Tai Chi for Back Pain Relief.

Any form of movement or exercise will have a positive effect on your body and help keep it supple and strong, but this can be difficult to achieve if you are in pain and have limited movement ability.

Tai Chi may be an activity that is suitable for those with back pain and joint stiffness as it can be tailored to the individual and built-up gradually concentrating both the mind and body on awareness and improvement.

What Is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is an ancient form of Chinese martial art that is practised for its effects on health and in competitions. Modern styles of Tai Chi are not practised for their competitive qualities and most people practise without making contact with other people.

Tai Chi is a very popular form of exercise and every morning hundreds of people take part in routines and regimes around the globe.

It works by freeing up the natural channels of energy that flow through the body. The aim of Tai Chi is to allow the body to connect with other energies, relax and de-stress. By doing this the body will function more effectively and the mind will be cleared allowing it to think more easily without fuss.

Tai Chi movements are learned by the participants and perfected over time until more advanced positions can be adopted. The most common forms of Tai Chi do not require the participants to have any direct physical contact with each other but more advanced students may find they want to learn the more competitive form of Tai Chi which involves contact and often a weapon.

How Can It Help Ease Back Pain?

Tai Chi is known for its benefits of improving posture and relieving stress which are both common causes of back pain and back discomfort. If you have had a back problem for many years, the chances are your posture will have suffered because you've been holding your body in a way that discourages proper posture. Tai Chi will gently allow you to find the correct posture for your frame and will help tone the muscles needed to achieve this. It is also very good for helping you to balance more effectively which may help prevent further injury in the future.

As Tai Chi works on both the body and the mind, it can be good for helping people cope effectively with long term pain. It also serves as a way of de-stressing which means that the mind will be able to relax more.

Tai Chi can be practised alongside any other therapy that you are receiving for your back pain and is not intended to be used as a replacement for any pain relief medications if they are needed.

Where Can I Find An Instructor?

Most people wanting to learn Tai Chi will find they can join a group which allows learners to practise together as a group. Your own ability will not affect how others practise which means this is the perfect opportunity to improve your mental and physical being without worrying that you're not as good as other members of the group, whether you have enough physical fitness to participate properly.

There are many sources of information regarding Tai Chi instructors on the internet and most people will be able to find a group nearby that they can join but if not, why not contact an instructor and do a little research into your area and find out if there are any other members of your community that would join in?

The benefits of Tai Chi are not limited to those suffering with long term pain as it can be practised by anyone and most will feel some benefits after a short time.

We should all be making more of an effort to look after our mind and body and this may be the perfect way to do it!