements. All the motions are done in an upright position, benefiting the heart, lungs, digestive tract, muscles, joints and brain. Repetitious exercise is done in gentle, overflowing choreographed dance movements involving the entire body.
Circulation is improved, joints become flexible, stress is reduced, better sleep is achieved, stomach pain and discomfort disappear, headaches are diminished and balance in walking and standing improve.
Learn and apply Dr. Lam’s method of Tai Chi on You Tube.
Learn more about the Sun style of Tai Chi on You Tube
Yoga movements are not all designed the same.
According to WebMD.com, yoga poses that use the asanas method of stretching and meditation is best for people who cannot get into difficult positions. Like Tai Chi, Yoga is done in slow, methodical movements. However, Yoga is different in that some positions are done while lying down and there are pauses between some poses and there is no special dance type movement.
WebMD recommends the exercises to release the lactic acid between joints to increase range of motion. Soft tissues, such as ligaments are stretched giving more fluid flexibility. With regular asanas yoga, stiffness, pain, tension and fatigue are reduced and sometimes diminished.
There are some similar goals in both Tai Chi and Yoga.
Like Tai Chi, Yoga teaches deep and more beneficial breathing which helps to improve endurance in walking and other activities. Oxygen and circulation to the brain encourages better sleep patterns and increases cognitive skills. Blood pressure is stabilized with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and the threat of heart disease and stroke are lowered. Lung and breathing problems in diseases such as asthma are reduced or eliminated.
Learn more about Tai Chi and Yoga at the links on this page and exercise daily for a better quality of life to prevent or alleviate arthritis and other body restricting diseases.
Related Articles with more links
Arthritis types and treatment information for self help and caregivers - Examiner.com Clarice Cook
Resources and References
Web M.D. recommends Yoga to increase range of motion
Sun Style of Tai Chi exercise on You Tube
Dr. Paul Lam teaches Tai Chi method of exercise
Mayo Clinic on Tai Chi and Yoga
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