All About Chi Blog

If you suffer from arthritis, then words like ‘physical activity,’ ‘exercise,’ and ’strength building’ may seem intimidating or disheartening. You may even believe that you cannot participate in these activities as the arthritis prevents you from doing so. I encourage you to reverse that mindset. Consider the activities you can do and that will provide relief from arthritis pressure.

Jeanie Lerche Davis’ article, Tai Chi for Arthritis Relief, explains the ways that tai chi movements provide pain relief. Replacing pain killers with tai chi also proves cost effective. Tai chi, a low-impact, weight-bearing, aerobic activity, can be viewed as a type of moving meditation. You remain relaxed, but build your body’s endurance. The more time you dedicate to tai chi, the less time you’ll need to spend at the doctors office. In fact, Davis notes that people find tension relief after 15, 10, even five minutes of tai chi.

The energy restored to your body after tai chi and the flexibility you gain will help you to complete daily commitments that would otherwise go untended due to your arthritis pressure. Consciously breathing and going through the motions allows you to relax and, like chi machines, feel energized. Consider that getting involved in tai chi and using your chi machines prove to be preventative health measures: fewer falls, less pain. Not only are you building cardiovascular, muscular, and personal strength, but you’re providing yourself with natural, effective, long-term relief without the crutch of pills and prescriptions.

Through your altered perspective consider ‘physical activity,’ ‘exercise,’ and ’strength building’ positively and arthritis as something you can control and ease. Over time, arthritis lessens rather than worsens. What’s more, your attitude toward arthritis improves as you begin to perceive the pain as temporary instead of burdening. Embrace the control you have over your health to tell arthritis exactly what you want it to do. Not the other way around.