Monday, July 6, 2015

Classical Tai Chi for weak hips or hip replacement





Dear Master Hwa, colleagues and students:

As someone who was involved in a sport related injury and who has a titanium pin in the hip, I can really relate to this subject.  With the assistance of Sifu Jason Bulger and Sifu Anh Le, I present our contribution to the efforts.

Jim R.

Our 2 video contribution, Sifu's Jason Bulger, Anh Le and Jim Roach for those who " have had hip replacements or weak hips from lack of movement....a movement and variations of the movement  which "provides muscle support " for the pelvis.

Variations on "Lift Leg" a lower left or right quarter-body move 
Lift Leg pp. 5 and 6 of "Uncovering the Treasure" by Stephen C.P. Hwa, PhD.

"All lower body movements are from the core.
This is just one example of it. Practicing with an
imaginary mental picture that the legs do not
end at the hip joints, but rather, there is a leg
extension into the core of the body has helped
some students learn how to initiate lower body
movements from the core."

"Lift the left leg by using abdominal and back muscles
to lift the left side of the pelvis which in turn lifts the
leg. In this case, the left leg is completely relaxed
since the lifting is done by internal power not the
leg muscle. The moving part is the left leg and
its associated abdominal and back muscles while
the other parts of the body remain stationary
to provide support and grounding. The yin-yang
junction may be visualized in the left abdominal
and back region. One could classify this as a lower
left, quarter -body move."


From Linda Felicio, RN, MSW who teaches classes in the Florida School at Wynmoor, Coconut Creek, Fl. "

Hi Sifu Jim, I wanted to start a discussion regarding the this turning movement, "turning the leg while engaging the hip" as Master Hwa discusses that you should think "the leg extends higher into the hip"which appears to provides for a safer transition while moving the leg. At first it feels a bit awkward and one has to engage the glutes, back muscles and the core to accomplish this move. It feels less stressful for the joint if done probably. This could provide for a stronger hip as we age since the muscles are doing most of the work.

For my senior clients it's most important since some have had hip replacements or weak hips from lack of movement. It appears this movement "provides muscles support " for the pelvis."

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