Topic: Need sage advice: Yoga or T'ai Chi Chen

[74cb750]

All you posers and pseudo-intellectuals, I need your opinion and maybe even fact-based responses.
Which should I do ? I have had arthritis since I was 18 and now am finding it difficult to swing my leg over the seat of my bike (actually have to climb onto a footpeg, then swing my leg over).  My body seems to be telling me to work out more, to regain lost range of motion,  as there are no pills for this nor is there any easy medical solution for hip/knee problems.
michel

[flybox1]

Coming from a position of personal experience.  I had a full scholarship in college for athletics, and now 20 years later, I am feeling the abuse I put my body through.  Worked in a physical therapy clinic for 6 years.  Also helped rehab my 93-year old father after his double hip replacement.
1.  Weight.  If you carry any extra, get rid of it.  Its like needlessly carrying around a backpack full of rocks.  The extra weight wears on our joints.
2.  Flexibility.  I sit most of the day behind this computer screen.  If I don't take the time to stretch my hips/legs, my back kills me, and i'm unable to stand comfortably for any length of time.  A body is meant to be in motion. 
3.  Core Strength and stability.  No strength = no stability.  Think constructing a high rise on marsh land vs a concrete foundation.
If your arthritis has compromised your hip/knee joints, there's nothing that can fix it save joint replacement, but further degradation can be slowed with proper nutrition, supplements, and exercise.
Both Tai Chi and Yoga are great for core strength and flexibility.  Tai Chi contains more of the 'exercise' component.
Do both.
my $.02

Rob

[70CB750]

I would pick Tai Chi, just saying, but I never did yoga.

[carnivorous chicken]

I've been a skateboarder since 1975, including touring in the 1980s and 1990s. Yoga allows me to continue to skate, ride my bikes, and do everything else I need or want to. My problem has always been finding an instructor who I like, who's not crazy new agey or corny or leads a too mellow class. The girl to guy ratio is usually something like 10:1, so there's that too.

[chewbacca5000]

Not sure you are willing to change your diet, but an anti inflammatory diet high in greens and good stuff can do alot to help arthritis.  I went on that whole green juice diet and my left index finger that I broke started to work again.

[Duke McDukiedook]

I've been a skateboarder since 1975, including touring in the 1980s and 1990s. Yoga allows me to continue to skate, ride my bikes, and do everything else I need or want to. My problem has always been finding an instructor who I like, who's not crazy new agey or corny or leads a too mellow class. The girl to guy ratio is usually something like 10:1, so there's that too.

Ha, good luck finding THAT unicorn. 

[carnivorous chicken]

I've been a skateboarder since 1975, including touring in the 1980s and 1990s. Yoga allows me to continue to skate, ride my bikes, and do everything else I need or want to. My problem has always been finding an instructor who I like, who's not crazy new agey or corny or leads a too mellow class. The girl to guy ratio is usually something like 10:1, so there's that too.

Ha, good luck finding THAT unicorn. 

It's possible. The one I go to now avoids that crap and focuses on stretching and building strength. I had an instructor once tell the class to pretend they were holding the moon in their hands and to turn it and guide it through the sky, it was all I could do to not bust out laughing. Never went back.

[74cb750]

well in the past I helped teach a rape prevention class using Krav Maga and Muay Thai. I currently run a lot every weekend refereeing 5-10 games of soccer. During the week I weight lift but have noticed my range of motion has decreased anyway.

[carnivorous chicken]

I should've added: I also have oncoming arthritis, one knee, one or both shoulders, and am asymptomatic when I do yoga regularly. And much, much more flexible.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The Subject could also include medicinal/recreational cannabis

[eigenvector]

When I injured my spinal column about 10 years ago my rehab consisted of little more than walking - once I could walk that is.

Walking is an exceptional exercise - as is swimming, but swimming requires more exertion.  The sports rehab doctor recommended swimming for strength training.

I know plenty of women who swear by yoga - I don't know any man who has ever even looked into it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

When I injured my spinal column about 10 years ago my rehab consisted of little more than walking - once I could walk that is.

Walking is an exceptional exercise - as is swimming, but swimming requires more exertion.  The sports rehab doctor recommended swimming for strength training.

I know plenty of women who swear by yoga - I don't know any man who has ever even looked into it.

I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back.  Surprisingly, riding relaxes me as much or more than anything.

