[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by foxyshaman

1QuirkyKiwi, I did not know you had Spina Bifida. I have never had a patient with this. So, please be gentle on me due to my ignorance. Tai Chi works, in part, with the meridians. Do you find that moving the energy up and through your body (and crutches) is what soothes your spasms? Is it the concentrated movement that eases you?? I really like Tai Chi, but I don't have an ongoing practice.

Yoga is for me a place of great inspiration. I get some of my best ideas for circles or rituals or articles I write, during yoga. I don't resist carrying a pen and booklet with me anymore to my classes.

I have a brain injury from a stroke and it changed me sssssoooo much and what I could do pre and what I can do post are quite different. Like lots different. It helps me to understand our human body when given the opportunity to discuss with others their bodies changes and/or limitations.

Like Einstein said "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious". And this fox is never ending curious.

Foxy, no worries about your “ignorance”, you haven’t shown any, lol! I’ve had to make this post a lot more concise that what I’d originally written, lol!

I have mentioned my Spina Bifida a couples of times in passing in posts – it’s not something I talk about; not because I’m ashamed of having it, I’m not! As you are aware there is a certain “stigma” attached to it, sadly. I have a complicated form of Spina Bifida Occulta.

My Tai Chi practice is a slower and more deliberate movement to help keep my Spine (and the rest of me) gently moving without over stressing my body – I’m much slower at doing things when my back is in spasm, and with some movement being very restricted until the spasm ceases. I use my Qi energy to infuse a positive energy and suppleness into my Spine and my abdominal organs, for better digestion and some pain relief, etc.

I’ve had to adapt my Tai Chi practice to allow for my use of crutches and my leg paralysis and tremours, as some of the Qatar are not possible with them – this has lead me to using “props”. My crutches can (and do) get in the way, but, are just to hold me up, so I don’t collapse into a heap on the floor, lol! I’m neither elegant nor graceful on my decent! LOL!

Iyengar Yoga is my main stretching exercise when I’m not in spasm – it’s excellent for Spina Bifida suffers and does help with pain relief to a point. It helps to keep my Spine in alignment and gently stretch and exercise my muscles and joints.

Throughout the day, I’ll use some Tai Chi Qatar to help ease pain with the gently movements – the same with some Yoga Asana when not in spasm.

Can I ask; was your recovery faster with Yoga nd Tai Chi? I understand if you would prefer to PM instead of answering here more publicly.

Einstein was right! This Kiwi is forever getting her beak into curiosity, lol!