Ai Chi
Ai Chi is flowing, soft, round movements executed with a profound inwardly-directed focus. The Ai Chi postures are practiced dynamically, repeating the movement in rhythm with the breath. The progression begins with breathing and adds upper extremity movement. It then adds trunk stability movement, then lower extremity, and finally total coordinated body movements. Eventually your movements will flow and begin to feel more natural and comfortable. After correctly learning the postures or movements your breathing pattern will slow and feel more natural. After extensive practice the breathing and the movements coordinate naturally.
Ai Chi has been shown to be beneficial for:
Comments about Nan's Ai Chi class:
I can't say enough about what Ai Chi (think Tai Chi in the water) classes in 90 degree water has done for me! At the end of every class I feel relaxed, rejuvenated and fully stretched. Because I'm moving in the water (always with head above) in this class, it's easy for me to follow. I'm the type of person who can't touch her toes on land, but put me in 90 water and everything just relaxes and I can stretch fully. I feel amazing afterwards and my workouts go great after I've been through at least one class each week. Nan leads a small class through a gentle, easy to follow routine that opens up breathing, breaks through stress and sends me off renewed each week.
Comments from Ai Chi participants around the country:
When Ai Chi came into my life my body was very tired and inflexible. My joints ached. I had difficulty walking and to top that I had shooting pain shooting down my left leg. Sciatic nerve was the cause. All of this to say my body seemed to be in rebellion to aging. Ai Chi exercises stretched my muscles, loosened the joints and massaged my organs and equally important to me released my soul.
After my body learned the Ai Chi moves and could respond without thought, the soul could speak. The music, the warm water and the release from pain allowed meditation. Three times a week I have put aside an hour just to get out of my mind, get in touch with my body and release my spirit to meditate."
Here are words from another participant:
“….my favourite thing about Ai Chi is that it allows my joints such extension that I can’t do out of the water. My hips in particular have become much more flexible. As we go through the various postures, I feel my waist loosening up and I am able to turn more freely. This is great since I had hip injury as a child and was left with a difference in hip flexibility. I also had shoulder surgery due to an accident and I find Ai Chi has helped with the range of motion in that right shoulder.”
And one more….
“My most beneficial new activity is Ai Chi. My joints are totally supported in the water. It gives me more range of motion that any other activity. Ai Chi is also very relaxing with a meditative quality - the deep breathing not only lightens the weight off your joints and muscles - it puts you in a space of peace. - where the “I CAN’T’s disappear and new possibilities appear. It is the most beneficial mental and physical activity that I do for myself."
Source: Ai Chi: Balance, Harmony and Healing; Sova/Konno
Learn more:http://www.ruthsova.com
Ai Chi has been shown to be beneficial for:
- MS - read about the study Stanford University did with Aquatic Zen regarding Ai Chi and MS
- Chronic disorders such as fibromyalgia (article here), arthritis, cancer
- Respiratory disorders such as asthma, COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Cardiovascular problems
- Circulatory disorders such as hypertension and migraine headaches
- Metabolic disorders including eating behaviors, weight control, diabetes and obesity
- Psychological problems such as anxiety and depressive disorders
- Musculoskeletal disturbances including low back pain, scoliosis, injuries and surgeries, balance and fall prevention (see article)
- Neurological disturbances including cerebral vascular accidents and traumatic brain injury
- MS - See article here regarding Ai Chi and MS, showing improvements in balance, mobility, strength and levels of fatigue
Comments about Nan's Ai Chi class:
I can't say enough about what Ai Chi (think Tai Chi in the water) classes in 90 degree water has done for me! At the end of every class I feel relaxed, rejuvenated and fully stretched. Because I'm moving in the water (always with head above) in this class, it's easy for me to follow. I'm the type of person who can't touch her toes on land, but put me in 90 water and everything just relaxes and I can stretch fully. I feel amazing afterwards and my workouts go great after I've been through at least one class each week. Nan leads a small class through a gentle, easy to follow routine that opens up breathing, breaks through stress and sends me off renewed each week.
Comments from Ai Chi participants around the country:
When Ai Chi came into my life my body was very tired and inflexible. My joints ached. I had difficulty walking and to top that I had shooting pain shooting down my left leg. Sciatic nerve was the cause. All of this to say my body seemed to be in rebellion to aging. Ai Chi exercises stretched my muscles, loosened the joints and massaged my organs and equally important to me released my soul.
After my body learned the Ai Chi moves and could respond without thought, the soul could speak. The music, the warm water and the release from pain allowed meditation. Three times a week I have put aside an hour just to get out of my mind, get in touch with my body and release my spirit to meditate."
Here are words from another participant:
“….my favourite thing about Ai Chi is that it allows my joints such extension that I can’t do out of the water. My hips in particular have become much more flexible. As we go through the various postures, I feel my waist loosening up and I am able to turn more freely. This is great since I had hip injury as a child and was left with a difference in hip flexibility. I also had shoulder surgery due to an accident and I find Ai Chi has helped with the range of motion in that right shoulder.”
And one more….
“My most beneficial new activity is Ai Chi. My joints are totally supported in the water. It gives me more range of motion that any other activity. Ai Chi is also very relaxing with a meditative quality - the deep breathing not only lightens the weight off your joints and muscles - it puts you in a space of peace. - where the “I CAN’T’s disappear and new possibilities appear. It is the most beneficial mental and physical activity that I do for myself."
Source: Ai Chi: Balance, Harmony and Healing; Sova/Konno
Learn more:http://www.ruthsova.com
