Tai Chi Round Two (2)

I've convinced Bob to take another go around of Tai Chi.  Who would have thought it would have been this fun.  I've always been afraid of trying something new, however, Bob talked me into it the first time around.  

Shockingly I picked/pick the movements up pretty fast.  I think that is one thing that annoys him about it. That I have an easier time at it.  I, however, believe that he'll have an easier time around this time.

I thought a new year a new us. Plus the hot months are soon approaching so having an indoor exercise activity would be a smart thing to consider.  So I'm sure round 3 will be on our summer adventures. 

It is going to take some time to get into the swing of things after having a mini-vacation from Tai Chi. But I'm sure that it won't take long for our muscles to get back into it.  

Week One January 11

Angela ~  Week one was difficult again.  We had about four weeks off as a mini-winter vacation.  I was hurting after class, not a bad pain just that sort of nagging pain of "Why are you making us work?"  Other than that it seems that the new steps that we will be learning are pretty easy to do.  Although I'm sure that I'm going to regret saying that. 

Bob~

Week Two January 18

Angela ~ Second class! Phew!!! The moves may seem easy with just looking in on the class, but it so isn't easy.  This class I was hurting a lot.  But still managed to do about half the class.  When it rains or is going to rain I tend to swell a lot which in return puts added pressure on already sore joints.  However, I did do some of the movements while seated. 

Bob~

Week Three January 25

Angela ~ Tai-Chi is really working for me.  So far in the last session and well the start of this one I've lost four inches off my waist.  So that's about an inch a month.  

Nothing like putting on a pair of yoga pants that did fit you not long ago to find them slipping down as you walked into class.  I've been a bit upset with myself since I weighed myself and I weighed ten pounds more than I did five months ago. 

As you can imagine having lower limb lymphedema, and chronic nerve pain, exercising and losing weight isn't all that easy of a thing to do.  Never mind moving around when you have chronic nerve pain.  

This class I managed to do all but ten minutes.  I have to say that I'm really enjoying Tai-Chi.

Bob~

Week Four February 1

Angela ~ Sadly I had to miss this class.  Was a very bad pain day. 

Bob~

Week Five February 8

Angela ~ Was feeling a bit better this week.  So we went to Tai-Chi.  I have amazing news! Well at least for me.  For the first time in a very long time, I have managed to touch the floor while bending over.  It might have only been my fingertips, but it's a start.  I'm very excited about this accomplishment.

As many of you know I have a herniated disk on L4-L5. Yes right at the waist.  So bending sometimes is quite painful. Being able to do this and not be in huge amounts of pain is exciting news. 

Tai-Chi is much different then I thought that it would be.  A lot of it looks simple.  While you watch people do it, you think to yourself that it's easy.  Then anyone could do it.  But let me tell you that it's far from simple.  You'll use muscles that you never knew existed. 

This week we managed to turn around 360. Talk about being dizzy while trying to do this.  You also have to be good at ballet. (Who would have thought Ballet would be in a martial arts movement.) Being able to turn your foot at a better angle is always helpful in this challenging move. The movement that I'm talking about is called.  Turn Body, Double Wave Lotus Kick.  Now if I can only manage the hand movements along with the 360 turn. 

Bob~

Week Six February 15

Angela ~ WOOHOO! So excited! I managed to finish the entire hour class without stopping. Living with chronic pain this is a huge milestone to reach.  

Bob~

Week Seven February 22 NO CLASS

Angela ~ No Class

Bob~ No Class

Week Eight March 1

Angela ~ Difficult class, but it was fun.   Sadly a huge rainstorm came and well we know what happens when it rains.  My back swells and well it just makes it difficult to do just about everything.  Yes, I've learned to deal with the pain, but sometimes it's just too much and I have to know my limits.  

However, I sill managed to do most of the class.  Even though the pain was huge. I still enjoy pushing myself.  I did figure by measurement wise so far I've lost a total of five inches. I don't see the weight loss.  One reason why I started doing measurements. A lot of it is only half an inch, but those half of inches adds up. 

Bob~

Sadly things became busy and well I missed blogging about the other 9 weeks of class.  I do have to say that we are really enjoying ourselves, and have recently talked a friend into joining the class with us the next time around.  I do hope that she'll stick with it.  Most of the time when something is too difficult she'll just give up and quit the class.

This next time around will bring us to lesson/section one.  When we started I believe we started at the end of two or the beginning of three.  I'm really looking forward to starting at one.