Tai Chi and Qigong

[Tonypet]

Recently diagnosed. 51 year old male.

Trying to implement Tai Chi or Qigong in my life. I Wanted to know if one is better than the other or what are the pros and cons of each?

[kaypeeoh]

video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...

[RedJY5]

There is no difference in efficacy but considerable difference in learning the moves. I did tai chi for 6 years and my husband teaches chi gung. Tai chi is great but complicated to learn. It takes a long time to learn the whole form. It’s definitely worth doing but be prepared to take a long time to master it. However chi gung is easy to learn and quick to perform and thankfully as helpful for PD as tai chi. You do need a teacher in order to learn the movements correctly although you could learn from a dvd. My husband had a class member with quite advanced PD and he felt he benefited from classes. Good luck

[Skyblue9]

Qi Gong is usually a single movement whilst Tai Chi is a series of interlinked movements called the form.

My understanding is that Qi Gong is a single movement taken from the form.

Whatever it is I’ve been doing both since diagnosed 7 years ago. I have found that by completing a series of daily Qi Gong moves, linked in with yoga moves, I have pretty much retained my flexibility and in some areas increased it. My balance is still good enough for me to perch at the top of a 6 foot step ladder to clean the guttering, plus the regular twisting and stretching the moves entails “massages” my internal organs, which has kept constipation at bay.

Tai Chi, in addition to the above, really challenges your ability to multitask, your balance and posture and your memory as you try to learn the form.

In my view it’s definitely worth doing

[kaypeeoh in reply to Skyblue9]

I'm taking a Tai Chi class. The instructor says Qi Gong is 5000 years old while Tai Chi is 800 years old. He does motions that require using both sides of the brain. In one hand touching your thumb to the index finger, then middle finger, then ring finger then the pinkie finger, while with the other hand, touching the thumb to the pinkie finger then ring finger then middle finger then index finger. Done simultaneously and it's difficult to do.

[rebtar in reply to Skyblue9]

what twisting and stretching helps with constipation?

[Skyblue9 in reply to rebtar]

ones that work your trunk ie side bends or twisting round to look over your shoulder whilst keeping your hips still and facing forward. From yoga the cat cow stretch - down on all fours arch your back up and then lower in opposite direction. Movement in your trunk helps massage your intestines which helps them work better.

The key is consistency. I do an hour of qi gong/ yoga at least 5 times a week plus my tai chi classes.

It’s not a cure, I’m overall gradually getting worse but at least I don’t have to worry about constipation. Well at least not yet!

I would recommend joining both yoga and qi gong/ tai chi classes. Both my classes are for people with PD with people of wildly differing abilities but both teachers say any movement to start off with is better than no movement.

As an aside I’m travelling to the European Parkinson’s Therapy Centre in Italy in June. One of the things they do is a physical assessment and then put together a personal training plan. I’m looking forward to hearing their opinion on qi gong, tai chi and yoga. I also do PDWarrior. It will be interesting!

Regards

Kev

[Tonypet in reply to Skyblue9]

Is the Therapy center in Genoa? What does it cost and how difficult is it to get into?

[Skyblue9]

it’s in Boario in northern Italy. You can fly into either Milan Bergamo airport or Verona.

The course costs €725 and accommodation €360 at the time of my booking (Feb 23). The centre can also arrange transfers.

Full details can be found at European Parkinson’s Therapy Centre. Apologies I’m not IT literate enough to add direct link

[park_bear]

Qigong has been very helpful for me. My story here:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Tonypet in reply to park_bear]

Thank you

[cgreg]

Here is a simple Qigong movement that people can start with. youtube.com/watch?v=M59aylB...(Not working as expected?)