[evanphi]

Yoga. But find the right one for you. My wife is doing her yoga teacher training right now so I am getting lots of practice sessions!

You can find different types of yoga classes... some more focused on strength building (difficult body weight poses, held long time), cardio (quick changes), and plenty that also use lots of floofy language.

Yoga was started as a spiritual practice first, and is now more an "athletic" pursuit. You're going to get that spiritual language in some practices/studios, but not others.

A good teacher will help you modify poses to prevent any further injuries, and will also not push you TOO hard that you hurt yourself.

[chewbacca5000]

is there motorcycle yoga?

[74cb750]

is there motorcycle yoga?

as a matter of fact there is. Read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values"

[evanphi]

Yeah read that if you want a philosophy book.

It is NOT a philosophy book about motorcycles. Just philosophy.

[Duke McDukiedook]

is there motorcycle yoga?

I practice Irish yoga, kinda close.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

is there motorcycle yoga?

I practice Irish yoga, kinda close.

Does that involve 12 oz. curls?

[riverfever]

I know you asked about two specific things but I'm also in a situation now at 43 where I'm suffering from the athletic life I led when I was younger (mostly mountain bike racing). It got bad enough in 2012 that I stopped cycling all together. My left hand is bad enough that on some days I can't fly fish for more than a few hours because of the pain. My neck is a disc issue that doesn't ever hurt on the motorcycle (but I was a rigid single speed racer so that did not help). I've tried a lot of things and had pretty much given up until I got talked into to going to see an acupuncturist. The guy that I've been working with is about 1.5 hours from me but I trust him completely and I've seen really good results. It's been a few months since I've been to him but once school is out for the summer I will go back for some more sessions. I also take herbs (not pot...think tea) and have been amazed with how it's worked. Just something else to consider. Good luck. I know what it's like living with pain.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Damn Chris!

My herniated discs flare up whenever I have to stand or walk all day.  At one point in time, I was suffering from nerve loss (my sympathetic nerve reflex was not working -- meaning me leg would not kick when my knee was tapped with a hammer.  That sacred the bejeezus out of me.  Chiropractic made it worse, and then a year of physical therapy did nothing to improve it. 

Ultimately, a regimen of stretching, occasional deep tissue massage and riding my bike keep it in check.

[74cb750]

I know you asked about two specific things but I'm also in a situation now at 43 where I'm suffering from the athletic life I led when I was younger (mostly mountain bike racing). It got bad enough in 2012 that I stopped cycling all together. My left hand is bad enough that on some days I can't fly fish for more than a few hours because of the pain. My neck is a disc issue that doesn't ever hurt on the motorcycle (but I was a rigid single speed racer so that did not help). I've tried a lot of things and had pretty much given up until I got talked into to going to see an acupuncturist. The guy that I've been working with is about 1.5 hours from me but I trust him completely and I've seen really good results. It's been a few months since I've been to him but once school is out for the summer I will go back for some more sessions. I also take herbs (not pot...think tea) and have been amazed with how it's worked. Just something else to consider. Good luck. I know what it's like living with pain.

Yep, I heard that Green Tea is supposed to ameliorate the pain somewhat. I drink that, use olive oil only, eat small meals 4 times a day, have cut back on red meats, eat lots of onion and garlic and many different colored fruits and vegetables.
I only weight lift 3 times a week now, instead of 5 times a week and only bike less than 10 miles or slow jog 3-6 miles (with short wind sprints) every  other day (depending on how much pain I'm in). If I ride the bicycle I do wind sprints up the hills behind my house late in the afternoon to spook the bears, moose and deer. :-)
By following this regimen for the past 3 months and giving up beer, I have lost weight but not enough.
peace,
thanks for all the advice. I think I'm going to go with Yoga, so I can lift my leg over the seat when I mount up.

[scrapvalue]

Take a Midol and rub some dirt on it, you will be fine.

[Duke McDukiedook]

I heard cranberry juice works well in tandem with the Midol/Pamprin.

[74cb750]

I start Yoga classes on monday afternoon.
The gym at the local hospital has weights, running training, a certified physical therapist included, & doctors upstairs if you overdo it and a sauna/shower afterwards .
Can't beat the price, $400/yr membership and $60/6 week yoga classes.
It means I no longer will be waking my wife up at 5:30-6:30 am dropping weights above her head. 
michel