tai chi

So, for the last month or so I have been plagued by a lot of leg muscle pain, and my re-occuring repeatitive motion injuries in my right arm and shoulder have really flared up. It was getting to the point I was popping Aleave in the morning and afternoon just to make it through the day. I went to a shopping center with my wife and some friends of ours, and pulled two leg muscles just walking around!

I decided that was no longer tolerable.

Now, I've done a lot of exercise programs in my time. And, I have found one thing- I really don't like it. I've biked for 100's of miles (not all at once, mind you). Biking didn't help my arm pain at all. And, I didn't want to invest in a weight set (being a freelance means I don't have money at all). I didn't want to join a gym, it seems such a pointless waste of money to me. Running was a painful experience from beginning to end.

And, with the leg pain even walking was an ordeal. I tried the treadmill and leg press at work. That was more pain that I wanted to deal with while being at work. But, things had to change.

And, last Friday, as I was helping my wife pack for her trip, a thought occurred to me, "What's that lame slow-motion crap you always see old people doing in commercials? Tie flee? I Chee?"

Then my wife says outloud, "Tai Chi. And, it's not just for old people."

I swear she is telepathic. She says I mumble when I think. Whatever. Back to the point- I don't think anything else of it until the next morning when I'm dropping her off at the airport. And, then I think, "Maybe I should look into this Tai Chi thing. It's supposed to be good for your muscles and stuff. Pick up a cheap work out video for it."

My wife says, "You should." and kisses me on the cheek as she leaves.

Now, I've got nothing to do so this Saturday, well, I should rephrase that. I am going to blow off all the stuff I had to do that Saturday since I was the only one home. And, I felt like following up on this Tai Chi thing.

I wandered around town, stopping off at just about every dvd carrying retail store I could think of when I ended up at Fry's. Of course the electronic warehouse had what I was looking for, Elements: Tai Chi for Beginners. And, I thought, "well, that's me." And it was the right price, $8. I can invest $8 to see if I'll like something.

So, I get it home, and throw it in the tv (my tv has a built in dvd player). I go through the beginners work out- a warm up, practicing all the forms, and then putting them altogether in one "seemless" flow. It hurt a little bit to go through, but nothing like running, biking, weight training, or even walking hurt. I never had to stop due to pain or inability to move a joint.

Now, here's the part you're not going to believe since it sounds like an infomercial: by the end of the routine my leg pains were gone, the muscles that were still stressed from being sprained weren't hurting anymore.

It sounds like a stupid miracle cure but it's true. My legs weren't in pain anymore. Now, my arm and shoulder were still hurting. And, on the second day they hurt more. But, on the third day it was less, and finally on the 4th day they don't hurt at all. I have a returned full range of motion for my right arm and both my legs.

so, I'm gonna stick with it for now and see how it goes. I've found a longer dvd, it has a 20, 40, and 60 minute process.

But the $8 one that I bought already is worth it.