When I was a young adult in the early 90's I read a book by Yang Jwing Ming and as I started become interested in Tai Chi it was only a short time before I lost interest because I was a heavy partier and drug user. Now 40 yrs old my back is feels like it is disintegrating. I have done so much damage to myself internally and externally and I can no longer do simple tasks without going back to bed for hours until my back becomes too sore from laying there. Today I have decided to look into Tai Chi again and wish to make this a huge part of who I am for the rest of my days. My main concern is my lower back so my question is what form should I focus on for lower back herniated discs? ty for your time Jo
have a look at my videos of me doing tai chi each was done while i had a slipped disc! doing the form isn't too much of a problem it was when i stopped and lost my posture that the pain set in again. these days if and when my back goes it usually returns to a functional pain free state after a couple of days thanks to daily practice.
I'm no expert on tai chi (I'm finding that out with no shortage of egg on my face as I start training with an actual instructor instead of working from a short time with a teacher and filling in the gaps with youtube and books :P) but if you can find an instructor they should be able to observe how you move and work out how best to do it. I have weak knees and hips from old martial arts injuries and a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight, and I'm finding these weaknesses hugely apparently now I'm starting to move in ways I haven't done for a long time. Best advice anyone could probably give you is find someone who can see how you move. Your comment was seven months ago, have you managed to find a class? Wishing you well from one in a similar boat ^.^
Hi Sarys. As a Taiji practitioner for 18 years, who also had a herniated disk as a kid, I highly recommend the small frame forms of either Wu/Hao or Yang style, because they are more "upright", and don't put stress on the lower back, as, say, the Chen or Sun styles might, since they employ lower postures and some faster movements.
perhaps you could describe your interpretation of that difference? I do both styles and to me, the spine movement is different , which affects the look of the head posture, but it's internally the same. spine overall should be lenthened is the overall goal, whether you keep spine upright and lengthened or just lengthened.
Fighting wise, is there any difference, there are to instructors where I live, yang and wu, and I little confused on who to train with. there both intermediate instructors.
Thank you this is so helpful. I’m currently educating myself before deciding which style to take up as a student. I was looking at Tai Chi Chaung mostly - I’m not sure how this compares with the two that you mentioned?
this is ten months old so you've probably figured it out by now but ... pretty sure tai chi chuan is just the full name for tai chi. Wu, yang, sun, and chen are the four main styles that fall under tai chi chuan
There is no such problem, wether the small frame hast been passed down in Yangstyle or not, or has survived only in other styles, since they are essentially the same!
Well said! This is the key....Most of the time it's not what you use it's how you use it. Thank you Master Frantzis!
Great upload. Please keep'em coming.
Where does wudang taiji (San feng pai) such as 28 form come into it? I heard wudang taiji is like the trunk and all other styles are branches?
Very helpful, useful and practical.
Very interesting...nicely explained
It really depends on the individual instructor's background and his/her approach to teaching.
When I was a young adult in the early 90's I read a book by Yang Jwing Ming and as I started become interested in Tai Chi it was only a short time before I lost interest because I was a heavy partier and drug user. Now 40 yrs old my back is feels like it is disintegrating. I have done so much damage to myself internally and externally and I can no longer do simple tasks without going back to bed for hours until my back becomes too sore from laying there. Today I have decided to look into Tai Chi again and wish to make this a huge part of who I am for the rest of my days. My main concern is my lower back so my question is what form should I focus on for lower back herniated discs?
ty for your time
Jo
have a look at my videos of me doing tai chi each was done while i had a slipped disc! doing the form isn't too much of a problem it was when i stopped and lost my posture that the pain set in again. these days if and when my back goes it usually returns to a functional pain free state after a couple of days thanks to daily practice.
I'm no expert on tai chi (I'm finding that out with no shortage of egg on my face as I start training with an actual instructor instead of working from a short time with a teacher and filling in the gaps with youtube and books :P) but if you can find an instructor they should be able to observe how you move and work out how best to do it. I have weak knees and hips from old martial arts injuries and a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight, and I'm finding these weaknesses hugely apparently now I'm starting to move in ways I haven't done for a long time. Best advice anyone could probably give you is find someone who can see how you move. Your comment was seven months ago, have you managed to find a class? Wishing you well from one in a similar boat ^.^
Hi Sarys. As a Taiji practitioner for 18 years, who also had a herniated disk as a kid, I highly recommend the small frame forms of either Wu/Hao or Yang style, because they are more "upright", and don't put stress on the lower back, as, say, the Chen or Sun styles might, since they employ lower postures and some faster movements.
I know old post
There is seated or chair tai chi.
Let your teacher know about your disc problem.
PRACTICAL,USEFUL INFORMATION
Omitted to mention that Wu has a different interpretation of suspended headtop.
perhaps you could describe your interpretation of that difference? I do both styles and to me, the spine movement is different , which affects the look of the head posture, but it's internally the same. spine overall should be lenthened is the overall goal, whether you keep spine upright and lengthened or just lengthened.
Fighting wise, is there any difference, there are to instructors where I live, yang and wu, and I little confused on who to train with. there both intermediate instructors.
So a lot was lost when the younger brother killed himself but some of it was passed into wu style?
Revealing video.
Thank you this is so helpful. I’m currently educating myself before deciding which style to take up as a student. I was looking at Tai Chi Chaung mostly - I’m not sure how this compares with the two that you mentioned?
this is ten months old so you've probably figured it out by now but ... pretty sure tai chi chuan is just the full name for tai chi. Wu, yang, sun, and chen are the four main styles that fall under tai chi chuan
There is no such problem, wether the small frame hast been passed down in Yangstyle or not, or has survived only in other styles, since they are essentially the same!
Wu came from Yang it was a small fight form created by a master at the yang school name Wu.
I personally know a guy who has a complete lineage of the Yang style, all three frames, including the small frame :)
this is Wu? or Wu?
Its Wu !
See which teacher you get on with better on a personal level.. fighting wise probably the Wu might be better,, check the level of his students
great. thanks...I agree¡¡¡